| BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS |
He exhibited five paintings with the Royal Canadian Academy between 1932 and 1940.
In 1938 he exhibited a decorative panel in the 55th Annual Spring Exhibition of the Art Association of Montreal. His address was given as 7782 Champagneur Ave., Montreal in the exhibition catalogue.
He exhibited in the annual B.C. Artists exhibitions at the Vancouver Art Gallery from 1942 to 1945, 1948, and from 1950 to 1952.
He exhibited in the Seattle Art Museum's annual Northwest Artists exhibition in 1943.
Major exhibited his work in the B.C. Society of Fine Arts annual exhibitions in 1943, 1944, 1952, and 1953.
He had work in the 1945 B.C. At Work exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Major was on a list titled "Leading Vancouver Artists," provided to the Labour Arts Guild on April 10, 1946 by the Vancouver Art Gallery to assist in the Guild's call for entries to the second annual B.C. At Work exhibition.
He exhibited as a Member in the 1948 Annual Exhibition of the Atelier Sketch Club (Member).
In 1977 the artist was living in Burnaby. He was still living in Burnaby when he died in 1984, his occupation noted as "Artist - Retired."
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
| DATE | EXHIBITION | LOCATION |
| 1945 Feb 27 - March 18 | Solo exhibition | VAG |
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
| DATE | EXHIBITION | ARTWORK |
| 1942 July 7 - Sept. 2 | VAG B.C. Artists 1st Annual Summer | The Croaking Frog |
| 1942 Sept. 25 - Oct. 18 | VAG B.C. Artists 11th Annual | Evelyn |
| Lake Memphramagog | ||
| 1942 Nov. 3 - 15 | FCA Red Cross Benefit | (no information available) |
| 1943 May 15 - June 6 | BCSFA 33rd Annual | David |
| The Prodigal Son | ||
| 1943 Sept. 25 - Oct. 20 | VAG B.C. Artists 12th Annual | Storm Clouds over Mt. Royal |
| 1944 May 13 - June 4 | BCSFA 34th Annual | Betty |
| 1944 Sept. 23 - Oct. 22 | VAG B.C. Artists 13th Annual | Still Life |
| Enigma | ||
| 1945 Sept. 22 - Oct. 21 | VAG B.C. Artists 14th Annual | Near Pavilion Lake, B.C. |
| Main Street, Clinton | ||
| 1945 ? - ? | FCA B.C. Artists Selections from 14th Ann. | Near Pavilion Lake, B.C. |
| 1945 Nov. 13 - Dec. 2 | Labour Arts Guild B.C. At Work | Swing Grinder |
| Casting | ||
| Drawing | ||
| 1946 July 2 - 28 | VAG Jubilee Exhibition | Evelyn |
| 1948 Mar. 23 - Apr. 1 | Atelier Sketch Club 9th Annual Exhibition | Pavilion, B.C. |
| Portrait | ||
| Casting | ||
| Tramp Steamer | ||
| Sun Set, Spanish Banks | ||
| 1948 Sept. 18 - Oct. 10 | VAG B.C. Artists 17th Annual | Dance of Life |
| 1949 July 12 - July 31 | VAG Stanley Park in Pictures | Sunrise, Beaver Lake |
| 1949 Nov. 22 - Dec. 11 | VAG First B.C. Graphic | Electronics (rejected) |
| White on Black (rejected) | ||
| Casting (did not come in) | ||
| 1950 Nov. 28 - Dec. 17 | VAG B.C. Artists 19th Annual | Prehistoric Rock |
| Fragments in Time | ||
| 1951 Nov. 27 - Dec. 16 | VAG B.C. Artists 20th Annual | Autumn Leaves |
| 1952 April 1 - 20 | VAG BCSA 42nd Annual | Northern B.C. |
| 1952 Oct. 21 - Nov. 16 | VAG B.C. Artists 21st Annual | Metamorphosis |
| Dead Tree | ||
| 1953 May 5 - 31 | VAG BCSA 43rd Annual | The Pier |
| Oil Drums and Pipes |
GAY ADVENTURERS by Dickie, Ricker, Tyner, & Woodhead
1947 (1st edition); published by J.M. Dent & Sons
438 pages; Illustrated by R.W. Major; cover and endpaper
illustrations by Illingworth Kerr
One of the Canadian Parade Readers; reprinted at least seven times to 1959
VISUAL ARTS BRITISH COLUMBIA (refer to VABC77)
ROYAL CANADIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS - EXHIBITIONS & MEMBERS 1880 - 1979 (refer to RCA81)
MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS - SPRING EXHIBITIONS 1880 - 1970 (refer to MM88)
A DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN ARTISTS (refer to M)
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF ARTISTS IN CANADA (refer to BIAC03)
4 references cited for Major
VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY - B.C. ARTISTS FILES (refer to VPL)
B.C. VITAL STATISTICS ON-LINE death (refer to BCVS)
"Richard W. Major has an interesting oil of Lake Memphramengog ... "
From "B.C. Artists Evading War's Responsibility" by
Mildred Valley Thornton
Vancouver Sun, September 26 1942
"Among those contibuting paintings and drawings are: ... R.W. Major ... "
from "Noted Artists Offer Paintings For Red Cross"
Vancouver Province (presumed), November 1942
"Large and unusual canvases which are certain to attract attention and cause discussion
include: ... "The Prodigal Son" by R.W. Major,
another highly individual and symbolic canvas; ... "
From "Fine Creative Spirit Marks Exhibition By B.C. Artists"
Vancouver Province, May 21 1943
"Among other prominent exhibitors are ... R.W. Major ... "
From "Summer Show at Gallery Major Event
for Art Lovers" by Palette
Vancouver Province, July 7 1943
"Unusual pictures, entirely different in style, are ...
Richard Major's more sophisticated dramatic scene in a foundry, "Casting."
From "B.C. Industry Lives in Gallery Display"
Newspaper unknown, (November 1945)