David Spencer Ltd. Department Stores
1873 - 1948
Victoria, Vancouver, New Westminster, Nanaimo, Courtenay, Duncan,
Chilliwack, Mission
The Spencer "Diamond S" logo
“Diamond S” was the name of the Spencer ranch near Clinton.
David Spencer founded his early chain of British Columbia department stores
in Victoria in 1873.
He opened a store in Vancouver in 1906, and in December 1926 it was expanded into
a major 9-storey building on Hastings St. at Richards.
A 1916 Spencer framing label.
For a number of years they
published a pamphlet titled Store Topics, mostly intended as information
for the staff and employees of the company.
A sampling of Store Topics front cover images 1928-1930.
Store Topics cover image 1929 (detail).
Store Topics back cover image 1929.
Interestingly, the Christmas number of December 1929 had an article noting
that artist Edward J. Cherry had been an employee at
Spencer's prior to Cherry's departure to Europe to fight in World War One. He donated one of his etchings for reproduction in the journal.
E.J. Cherry etching The Old Curiosity Shoppe.
A small drawing of Spencer's Arcade in the Hastings St. store.
A small drawing of Spencer's Chilliwack store.
Silhouettes of the Toy Parade by Mrs. Oke.
A cartoon by Jack Wright.
A cartoon by Buckley Studios of a summer event.
Spencer was a supporter of the arts, and held at least two important but now
little-remembered exhibitions of BC art in 1930 and 1936. The Golden Jubilee
exhibition was (to the author's knowledge) the largest art exhibition held
in Vancouver up until 1968.
1926 advertisement in The Paint Box
The store also sold the work of local artists and artisans. Maud
Sherman painted small watercolour / pen and ink greeting cards for the store in
the 1930s, as well as carved and painted wood brooches depicting birds and animals.
1936 Spencer's framing label, courtesy West Vancouver Museum and Archives
On December 1, 1948, the
entire chain of nine stores was sold to the T. Eaton Company.
Exhibitions
| DATE |
LOCATION |
EXHIBITION |
|
|
|
| 1930 March 17 - ? |
David Spencer Vancouver |
All-British Columbia Art Exhibition
|
| 1936 August 18 - 28 |
David Spencer Vancouver |
B.C. Artists' Golden Jubilee Exhibition |
| 1944 April ? - ? |
David Spencer Vancouver |
Contemporary British Paintings |
References
David Spencer Ltd. Store Topics issues 45, 54, and 57.
Vancouver Centennial Bibliography
The Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver
Refer also to art and framing stores of Vancouver.
Clippings
Some Interesting People You Know by Editor
David Spencer Limited Store Topics, Christmas Number December 1929.
Issue includes etching The Old Curiosity Shop by E.J. Cherry illustrated.
Acknowledgments by Editor
David Spencer Limited Store Topics, Christmas Number December 1929.
"An "All-British Columbia Art Exhibition" will open at David Spencer Ltd. on March 17."
Art Notes by John Radford,
Vancouver Sun March 1 1930
"Princess Alice also paid an informal visit to an exhibition of contemporary
British paintings in the David Spencer store art gallery Friday. These
paintings have been brought to Canada by Alex. Fraser, London art dealer, to
sell in aid of the British was effort. Princess Alice, who had known Mr. Fraser
in London, showed great interest in the project. "I do hope you are successful"
she said."
From "Princess Alice Buys Painting By City Man"
Daily Province, April 19 1941
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