Camera Workers: The British Columbia Photographic Directory, 1858-1950 - W - Volume 2 (1901-1950)

© 1999-2007 By David Mattison

Updated: 2005.12.06.


W., C.E. see Woodbridge, Charles Edward.

W., E.A. see Woods, Ernest A.

W.G. Wright Co.
Victoria/1932.
Owned by W.G. Wright.
REFERENCES:

W.J. Cairns Ltd.
Vancouver/1900s?.
Incorporated by W.J. Cairns in 1___ dissolved in ____.
REFERENCES: ___14 (Burns & Cairns, druggists, 732 Granville).

W.J. Moore Photo Co.
Vancouver/after 1920?-1954.
Owned by William J. Moore.
REFERENCES: ___20 ___21 ___22 ___23 ___24 ___25 ___26 ___27 ___28 ___29 ___30 ___31 ___32 ___33 ___34 ___35 ___36 ___37 ___38 ___39 ___40 ___41 ___42 ___43 ___44 ___45 ___46 ___47 ___48 ___49 ___50.

Wadds, David.
VARIANT: Woods, D.
Vancouver/1901-1915 ; Nelson/1901-1905 ; Fairview/1903-1911 ; Crawford Bay/1910, 1918-1928, 1930-1934 ; Trail/1919-1921 ; Rossland/1929.
Commercial.
See also Camera Workers, vol. 1.
REFERENCES: VL1903, 1911/Fairview VL1916 (farmer), 1920, 1933 (farmer)/Crawford Bay; Mattison (1985).

Wadds, George Thomas.
Vancouver/1901-1953.
See also Camera Workers, vol. 1.
REFERENCES: VL1920, 1924, 1928, 1933/Vancouver; Mattison (1985).

Wadds Bros.
Nelson/1901-1905 ; Vancouver/1901-1912.
The Nelson branch was managed by David Wadds and the Vancouver headquarters by G.T. Wadds.
See also Camera Workers, vol. 1.
REFERENCES: British Columbia Magazine (June 1911): class. PHOTOGRAPHERS; Mattison (1985).

Waldref, Arch.
Campbell River/1950.
REFERENCES:

Walker, Mrs. Lena.
Kamloops/1909 09-1912?.
Commercial.
She purchased Miss Mary Spencer's business in September 1909 and operated as the Walker Studio.
REFERENCES: D.M. Stewart, 1996.12.15.

Walker Studio.
Kamloops/1910?-1912?.
Studio.
Operated by Mrs. Lena Walker.
REFERENCES: D.M. Stewart, 1996.12.15.

Walls, Orlebar Charles.
Victoria/1916-1933.
REFERENCES: VL1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1933/Victoria.

Walls, William Elphinstone.
Victoria/1920-1928.
REFERENCES: VL1920, 1928/Victoria.

Wally West Studios.
Prince George/1947-1951+.
Owned? by Wally West.
REFERENCES:

Walters, Thomas.
Delta/1911 North Vancouver ?/1920-1924.
HOME ADDRESS: North Vancouver/1920-1924.
REFERENCES: VL1911, Delta VL1920, 1924/North Vancouver.

Wand, Cecil B.
Vancouver/1920-1947+.
He operated the Western Studio (1922) and also operated as Wand's Photo Studio (1938).
REFERENCES:

Wand's Photo Studio.
Vancouver/1938-19__.
Operated by C.B. Wand.
REFERENCES:

Warde, Walter T.
Vancouver/1921.
Operated Artco Studio.
REFERENCES: ___21.

Wardlaw, John/Jack.
North Vancouver/1922-1941.
HOME ADDRESS: North Vancouver/1924-1933.
STATUS: Commercial.
REFERENCES: VL1924, 1928, 1933/North Vancouver.
Warwick, Lionel George Robert.
Vancouver/1928.
REFERENCES: VL1928, Vancouver.

Waterworth, Thomas Andrew.
Victoria/1933.
REFERENCES: VL1933, Victoria.

