A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Isbisters
In the city directories 1940 · four people at three addresses
The directories print four people named Isbister at three addresses in 1940 in three of the city's neighbourhoods. No first name or initials tie one address to another: we can't tell if they're one family.
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 Isbisters lived
- 1
- 2
3883 West 18th Avenue
Dunbar-Southlands, 1940
- A E Isbister, a clerk at the BC Electric Railway 1940
Next door in 1940: J A Edwards at 3889. The block, door by door
- 3
1243 West 7th Avenue
Fairview, 1940
- J M Isbister, a master mariner at Commodore Towing 1940
Next door in 1940: S Stinson at 1235 and F W Chater at 1247. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for two of the four: a clerk and a master mariner.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Dunbar-Southlands, Fairview and Grandview-Woodland. 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 J Isbister at 1844 Victoria Drive; 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, where each person's work is printed, lists John Isbister there as the householder, retired, with Victor A J Isbister. In 1940 the directory lists A E Isbister at 3883 West 18th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Alfred E Isbister there as the householder, a clerk at the BC Electric Railway.
In 1940 the directory lists J M Isbister at 1243 West 7th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists John M Isbister there as the householder, a master mariner at Commodore Towing.
Today
1844 Victoria Drive, 3883 West 18th and 1243 West 7th still have their buildings from before 1946.
Every line as printed
All 7 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- *Isbister J1844 Victoria Drive, p. 162
- Isbister John retired1844 Victoria Drive, p. 297
- Isbister Victor A J1844 Victoria Drive, p. 297
- *Isbister A E3883 West 18th, p. 227
- Isbister Alfd E clk BCER3883 West 18th, p. 297
- *Isbister J M1243 West 7th, p. 191
- Isbister John M mstr mrnr Commodore Towing1243 West 7th, p. 297
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Isbisters
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Isbister 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 I. Want a name removed? Tell us.