May, Cliff

Biographical Note

Cliff May was born in San Diego in 1908. In 1931 he began his work as a designer/builder in San Diego and La Jolla. He moved to Los Angeles in 1936, where he expanded his activities into the area of development. By 1941 he had established a national reputation as the designer of the California Ranch House. After World War II he collaborated with Sunset Magazine in publishing the influential volume Western Ranch Houses. During the following decades he designed houses which were built in the U. S., Europe, South America, and elsewhere. As of 1983, he maintained an active architectural practice in Los Angeles.

From the guide to the Cliff May Collection, Bulk, 1925-1989, 1897-1996, (Architecture & Design Collection)