Shurcliff (Arthur A.) is born in Boston.

The son of the mayor and historian Nathaniel Shurtleff (he subsequently changes his name to the English spelling), Arthur Shurcliff graduates from M.I.T., studies at Harvard University, and works initially for the Olmsted architectural firm. Shurcliff marries Margaret Nichols and establishes his own landscape architectural firm in 1905, and goes on to serve as chief landscape architect for Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia (1928-41). He dies on November 12, 1957.