Formal Portrait Archives | Page 2 of 2 | British Columbia’s Black Pioneers

John Thomas Pierre: Tailor

John Thomas’ father, Thomas Whiting Pierre, started the tailoring and dyeing business in 1858. A notice about the partnership is published in the British Colonist announcing the partnership […]

Peter Lester: partner in the firm Lester&Gibbs

In San Francisco Lester was a partner with Gibbs in the Pioneer Boot and Shoe Emporium on Clay Street in San Francisco. It was in this store that […]

Robert Clanton: store owner, bookkeeper

Robert had been in Victoria for 56 years when he died on December 31, 1914. He was survived by his wife, Victoria, 1 daughter living in Portland, Oregon, […]

James Barnswell: “he built some of Victoria’s most elegant homes”

James Barnswell was 30 when he arrived in Victoria. At age 42 he married Mary Lowe who had also come to Victoria. They had 7 children. He died […]

Lucretia Alexander, daughter of Charles and Nancy

Lucretia is the 3rd daugher and 5th child of Charles and Nancy. Lucretia married William E. Mortimer on September 14, 1887. They had 8 children.

Studio portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Alexander on their 60th wedding anniversary

The long, black heavily petty-coated dress was a common formal dress in colonial times. “Because it was black it didn’t show the dirt so much or need to […]

Samuel Booth, a partner in the Industry Company, prospectors

Samuel Booth was a respected citizen in Victoria and well-known miner. He mined on Vancouver Island and in Northern B.C. Samuel Booth was born in Baltimore, he lived […]

Mifflin Wistar Gibbs, elected a U.S. municipal judge in 1873

Mifflin Wistar Gibbs was a man of honour with a strong belief in justice and equality. From his autobiography, on justice he writes “A judge who has to […]