Watson, Edith Sarah.
LIFE DATES: 1861 11  09-1943 12 14.
BIRTHPLACE: East Windsor Hill, Connecticut.
PLACE OF DEATH: Wild Acres (house name), East Windsor Hill, Connecticut.
WHERE/WHEN ACTIVE: Canada BC/1920s.
STATUS: Photo-journalist (visit).
BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY: According to Rooney's biography, Edith Watson, who lived and worked from their Connecticut home beginning in 1912 with a Bermudian writer named Victoria (" Queenie" ) Hayward, travelled across Canada several times. She and her partner sold many photo-illustrated stories or photographs alone to National Geographic magazine and the Canadian Magazine of Politics, Science, Art and Literature (1914-1925), as well as to many other publishing outlets. Her travels to B.C. took over as far west as the Queen Charlotte Islands and as far north in B.C. to at least Stewart on the Alaska border. The earliest dated photographs she took in Canada are from 1894, and none of the B.C. photos date before the late 1910s. Edith  obtained permission from Doukhobor leaders to photograph communes in B.C. and made three summer trips   between 1918 and 1920 to obtain  photos. Rooney notes that since Edith insisted on always being paid for her photographs, none of her images, despite being solicited, were ever published in the artistic photography magazines of her day: " in the end she did herself much more harm than good by sticking to her professional standards." (p. 17). Her one major book, illustrated with her photographs and  published by Macmillan in 1922, was Romantic Canada. A relative by marriage, Lois Watson, was singlehandedly responsible for saving all of Edith's photographs.
COLLECTIONS/FORMATS: OOA  (R10703-0-7-E, album of a trip to Newfoundland and Labrador in the summer of 1913) albums (prints) and negatives (location unknown) according to Carlevaris, " Watson's photographs are deposited in various private and public collections, including the National Archives of Canada, the Notman Archives of the McCord Museum, Montréal and the Archives of the United Church of Canada" .
REFERENCES:  Hayward  (1992)   Carlevaris  (1996) Rooney (1996).


Watson, Leonard A.
Vancouver/1946-1948.
Commercial.
Manager of Bridgman's Studio Limited.
REFERENCES:

Watson, Phillip L.
Ganges/1950.
REFERENCES:

Watts, Joseph.
Kincolith/1901-1903.
REFERENCES:

Weekes, Frank Whiteford.
Victoria/1933.
REFERENCES: VL1933, Victoria.

Weeks, A.
Port Alberni/1932-1934.
REFERENCES: ___31 ___32 ___33 ___34 ___35.

Weeks, Arthur Benson.
Vancouver/1920-1924.
Commercial.
He worked the Duryea Photo Co. (1920), then under his own nmae as Weeks Studio (1923).
REFERENCES: VL1920, 1924/Vancouver.

Weeks, Ernest.
Vancouver/1913.
REFERENCES: VL1913, Vancouver.

Weeks Studio.
Vancouver/1923.
Operated by A.B. Weeks.
REFERENCES:

Weir, Robert.
Vancouver/1920-1932 Trail/1933.
He took over the Welford Studio in 1921 and worked there until 1926. He then operated as the Weir Studio (1927-1929).
REFERENCES: VL1920, 1924/Vancouver VL1933, Trail.

Weir Studio.
Vancouver/1927-1929.
REFERENCES:

Weld, _______.
Vancouver/1908.
Partner in Weld & Proctor.
REFERENCES: ___08.

Weld & Proctor.
Vancouver/1908.
Partnership of ___________ Weld and _________ Proctor.
REFERENCES: ___08.

Welford, Herbert.
Vancouver/1909-1916 1918-1920.
He operated as Welford Studio beginning in 1918.
REFERENCES: VL1916, Vancouver.

Welford Studio.
VARIANT: Welford Photo Studio.
Vancouver/1918-1932.
Owned by Herbert Welford (1918-1920) and subsequently operated by Robert Weir until 1926.
REFERENCES: ___18 (Welford Studio) ___19 ___20 (Welford Studio) ___21 ___22 (Welford Photo Studio) ___23 ___24 ___25 ___26 ___27 ___28 ___29 ___30 ___31 ___32.

