Camera Workers, 1858-1950

The British Columbia, Alaska and Yukon Photographic Directory, 1858-1950

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Sommer, Joseph[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25]

Male 1849? - 1925


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  • Name Sommer, Joseph 
    • VARIANT NAME: Sommers, Joseph.
    Birth 1849? 
    Gender Male 
    Business Address/Year 1883-1923  Victoria, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Chiefly at 50 Government St. and 1012 Government St. 
    Address:
    Victoria, BC
    Canada 
    Death 4 Mar 1925  Victoria, BC Find all individuals with events at this location  [26] 
    Burial 6 Mar 1925  Royal Oak Burial Park, Saanich, BC Find all individuals with events at this location  [27] 
    Association Joseph Sommer and Sons, Ltd. (Relationship: Proprietor) 
    Association Sommer, Albert Joseph (Relationship: Son) 
    Person ID I1291  Camera Workers | S, vol. 2, 1901-1950
    Last Modified 18 Jan 2023 

  • Photos
    Fleming Brothers studio space, 1014 Government St.    		Fleming Brothers studio space, 1014 Government St.
    The ground floor is 1012 Government St., used by Joseph Sommer (originally 50 Government), and upstairs was 1014 Government St. (originally 50 1/2 Government), used by the Fleming Brothers. Google Maps, May 2015.

    Documents
    Fleming Brothers and Joseph Sommer's businesses, 1895.    		Fleming Brothers and Joseph Sommer's businesses, 1895.
    The enlargement depicts 50 and 50 1/2 Government St. The Fleming Brothers were upstairs (50 1/2). This building is still standing at 1012-1014 Government St. According to the City of Victoria Downtown Heritage Inventory 1988-1989, the building was originally built for Joseph Sommer in 1890. Directory listings between 1889 and 1891 show he also occupied 48 Government St. before moving to 50 Government St. 1895 Goad fire insurance plan, Victoria, BC, p. 7. Courtesy of BC Archives via University of Victoria Vault. URL (accessed 17 Jan 2023): https://vault.library.uvic.ca/concern/generic_works/2efc7335-9bb0-4b4c-b0a0-d7535104571d
    Fleming Brothers and Joseph Sommer's businesses, 1903-1907.    		Fleming Brothers and Joseph Sommer's businesses, 1903-1907.
    The enlargement depicts 1012 and 1014 Government St., formerly 50 and 50 1/2 Government St. The Fleming Brothers were upstairs (1014). This building is still standing at 1012-1014 Government St. According to the City of Victoria Downtown Heritage Inventory 1988-1989, the building was originally built for Joseph Sommer in 1890. 1903 Goad fire insurance plan, revised to Dec 1907, Victoria, BC, p. 7. Courtesy of BC Archives via University of Victoria Vault. URL (accessed 20 Jan 2023): https://vault.library.uvic.ca/concern/generic_works/df44eea7-f4d5-4728-8542-3047beac5d48

  • Notes 
    • STATUS: Photo supplies.
    • BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY: Before gravitating to the art world and becoming a very successful, important and long-lived Victoria art dealer, he established himself as a furniture maker, getting his start with Jacob Sehl's company. The firm he started, Joseph Sommer and Sons, Ltd., celebrated its 50th anniversary (based on his original starting date) in 1933 and also handled photo supplies. Joseph Sommer was last associated with the firm in the 1923 business directory.

  • Sources 
    1. [S17] WIL82, (Victoria, B.C.: R.T. Williams, 1882), 73.
      Victoria: Sommer Joseph cabinet maker (J Sehl) Government st

    2. [S19] Woltz, William, comp., WIL85, (Victoria, B.C.: R.T. Williams, 1885), 73.
      Victoria: Sommer Joseph pictures, mirrors and frames, 209 Government st. res Fort st.

    3. [S20] Mallandine, Edward, MAL87, (Victoria, B.C.: E. Mallandine, R.T. Williams, 1887), 85.
      Victoria: Sommer Joseph pictures, mirrors and frames, Govt st. res. Yates st.

