Camera Workers, 1858-1950

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

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

Male 1871 - 1938  (67 years)


Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Wadds, David 
    Birth 16 May 1871  Kilroot, Antrim, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location  [25
    • Full birth date is from a private biographical account of his aunt Mrs. Agnes (nee Wadds) Mount.
    Gender Male 
    Where Active (Non-Specific Address) 1889-1892  Toronto, ON Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Home Address/Year 1894-1895  Vancouver, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    Hamilton St.
    Vancouver, BC
    Canada 
    Business Address/Year May 1892-Apr 1896  Vancouver, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    518 Cordova St.
    Wadds Brothers
    Vancouver, BC
    Canada 
    Business Address/Year Apr 1896-Nov 1897  Vancouver, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    45 Cordova St. (Sullivan Block)
    Wadds Brothers
    Vancouver, BC
    Canada 
    Home Address/Year 1896-Nov 1897  Vancouver, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    538 Homer St.
    Vancouver, BC
    Canada 
    Marriage 26 Mar 1898  Rossland, BC Find all individuals with events at this location  [25
    Bride: Eva Saville Medlock 
    Business Address/Year Nov 1897-1900  Nelson, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    Victoria St., corner of Stanley (Sullivan Block)
    Wadds Brothers
    Nelson, BC
    Canada 
    Business Address/Year 1901-1903  Nelson, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    West Baker St., near Steele
    Wadds Brothers
    Nelson, BC
    Canada 
    Business Address/Year 1904-1905  Nelson, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    West Baker St., near Ward
    Wadds Brothers
    Nelson, BC
    Canada 
    Business Address/Year 1902, 1905  Grand Forks, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Itinerant 
    Address:
    Bridge St.
    Grand Forks, BC
    Canada 
    Business Address/Year 1902, 1905  Phoenix, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Itinerant 
    Address:
    Martin Block
    Phoenix, BC
    Canada 
    Home Address/Year 1903-1911  Fairview, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Business Address/Year 1912-1914  Vancouver, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Operated in 1912 as the Silver Studio 
    Address:
    25 Hastings E. St., no. 404
    Dodson Block
    Vancouver, BC
    Canada 
    Business Address/Year Jul 1914  Delta, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    In Ladner 
    Address:
    McNeely Hall
    northeast corner, Delta and Chisholm streets
    Delta, BC
    Canada 
    Business Address/Year 1918  Crawford Bay, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Business Address/Year 1919-1921  Trail, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Business Address/Year 1922-1928  Crawford Bay, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Business Address/Year 1929  Rossland, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Business Address/Year 1930-1934  Crawford Bay, BC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Death 31 Dec 1938  Trail, BC Find all individuals with events at this location  [26
    Association Wadds Brothers (Relationship: Partner) 
    Association Wadds, George Thomas (Relationship: Brother) 
    Association Vancouver Photographic Company (Relationship: Owner) 
    Association Wadds Brothers (Relationship: Partner) 
    Association Medlock, Eva Saville (Relationship: Spouse) 
    Association Harper, Harold Hilton (Relationship: Photographer) 
    Association Silver Studio (Relationship: Proprietor) 
    Person ID I366  Camera Workers | W, vol. 1, 1858-1900
    Last Modified 25 May 2023 

  • Photos
    Wadds Brothers ID, ca. 1905.
    Wadds Brothers ID, ca. 1905.
    Courtesy of the City of Vancouver Archives, Out P716.2.