Weller, Mrs. R.M. (Rosella).
Victoria/1929-1943.
She operated the Ros Weller Studio.
REFERENCES:

Weller Bros. Studio.
Victoria/1930.
REFERENCES:

Wells, George J.
Vancouver/1948.
He worked at the Du Barry Studio.
REFERENCES:

Welsh, Howard M.
New Westminster/1901-1903.
REFERENCES:

Wescott, Stanley Haughton.
New Westminster/1922 Victoria/1928.
Operated as Wescot & McMillan.
REFERENCES: VL1928 (Haughton), Victoria.

Wescott & McMillan.
New Westminster/1922.
Partnership of S.H. Wescott and B.M. McMillan.
REFERENCES:

Wescott & West.
Vancouver/1924.
Partnership of S.H. Wescott and Dorothy? West.
REFERENCES:

West, Charles.
Vancouver/1922-1955.
REFERENCES: ___22 ___23 ___24 ___25 ___26 ___27 ___28 ___29 ___30 ___31 ___32 ___33 ___34 ___35 ___36 ___37 ___38 ___39 ___40 ___41 ___42 ___43 ___44 ___45 ___46 ___47 ___48 ___49 ___50 ___51 ___52 ___53 ___54 ___55.

West, Dorothy.
Vancouver/1924-1934.
She may have partnered as Wescott & West (1924).
REFERENCES:

West, Wally.
Prince George/1947-1951+.
Owned? the Wally West Studios.
REFERENCES:

Westcott, S.H.
Vancouver/1924.
REFERENCES: ___24 (n.l.).

Westcott & West.
Vancouver/1924.
REFERENCES: ___24.

Western Flo-Lite Limited.
Vancouver/1948.
REFERENCES: SUN48 (class., PHOTOGRAPHERS--COMMERCIAL see advt. SIGNS)

Western Studio.
Vancouver/1913-1922.
Operated by Paul Seligman (1913-1914) H. Charlton and H. Rathbun (1918-1921) C.B. Wand (1922).
REFERENCES:

Western Studio.
Victoria/1950.
Operated by Albert E. Price.
REFERENCES:

Wetzell, Olof.
Vancouver/1906-1908 1913.
Partner in Wetzell & Hansen (1907-1908).
REFERENCES: VL1908, 1913/Vancouver.

Wetzell & Hansen.
Vancouver/1907-1908.
Partnership of O. Wetzell and T.B. Hansen.
REFERENCES:

Wheeler, John Wesley.
Prince Rupert/1913 Vancouver/1919-1920 Victoria/1921-1923.
He managed the Elite Studio (II) (1919-1920), had a partnership as Wheeler & Fort (1921) and the operated the Wheeler-Fort Studio (1922-1923).
REFERENCES: ___13 ___14 ___15 ___16 ___17 ___18 ___19 ___20 ___21 ___22 ___23 ___24 VL1913, Prince Rupert VL1920, 1924 (possible error)/Vancouver.

Wheeler & Fort.
Victoria/1921.
Partnership of J.W. Wheeler and R.H. Fort.
REFERENCES:

Wheeler-Fort Studio.
Victoria/1922-1928.
Operated by J.W. Wheeler (1922-1923) and subsequently by R.H. Fort.
REFERENCES:

Whitaker, Thomas Ayton.
Vancouver/1924.
REFERENCES: VL1924, Vancouver.

White, F.W.
Vancouver/1927.
REFERENCES:

White, Harry E.
Vancouver/1917.
REFERENCES:

White, John M.
Vancouver/1901-1911 1914-1917.
See also Camera Workers, vol. 1. As early as 1897 he identified his portrait gallery as White's Studio. He was committed to the New Westminster Asylum for the Insane in 1917?.
REFERENCES: VL1911, Vancouver Mattison (1985).

White, Mrs. Mattie (Faulkner) (18__ __ __-1939 __ __).
Vancouver/1911-1913 1917?-1932.
She managed White's Studio in 1912-1913 and again from 1917? to 1932 following her husband J.M. White's committal to the New Westminster Asylum for the Insane.
REFERENCES: Mattison (1985, White, John M.).

