William Jacobus (Jacques) Semeyn
(Baron William Jacobus Semeyn van Einkhausen)
June 5 1890 - May 23 1952
Jacques Semeyn was born in Grouw, the Netherlands. He trained as an architect at
the Technical School in Amsterdam from 1904 to 1907, then worked in Amsterdam for
five years before emigrating to Canada. He visited Canada in 1907-1908, traveling
by train across Canada to Victoria.
He inherited the title of Baron, a hereditary title which was bestowed on the
family by Prince William of Orange.
Postcard mailed from Winnipeg in 1907
Postcard mailed from Vancouver in 1907
Postcard mailed from Victoria in 1908
After moving to Victoria Semeyn became partners with Samuel Maclure
prior to starting his own practice. He later partnered with Karl Spurgin.
He exhibited artwork in the Second Exhibition of the
Island Arts & Crafts Society in 1911. He was listed
as an Intructor in design & interior decoration (1920).
He illustrated INDIAN LEGENDS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND in 1922.
He was a Design instructor at the Vancouver School of Decorative
& Applied Arts in the 1925-26 school year. In the 1926 City Directory he is listed
as a Draftsman working for Junkins Co., and living at 1390 Granville Street, the
Continental Hotel. In the 1927
Directory he is listed as Engineer, employed by S.E. Junkins, living at the same address.
The Sydney E. Junkins Co., B.C. Ltd., were Engineers and Constructors. Their office was in
Suite 605 Metropolitan Building, 837 West Hastings Street. Semeyn is not listed in the
City Directory in 1928.
He married Yvette Germaine Cross in Vancouver on July 1 1940. He was noted as Architect in
the Building Industry, living at the Hotel Metropolitan. He registered with the
Architectural Institute of B.C.
as member number 107. He retired as an Architect in 1950.
Semeyn died in Maple Bay in 1952, the death certificate noted that he was found
drowned after a fall from a boat.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
| DATE |
EXHIBITION |
ARTWORK |
|
|
|
| 1911 Oct. 5 - 7 |
IACS Alexandra Club
2nd Annual |
Sir William Wallace, Design for Hall Frieze |
|
|
Modern Decorative Designs |
|
|
Modern Decorative Designs |
References
INDIAN LEGENDS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND, 1922, The Musson Book Co. Ltd., Toronto ON
Text Alfred Carmichael, illust. Jacques Semeyn
No ISBN (98 pages, paperback in leather cover) Illust. b&w drawings.
THE ARCHITECTURAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA HANDBOOK - 1928
1928, published by AIBC, 90 pages
Includes Register of Members, regulations, Architect's Act
THE FINE ARTS IN VANCOUVER, 1886 - 1930 (refer to THOM69)
BUILDING THE WEST - Early Architects of British Columbia
2003; Edited by Donald Luxton, numerous contributing authors and researchers
Talonbooks, ISBN 0-88922-474-9
560 pages, extensively illustrated in black and white, some colour
Biographies of over 400 architects and firms; extensive bibliography
Full page biography of Semeyn on page 421, some building designs listed, also additional references.
B.C. VITAL STATISTICS ON-LINE marriage, death (refer to BCVS)
Clippings
"The school has been open since September and during the past term 160 day pupils have
been in attendance. ... Modelling instruction is under supervision of Mr. Charles
Marega; elementary drawing, Mrs. Frank Hoole; costume design
Mrs. T.J. Sharland; design Messrs. Theodore Korner and
Jacobus Semeyn."
From "Art School to Stage Exhibit"
Vancouver Province, June 14 1926
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