    Documents
    David Wadds ad, <i>British Columbia Federationist</i>, 13 Jul 1912, p. 4.
    David Wadds ad, British Columbia Federationist, 13 Jul 1912, p. 4.
    David Wadds ad, <i>British Columbia Federationist</i>, 24 Aug 1912, p. 4.
    David Wadds ad, British Columbia Federationist, 24 Aug 1912, p. 4.
    Wadds Brothers ad, <i>Phoenix Pioneer</i>, 24 May 1902, p. 4.
    Wadds Brothers ad, Phoenix Pioneer, 24 May 1902, p. 4.
    David Wadds operated the brothers' Nelson studio and also worked as an itinerant photographer, initially in Apr 1902 from J.H. Blome's former Grand Forks studio.
    Wadds Brothers news, Grand Forks <i>Evening Sun</i>), 14 Apr 1905, p. 2.
    Wadds Brothers news, Grand Forks Evening Sun), 14 Apr 1905, p. 2.
    In the same news item a week earlier he gave a different set of dates which indicates his plans had changed.
    Wadds Brothers news item, Grand Forks <i>Evening Sun</i>, 5 May 1905, p. 1.
    Wadds Brothers news item, Grand Forks Evening Sun, 5 May 1905, p. 1.
    Wadds Brothers ad, Grand Forks <i>Evening Sun</i>, 14 Apr 1902, p. 1.
    Wadds Brothers ad, Grand Forks Evening Sun, 14 Apr 1902, p. 1.
    Wadds Brothers and David Wadds news item, Grand Forks <i>Evening Sun</i>, 14 Apr 1902, p. 2.
    Wadds Brothers and David Wadds news item, Grand Forks Evening Sun, 14 Apr 1902, p. 2.
    Wadds Brothers ad, <i>Nelson Daily Miner</i>, 27 Feb 1901, p. 4.
    Wadds Brothers ad, Nelson Daily Miner, 27 Feb 1901, p. 4.
    Wadds Brothers news, Grand Forks <i>Evening Sun</i>, 7 Apr 1905, p. 1.
    Wadds Brothers news, Grand Forks Evening Sun, 7 Apr 1905, p. 1.
    In the same news item a week later the dates are different, which indicates his plans had changed.
    Wadds Brothers (David Wadds) news, Grand Forks <i>Evening Sun</i>, 9 May 1905, p. 1.
    Wadds Brothers (David Wadds) news, Grand Forks Evening Sun, 9 May 1905, p. 1.
    Wadds Brothers' ad, Vancouver <i>Daily World</i>, 20 Dec 1892, p. 1.
    Wadds Brothers' ad, Vancouver Daily World, 20 Dec 1892, p. 1.
    Wadds Brothers' ad, Vancouver <i>Daily World</i>, 2 Dec 1892, p. 1.
    Wadds Brothers' ad, Vancouver Daily World, 2 Dec 1892, p. 1.
    Vancouver Photographic Company's ad, Vancouver <i>Daily World</i>, 14 Jul 1892, p. 8.
    Vancouver Photographic Company's ad, Vancouver Daily World, 14 Jul 1892, p. 8.
    David Wadds news, <i>Phoenix Pioneer</i>, 3 May 1902, p. 4.
    David Wadds news, Phoenix Pioneer, 3 May 1902, p. 4.
    Wadds Brothers ad, Nelson <i>Daily News</i>, 18 Oct 1906, p. 4.
    Wadds Brothers ad, Nelson Daily News, 18 Oct 1906, p. 4.
    While they continued to use Wadds Brothers for business purposes until 1912, the official date of their partnership dissolution was 1 Aug 1906.
    David Wadds news, <i>Delta Times</i>, 23 Jul 1914, p. 3.
    David Wadds news, Delta Times, 23 Jul 1914, p. 3.
    He opened a temporary studio in the community of Ladner on 23 Jul 1914.
    David Wadds and Silver Studio news, Vancouver <i>Province</i>, 6 Feb 1912, p. 24.
    David Wadds and Silver Studio news, Vancouver Province, 6 Feb 1912, p. 24.
    When David Wadds returned to Vancouver from Nelson to open a new photo studio, he purchased the former premises of the photographers Davidson and Stark.
    David Wadds and Silver Studio news, Vancouver <i>Province</i>, 17 Feb 1912, p. 50.
    David Wadds and Silver Studio news, Vancouver Province, 17 Feb 1912, p. 50.

  • Notes 
    • STATUS: Commercial; Itinerant.
    • BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY: In the 1881 Canada census, David Wadds at age 9 is living with his parents, along with younger brother G.T. Wadds, in Barrie, ON. He and his brother G.T. Wadds moved to Toronto in 1882 and studied photography there under H.E. Simpson, "the leading photographer of Toronto". The Toronto city directories listed David between 1889-1893 as a clerk (1889 Simpson Brothers, photographers), photo-printer (1890 H.E. Simpson, photographers), partner with J. C. Wright (1892), and an engraver (1893).

      David moved to Vancouver about May 1892 and purchased the Vancouver Photo Company from J.D. Hall. Joined by his brother G.T. Wadds, the two operated under the name Wadds Brothers.

      David left for Nelson on 22 Nov 1897 to open a branch studio. He was married in Rossland on 26 Mar 1898 to E.S. Medlock, a retoucher for the Vancouver studio.

      David operated studios after the turn of the 20th century at Crawford Bay and Fairview, B.C., as well as operating in the warmer months as an itinerant photographers in mining communities such as a Phoenix and Grand Forks. In those communities between 1902 and 1905 he was still operating under the Wadds Brothers name. In Grand Forks, beginning in Apr 1902, he worked out of J.H. Blome's former studio address.

      He returned to Vancouver by 1912 and operated a photo studio in competition with his brother, then returned to Crawford Bay where he worked as a photographer, as well as in Rossland and Trail.