Whitefoot, Thomas Wedgewood. (P & C).
Vancouver/1925-1950.
Commercial.
He managed or owned the Hacking Photo Studio (1925) before operating as the Whitefoot Studio.
COLLECTIONS: BCA (motion pictures).
REFERENCES: VL1933, Vancouver Duffy(1986).

Whitefoot Studio.
Vancouver/1930-1950.
Operated by T.W. Whitefoot.
REFERENCES: see Whitefoot, T.W.

Whitehead, Frances.
Vancouver/1920-1924.
REFERENCES: VL1920, 1924/Vancouver.

Whiten, George Edward.
Vernon/1911-1933.
He operated as Whiten's Photo Studio.
REFERENCES: VL1911, 1924, 1928, 1933/Vernon.

Whiten's Photo Studio.
Vernon/1918-1921.
REFERENCES:

White's Photo Studio.
New Westminster/1905.
REFERENCES:

White's Studio.
Vancouver/1897-1918.
See also Camera Workers, vol. 1. Initially operated by J.M. White until 1911, at which point his wife Mattie takes over (1912-1913). J.M. is listed as the studio operator again from 1914 to 1917. Following J.M. White's committal to the New Westminster Asylum for the Insane in 1917?, his wife Mattie ran the studio for at least another 15 years.
REFERENCES: Mattison (1985).

Whiting, Arthur.
Vancouver/1916.
REFERENCES: VL1916, Vancouver.

Whittlesey, Henry.
Victoria/1928-1933.
He worked at or operated the Victoria Studio (1933).
REFERENCES: VL1928, 1933/Victoria.

Wiggin, Mrs. Agnes.
New Westminster/1911-1914, 1918.
Commercial.
She worked at the Royal Studio (1911-1914) and then operated the Home Portrait Studio (1914).
REFERENCES:

Wigley, Selwyn James.
VARIANT: Windley, S.J.
Vancouver/1919-1924.
He worked for Home & Commercial Photographers (1919).
REFERENCES: VL1920, 1924/Vancouver.

Wilfred Gibson Ltd.
VARIANT: Gibson Ltd.
Victoria/1912-1934.
Incorporated by Wilfred H. Gibson in 19__.
REFERENCES: ___18 (Gibson Ltd.).

Wilkie, _________.
Terrace/1900s?.
COLLECTIONS/FORMATS: Private.
IDENTIFYING MARKS: Print surface captioned and marked " Terrace, BC Wilkie Photo" .
REFERENCES: Pictures of Old Terrace (Web: http://tpl.osg.net/history1/pictures/miscellaneous.html) .

Wilkinson, Hester (Mrs. H.).
Victoria/1933-1950.
COLLECTIONS/FORMATS: portrait mounted on card inside folder (private).
IDENTIFYING MARK: printed label on verso of folder (priviate).
REFERENCES:

Williams, Alfred C.
Vancouver/1913.
938 Robson/1913.
HOME ADDRESS: 1742 Davie/1913.
Commercial.
He managed the Rosetti Studios.
REFERENCES: HEN13 ___14 (n.l.) ___15 (n.l.).

Williams, Miss Dora see Williams, Miss Violet Dora.

Williams, Edgar Leslie.
Vancouver/1928-1933.
REFERENCES: VL1928, 1933/Vancouver.

Williams, Ernest Allen.
LIFE DATES: 1874 __ __-1938 02 11.
BIRTHPLACE: Kingston, Surrey, UK.
PLACE OF DEATH: Victoria, BC.
WHERE/WHEN ACTIVE: Victoria/1916-1933.
BUSINESS ADDRESS/YEAR: For his 1914-1925 business address see Shaw Bros. Ltd.
HOME ADDRESS/YEAR: Saanich/1916-1933.
BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY: According to his obituary, he immigrated from Tunbridge Wells, England, and began his Canadian photography career with the Shaw Bros. He subsequently operated his own studio until around 1925 (the obituary says 1923, but the business directories indicate he worked for Shaw Bros. until 1925), and then worked with Wilfred Gibson for five or six years.
Williams was a member of the Arion Club and the Rotary Club (1915-1924), as well as being a Freemason (Quadra Lodge No. 2). He was survived by his widow one daughter, Mrs. O.V. Dawkins, and two granddaughters, all in Victoria. Williams is buried in Colwood Burial Park.
REFERENCES: HEVIC14 HEVIC15 VL1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1933/Saanich Daily Colonist, 1938 02 12/6 (obit.) BC Archives Death Registration no. 1938-09-540033 (microfilm B13162).

