Manitoba Photographers: William James Crooks (1877-1935)

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W. J. Crooks
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Link to:
Work locations | Samples | Sources

Born in England on 17 August 1877, he came to Manitoba in 1910 and, for several years, owned and operated the Campbell Photo Studio established by his brother-in-law, who had moved to Vancouver, BC. He specialized in portraiture. Originally located on Portage Avenue, he later moved the studio to a building at the corner of Academy Road and Wellington Crescent, living with his family on the second floor. On 15 November 1913, he married Anna Bray (c1887-1943) at Winnipeg. They had three children: Mrs. J. P. Vernon, William George Crooks, and Gordon Herbert Crooks. He was President of the Winnipeg Photographers’ Association for three years prior to his death, and he assisted A. J. Musgrove in establishing the Winnipeg Art School. He died at Winnipeg on 8 November 1935 and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery.

Work location(s)

Year(s)

Address

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Portage Avenue

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Corner of Academy Road and Wellington Crescent

Samples

Coming later

Sources:

Marriage and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1916 Canada census, Ancestry.

“W. J. Crooks, pioneer photographer of city, dies Friday morning,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 November 1935, page 6.

“Mrs. W. J. Crooks dies in hospital Thursday,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 November 1943, page 2.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 16 May 2013

Manitoba Photographers: 1858 to Present

A list of professional photographers who have worked in Manitoba, from 1858 to the present, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society.

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Gordon Goldsborough & Manitoba Historical Society. All rights reserved.