      In addition to his photographic business while residing in the Kootenay region, he also invested in mineral claims, On 18 Sep 1900 it was reported that he had acquired from M.R. Driscoll the "entire interest" in Craigellachie on Morning Mountain (Nelson Daily Miner, 18 Sep 1900, p. 4).

      His obituary reported his age as 67.
    • REFERENCES: WIL93; WIL94; WIL95; HEN97; WIL97; HEN99; WIL99; HEN00; World, 1892 07 14/8, 1896 03 10/8, 06 (souvenir ed.):49-52; News-Advertiser, 1897 11 23/8, 1898 03 31/10; Unknown & undated news clipping "David Wadds Dead in Trail Hospital"; Letter, Toronto City Archives to Mattison, 1979 05 08.

  • Sources 
    1. [S46] COLLECTION: BVIPA.

    2. [S134] COLLECTION: BVA.

    3. [S45] COLLECTION: BVAA.

    4. [S721] Census of Canada 1881.
      Province of ON, District no. 139, Sub-district of Barrie, Division no. 1, p. 19, line 18

    5. [S720] Census of Canada 1891.
      Province Ontario, District no. 119, District Toronto City, Sub-district St. Patrick's Ward, p. 89, line 9.
      His age is given as 19 and his occupation is photographer.

    6. [S339] Voters List, (Victoria, B.C.: Province of British Columbia, 1874-), 1903, 1911, Ref. NW 324.1 B862.
      Fairview

    7. [S339] Voters List, (Victoria, B.C.: Province of British Columbia, 1874-), 1916 (farmer), 1920, 1933 (farmer), Ref. NW 324.1 B862.
      Crawford Bay

    8. [S782] HEN03, (Vancouver: Henderson Publishing, 1903), 410.
      Nelson: Wadds David of Wadds Bros. res Nelson ave., Fairview addition

    9. [S698] HENVAN10, (Vancouver: Henderson Publishing, 1910).
      Vancouver: not listed

    10. [S732] HEN10, (Vancouver: Henderson Publishing, 1910), 366.
      Crawford Bay: Wadds David farmer & photographer
      Crawford Bay: Wadds D fruit franch
      Nelson and Vancouver: not listed

    11. [S795] HENVAN11, (Vancouver: Henderson Publishing, 1911).
      Vancouver: not listed

    12. [S797] HENVAN12, (Vancouver: Henderson Publishing, 1912), 1283.
      Vancouver: Wadds David photographer 25 Hastings E Phone 2970

    13. [S746] HENVAN13, (Vancouver: Henderson Directory Co., 1913), 1381.
      Wadds, David, Photographer, Suite 404, 25 Hastings E., Phone Seymour 2970.
      Street directory indicates he occupied suites 404 to 406.

    14. [S747] HENVAN14, (Vancouver: Henderson Directory Co., 1914), 1310.
      Vancouver: Wadds David photogr 404, 25 Hastings E res same

    15. [S748] HENVAN15, (Vancouver: Henderson Directory Co., 1915).
      Vancouver: not listed

    16. [S1019] JEFNELSON15, (Nelson, BC: W.A. Jeffries and Company, 1915?).
      Crawford Bay and Trail: not listed

    17. [S749] HENVAN16, (Vancouver: Henderson Directory Co., 1916).
      Vancouver: not listed

    18. [S740] WRI18, (Vancouver, BC: Wrigley Directories, c1918), 148.
      Crawford Bay: Wadds D photographer

    19. [S738] WRI19, (Vancouver, BC: Wrigley Directories, c1919), 611.
      Trail: Wadds D photographer

    20. [S741] WRI21, (Vancouver, BC: Wrigley Directories, c1921), 687.
      Trail: Wadds David photographer

    21. [S742] WRI22, (Vancouver, BC: Wrigley Directories, c1922).
      Trail: not listed

    22. [S762] WRI29, (Vancouver: Wrigley Directories, 1929), 565.
      Rossland: Wadds David photog

    23. [S763] WRI30, (Vancouver: Wrigley Directories, 1930).
      Rossland: not listed

    24. [S768] SUN34, (Vancouver: Sun Directories, 1934), 296.
      Crawford Bay: Wadds David photographer

    25. [S670] BVIPA marriage registration.
      Registration no.
      1898-09-165147 (microfilm reel B11386); digital facsimile URL (accessed 9 Jan 2017): http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/ae1a1b58-cecb-462b-9984-0dda1edd1d53

    26. [S652] BVIPA death registration index.
      Registration no. 1938-09-552226 (not microfilmed)