Williams, Hestor.
Saanich ?/1928.
HOME ADDRESS: Saanich/1928.
REFERENCES: VL1928, Saanich.

Williams, Lewis W.
Vancouver/1946.
He operated Aero Surveys.
REFERENCES: D.M. Stewart, 1996.12.15.

Williams, Norman G.
Chilliwack/late 1940s-ca. 1950.
Commercial.
He operated as the Norman Studios.
REFERENCES: CM& A report to Mattison, 1991 09 06 D.M. Stewart, 1996.12.15.

Williams, Syd.
Victoria/1950.
REFERENCES:

Williams, Miss Violet Dora.
Vancouver/1932-1933.
Commercial.
She worked for Lund Williams Artists (1932).
REFERENCES: VL1933, Vancouver.

Willis, Harold Arthur.
Kelowna/1913-1919.
He operated as Hudson, Stocks & Co. (1918) and was in partnership as Willis & Stocks (1918-1919).
REFERENCES: VL1913, 1916/Kelowna.

Willis & Stocks.
Kelowna/1918-1919.
Partnership of Lumb Stocks and H.A. Willis.
REFERENCES:

Wills, John Kerle.
VARIANT: Willis, John Kerle.
Vancouver/1920-1925.
He managed the Elite Studio (II) (1922-1924).
REFERENCES: VL1920, 1924 (Willis)/Vancouver.

Wills, William Henry.
Kelowna/1923-1925.
He operated as the Kelowna Photo Studio (1923).
REFERENCES: VL1924, Kelowna.

Wilson, ________.
Summerland/ca. 1908.
REFERENCES:

Wilson, ________.
Victoria/1902.
WHERE/WHEN ACTIVE: Victoria/1902.
BUSINESS ADDRESS-YEAR:
WORK INTERVAL: 1902.
STATUS: Commercial.
BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY: Partner in Hammond and Wilson.
COLLECTIONS: see Hammond and Wilson.
IDENTIFYING MARKS:
REFERENCES:

Wilson, Alexander.
Chilliwack/1920-1933, 1943, 1947.
He owned and operated Wilson's Photo & Art Studio.
REFERENCES: VL1920, 1924, 1928, 1933/Chilliwack.

Wilson, Herbert Richard.
Enderby/1913-1916.
REFERENCES: VL1913, 1916/Enderby.

Wilson's Photo & Art Studio.
Chilliwack/1928-ca. 1947.
Owned and operated by Alexander Wilson until ca. 1946 at which time the business was sold to R.A. Spencer.
REFERENCES: CM& A report to Mattison, 1991 09 06.

Windley, S.J. see Wigley, S.J.

NAME: Wing, Chew Sip.
LIFE DATES: 1890 __ __-19__ __ __.
BIRTHPLACE: Quesnel, BC.
PLACE OF DEATH:
WHERE/WHEN ACTIVE: Quesnel/1918-? Vancouver/19__.
STATUS: Commercial.
BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY: According to Moosang (1999), who cites a manuscript  by Helen Potrebenko, " Conversations with Bill Wing" , Wing was a member of the Chow clan. His parents sent him to China in 1905 for his education. Wing returned to Quesnel in 1918 and started a photographic studio in the upstairs of Wah Lee's store. Moosang his portrait work is very similar and sometimes " virtually indistinguishable" from his competitor C.D. Hoy.
COLLECTIONS/FORMATS: BQM BVAA.
REFERENCES:   Moosang (1999).