    4. [S21] Henderson, James, comp., HEN89, (Victoria, B.C.: Leonard George Henderson, 1889), 227.
      Alphabetical: Somers [sic] Joseph, picture framer, Victoria

    5. [S22] Draper, Thomas, comp., WIL89, (Victoria, B.C.: R.T. Williams, 1889), 153.
      Victoria: Sommer Joseph, Manufacturer and Dealer in all Kinds of Pictures Mirrors and Frames, 48 Govt. St., res. 135 Yates

    6. [S23] Henderson, L.G., comp., HENVIC90, (Victoria, B.C.: Henderson Directory Co., 1890), 234.
      Victoria: Sommer Joseph picture framer and art dealer, 48 Government, res 135 Yates

    7. [S26] Draper, Thomas, comp., WILVICNAN90, (Victoria, B.C.: R.T. Williams, 1890), 232.
      Victoria: Sommer J, manufacturer and dealer in all kinds of pictures, mirrors and frames, 48 Govt, res 135 Yates

    8. [S24] HEN90, (Victoria, B.C.: Henderson Directory Co., 1890), 580.
      Victoria: Sommer Joseph, picture framer and art dealer, 48 Government, res 135 Yates

    9. [S28] HEN91, (Vancouver, B.C.: Henderson Directory Co., 1891), 704.
      Victoria: Sommer Joseph, picture framer, 50 Govt, h 135 Yates

    10. [S29] Halliday, W.M., comp., WIL91, (Victoria, B.C.: R.T. Willilams, 1890), 281.
      Victoria: Sommer, Joseph, art gallery, picture frames and mirrors, 48 Govt, 135 Yates

    11. [S30] WIL92, (Victoria, B.C.: R.T. Williams, 1892), 512.
      Victoria: Sommers, [sic] Jos, frame and picture dealer, art studio, 50 Government, PO Box 491, res 135 Yates

    12. [S32] Williams' B.C. Directory Co., comp., WIL93, (Victoria, B.C.: Printed by the Victoria Printing Company, 1893), 608.
      Victoria: Sommer, Joseph, Art Gallery, 50 Govt st, res 135 Yates

    13. [S33] Williams' B.C. Directory Co., comp., WIL94, (Victoria, B.C.: Williams' B.C. Directory Co., 1894), 362.
      Victoria: Sommer, Jos, picture dealer, 50 Government, res 135 Yates

    14. [S34] WIL95, (Victoria, B.C.: Williams' B.C. Directory Co., 1895), 456.
      Victoria: Sommer, Joseph, art gallery, 50 Government, res 135 Yates

    15. [S39] HEN99, (Victoria, B.C.: Henderson Publishing Co., 1899), 964.
      Victoria: Sommer, Joseph, Fine Art Gallery, 50 Government, h 135 Yates

    16. [S783] HEN04, (Vancouver: Henderson Publishing, 1904), 1104.
      Victoria: Sommer Joseph, art goods, &c, picture framer 50 Government, h 135 Yates

    17. [S784] HENVIC05, (Victoria: Henderson Publishing, 1905), 255.
      Victoria: Sommer Joseph, Artists' Materials, Picture Frames, Photographic Goods. 50 Government. Res. 135 Yates

    18. [S785] HEN05, (Vancouver: Henderson Publishing, 1905), 612.
      Victoria: Sommer Joseph, art goods, &c, picture framer 50 Government, h 135 Yates

    19. [S789] HENVIC08, (Victoria: Henderson Publishing, 1908), 417.
      Victoria: ... 1012 Government ... Res 819 Yates

    20. [S792] PROVI09, (Victoria: Provincial Publishing, 1909), 547.
      Victoria: ... 1012 Government ...res 819 Yates

    21. [S732] HEN10, (Vancouver: Henderson Publishing, 1910), 1336.
      Victoria: Sommer, Joseph & Sons ... 1012 Government
      Not listed as a person.

    22. [S802] HENVIC15, (Victoria: Henderson Publishing, 1915), 532.
      Victoria: Sommer, Joseph, & Sons, Pictures and Frames, Kodaks, Photo Supplies and Artists' Materials, 1012 Government Phone 3058

    23. [S809] WRI23, (Vancouver: Wrigley Directories, 1923), 1797.
      Victoria: Sommer Joseph r 646 Superior
      Victoria: Sommer Jos of J Sommer & Sons r 646 Superior

    24. [S757] WRI24, (Vancouver: Wrigley Directories, 1924), 1333.
      Victoria: Sommer Jos h 646 Superior

    25. [S758] WRI25, (Vancouver: Wrigley Directories, 1925).
      Victoria: not listed

    26. [S652] BVIPA death registration index.
      Registration no. 1925-09-346388 (microfilm B13126)

    27. [S628] (Victoria) Colonist, (Victoria: Colonist), 5 Mar 1925, 12.
      Death notice