A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Gormans
In the city directories 1940 · 20 people at twelve addresses
The directories print 20 people named Gorman at twelve addresses in 1940 in eight 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: six Gormans at 2181 East 5th 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 Gormans lived
- 1
919 Broughton Street
West End, 1940
- Mrs G Gorman, widow of J 1940
- James Gorman, a clerk at the CNR 1940
Next door in 1940: E Evans at 955. The block, door by door
- 2
540 Burrard Street
Downtown, 1940
- Flora Gorman, a widow 1940
Next door in 1940: Mrs M Mathews at 534 and W L Howie at 544. The block, door by door
- 3
1817 Commercial Drive
Grandview-Woodland, 1940
- E D Gorman 1940
Next door in 1940: H R Hipwell at 1815 and Crystal Dairy at 1823. The block, door by door
- 4
86 East 24th Avenue
Riley Park, 1940
- S Gorman, a salesman at Spencer's 1940
Next door in 1940: R S Buck at 78 and W Francis at 96. The block, door by door
- 5
2181 East 5th Avenue
Grandview-Woodland, 1940
- Mrs M E Gorman, widow of E J 1940
- Beatrice M Gorman, a seamstress for W Ross 1940
- Edward J Gorman, a bookkeeper 1940
- John C Gorman 1940
- Lawrence M Gorman, a student 1940
- Patrick Gorman, a seaman 1940
Next door in 1940: W Pennington at 2157. The block, door by door
- 6
757 East Hastings Street
Strathcona, 1940
- T R Gorman, a seaman 1940
- Thomas C Gorman, a sander at Hammond's 1940
Next door in 1940: 4 listings at 747 and N Kikuta at 761. The block, door by door
- 7
961 Howe Street
Downtown, 1940
- William Gorman, a decorator 1940
Next door in 1940: Mrs M Baker at 953 and F Lee at 967. The block, door by door
- 8
1345 Robson Street
West End, 1940
- Frank Gorman, a salesman 1940
Next door in 1940: C C F at 1343 and J F Kemp at 1361. The block, door by door
- 9
24 Water Street
Downtown, 1940
- William Gorman, retired 1940
Next door in 1940: Western Cordage Canada at 20 and United Uphol at 26. The block, door by door
- 10
3528 West 16th Avenue
Dunbar-Southlands, 1940
- D M Gorman, a salesman at Spencer's 1940
Next door in 1940: J B Kershaw at 3524 and C D Wicks at 3534. The block, door by door
- 11
2181 West 48th Avenue
Kerrisdale, 1940
- R A Gorman 1940
- Ray T Gorman, a student 1940
Next door in 1940: R E Foster at 2177 and C E Moffat at 2185. The block, door by door
- 12
1915 West Broadway
Kitsilano, 1940
- Mrs Glenn Gorman 1940
Next door in 1940: F H Burleigh at 1901 and J Spanier at 1925. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for ten of the 20: a salesman (3), a seaman (2), a bookkeeper, a clerk, a decorator and a sander, among others. Two of them worked for Spencer's. Three are widows, listed under their own names.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Downtown (3), Grandview-Woodland (2), West End (2), Dunbar-Southlands, Kerrisdale, Kitsilano, Riley Park and Strathcona. 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 Mrs G Gorman at 919 Broughton Street. The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists Grace Gorman there as the householder, widow of J, with James Gorman, a clerk at the CNR. The 1940 name section lists Flora Gorman at 540 Burrard Street, a widow. E D Gorman is listed at 1817 Commercial Drive in 1940.
In 1940 the directory lists S Gorman at 86 East 24th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked *: some member of the family owns the property, to the best of our knowledge (the directory's own mark). The 1940 name section lists Sam Gorman there as the householder, a salesman at Spencer's. In 1940 the directory lists Mrs M E Gorman at 2181 East 5th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Mary E Gorman there as the householder, widow of E J, with Beatrice M Gorman, a seamstress for W Ross, Edward J Gorman, a bookkeeper, John C Gorman, Lawrence M Gorman, a student, and Patrick Gorman, a seaman.
In 1940 the directory lists T R Gorman at 757 East Hastings Street. The 1940 name section lists Thomas R Gorman there as the householder, a seaman, with Thomas C Gorman, a sander at Hammond's. The 1940 name section lists William Gorman at 961 Howe Street, a decorator. The 1940 name section lists Frank Gorman at 1345 Robson Street, a salesman.
The 1940 name section lists William Gorman at 24 Water Street, retired. D M Gorman is listed at 3528 West 16th Avenue in 1940. The 1940 name section lists D Monroe Gorman there as the householder, a salesman at Spencer's.
R A Gorman is listed at 2181 West 48th Avenue in 1940; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Ray A Gorman there as the householder, with Ray T Gorman, a student. The 1940 name section lists Mrs Glenn Gorman at 1915 West Broadway.
Today
1817 Commercial Drive, 86 East 24th, 2181 East 5th, 757 East Hastings, 3528 West 16th, 2181 West 48th and 1915 West Broadway still have their buildings from before 1946; the City no longer lists 919 Broughton, 540 Burrard, 961 Howe, 1345 Robson and 24 Water, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 26 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- Gorman Mrs G919 Broughton, p. 20
- Gorman Grace wid J matron CNR919 Broughton, p. 231
- Gorman Jas clerk CNR919 Broughton, p. 231
- Gorman Flora wid —540 Burrard, p. 231
- Gorman E D1817 Commercial Drive, p. 33
- *Gorman S86 East 24th, p. 238
- Gorman Sam slsmn Spencers86 East 24th, p. 231
- *Gorman Mrs M E2181 East 5th, p. 184
- Gorman Beatrice M smstrs W Ross2181 East 5th, p. 231
- Gorman Edw J bkpr2181 East 5th, p. 231
- Gorman John C2181 East 5th, p. 231
- Gorman Lawrence M studt2181 East 5th, p. 231
- Gorman Mary E wid E J2181 East 5th, p. 231
- Gorman Patk seamn2181 East 5th, p. 231
- Gorman T R757 East Hastings, p. 75
- Gorman Thos C sander Hammond's757 East Hastings, p. 231
- Gorman Thos R seamn757 East Hastings, p. 231
- Gorman Wm decrtr961 Howe, p. 231
- Gorman Frank slsmn1345 Robson, p. 231
- Gorman Wm retired24 Water, p. 231
- Gorman D M3528 West 16th, p. 223
- Gorman D Monroe slsmn Spencers3528 West 16th, p. 231
- *Gorman R A2181 West 48th, p. 264
- Gorman Ray A2181 West 48th, p. 231
- Gorman Ray T studt2181 West 48th, p. 231
- Gorman Mrs Glenn1915 West Broadway, p. 231
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Gormans
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Gorman 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 G. Want a name removed? Tell us.