Winn, H.H.
Gibsons/ca.1914.
COLLECTIONS/FORMATS: BCA.
REFERENCES:

Winter, W.F.
Happy Warrior/1915.
REFERENCES:

Wishart, David.
Vancouver/1933.
REFERENCES: VL1933, Vancouver.

Wo, Chow.
Trail/1920-1921.
REFERENCES:

Wong, Bark Kwai.
Vancouver/1911-1924.
REFERENCES:

Wong, Chow.
Vancouver/1922-1923.
REFERENCES:

Wong & Joe.
Victoria/1915-1918.
REFERENCES:

Wood, Henry Crawley.
Vancouver/1913-1916.
REFERENCES: VL1913, 1916/Vancouver.

Wood, John.
Victoria/1920.
Commercial ?.
He copyrighted a panoramic view of Butchart Gardens.
COLLECTIONS/FORMATS: BL (print) panoramas.
IDENTIFYING MARKS: Print surface captioned in script.
REFERENCES: Pierce (1985: 153).

Woodbridge, Charles Edward.
WHERE/WHEN ACTIVE: Salmon Arm/1910, 1920-1921, 1933.
BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY: After an initial foray into photography, his operation was purchased by Rex Lingford, one of his competitors. Woodbridge is believed to have returned to photography twice more.
COLLECTIONS/FORMATS: postcards.
IDENTIFYING MARKS: " C.E.W." .
REFERENCES: VL1920, 1924 (liquor vendor), 1933/Salmon Arm; Steele (Draft, 1995 08 17); Marshall (1998).

Woodley, Charles J.
Victoria/1914.
He worked at the Star Studio.
REFERENCES:

Woods, Archie Dyott.
Duncan/1908-1911.
REFERENCES: VL1908, 1909, 1911, Duncan.

Woods, Ernest A.
Prince Rupert/ca. 1908.
COLLECTIONS/FORMATS: postcards.
IDENTIFYING MARKS: " E.A.W." .
REFERENCES: Steele (Draft, 1995 08 17).

Woolgar, A.G.
Crawford Bay/1929.
REFERENCES:

Wrathall, John (1891 02 22, Victoria, BC-1955 03 14, Vancouver, BC).
Prince Rupert/19__-19__.
HOME ADDRESS: Hazelton/1920 Prince Rupert/19__.
Amateur.
A brother of W.W. Wrathall, patriarch of the Wrathall photographic family, he was employed as a telegrapher in 1920.
REFERENCES: VL1920, Hazelton D. Steele to Mattison, 1995 08 18.

Wrathall, John Richmond (Jack) (1910 12 06, Hazelton, BC-1995 07 28, Prince Rupert, BC).
Prince Rupert/1910s-1978.
Commercial.
COLLECTIONS: PRA& M (negatives, prints).
REFERENCES: D. Steele to Mattison, 1995 08 18.

Wrathall, William Walker (1884 06 02, Hammersmith, London, UK-1957 __ __, Prince Rupert, BC).
Prince Rupert/19__-19__.
Commercial.
Patriarch of the Wrathall photographic family, preeminent photographers of Prince Rupert and region.
COLLECTIONS: PRA& M (negatives, prints).
REFERENCES: D. Steele to Mattison, 1995 08 18.

Wrathall's.
Prince Rupert/1909?-1929-1978.
REFERENCES: D. Steele to Mattison, 1995 08 18.

Wright, C.C.
Victoria?/1920s-1940s.
STATUS: Commercial.
BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY: He was a Vancouver Island photographer who specialized in scenic landscapes, possibly for postcard use. Surviving negatives were acquired by and form part of the George Allen Aerial Photos Ltd. accession at the BC Archives.
COLLECTIONS: BVIPA (negatives, part of VR accession 198312-005, George Allen Aerial Photos Ltd.).
REFERENCES: BVIPA VR accession 198312-005 (George Allen Aerial Photos Ltd.).

Wright, H.
New Westminster/1905.
REFERENCES:


Wright, W. Gordon.
Victoria/1932 Qualicum Beach/1950.
REFERENCES: