A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Birkses
In the city directories 1940 · five people at three addresses
The directories print five people named Birks at three addresses in 1940 in two of the city's neighbourhoods. No first name or initials tie one address to another: we can't tell if they're one family. The most under one roof: three Birkses at 4237 Angus Drive in 1940.
Reserve this family's book, freeThe name in every directory we hold from 1901 to 1945, at every address, each line with its page, to read here or save as a PDF. About $29 when orders open.
Where the Birkses lived
- 1
4237 Angus Drive
Shaughnessy, 1940
- G A Birks, a vice-president at Birks-Crawford Ltd 1940
- Arnold Birks, a student 1940
- Elizabeth G Birks 1940
Next door in 1940: J W Pattison at 4211 and R E Stanfield at 4287. The block, door by door
- 2
1160 Broughton Street
West End, 1940
- John W Birks, a salesman at the Northern Electric 1940
Next door in 1940: I W Shoop at 1146. The block, door by door
- 3
1863 Comox Street
West End, 1940
- John Birks 1940
Next door in 1940: W J Etherington at 1859 and Mrs V W Irwin at 1869. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for two of the five: a salesman and a vice-president.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in West End (2) and Shaughnessy. Each neighbourhood's page shows its trades, its people and every street in it, the way the directory printed them.
The story, address by address
In 1940 the directory lists G A Birks at 4237 Angus Drive. The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists G Arnold Birks there as the householder, a vice-president at Birks-Crawford Ltd, with Arnold Birks, a student, and Elizabeth G Birks. The 1940 name section lists John W Birks at 1160 Broughton Street, a salesman at the Northern Electric. The 1940 name section lists John Birks at 1863 Comox Street.
Today
4237 Angus Drive (2014) and 1160 Broughton (1969) have newer buildings, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 1863 Comox, so that building is probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 6 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- Birks G A4237 Angus Drive, p. 5
- Birks Arnold studt4237 Angus Drive, p. 49
- Birks Eliz G4237 Angus Drive, p. 49
- Birks G Arnold v-pres Birks-Crawford Ltd4237 Angus Drive, p. 49
- Birks John W slsmn Northern Elec1160 Broughton, p. 49
- Birks John1863 Comox, p. 49
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Birkses
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Birks name in each Vancouver directory we hold from 1901 to 1945: everyone printed under it at every address, their work from the name sections, who lived next door, and the page behind every line, to read here or save as a PDF to print or give.
We're opening orders soon. Join the list to be first in line; we expect about $29 a family.
Another name, or a house
Sources
Henderson's and successor city directories for Vancouver, read by us line by line: the street sections for 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935, 1940 and 1945, and the name section for 1930 and 1940 where we've read it (Vancouver Public Library, BC City Directories). Names are shown through 1945, as printed. Close spellings are grouped, as on the house pages, since a family's name was often spelled differently from one year to the next; one name can still be several families, and we join lines only where the first names or initials agree. Many Chinese, Japanese and other residents weren't named by the canvassers, so they can't be listed by name: their houses' pages say where. More family names under B. Want a name removed? Tell us.