McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Wolfe, William P.
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1910-1995
History
William P. Wolfe, also referred to his clients as Bill, was a Montreal antiquarian dealer of old and rare books, paintings, prints, maps, and manuscripts specializing in Canadiana. Born in Regina in 1910, Wolfe became interested in historical memorabilia at age fourteen. He moved with his parents to Montreal at age fifteen in 1925. Wolfe worked for thirty years as a book printer until 1956 when he opened up his antiquarian book store in Old Montreal, William P. Wolfe Bookseller Inc. He ran his business during the approximate years of 1950 and 1980. Wolfe first opened his shop at 400 Atlantic Avenue in Montreal from roughly October 1958 and June 1959. He then moved to 2050 Goyer in Montreal around 1959. Wolfe moved his business one final time in 1964 and remained there until 1980. In October of 1980, Wolfe sold his business and established the Canadiana Gallery where he continued the business of buying and selling early Canadian paintings, topographical watercolours and engravings, antiquarian maps, historical and literary manuscripts, and ephemera. At this gallery, Wolfe took on the role as director from October 1980 to 1984 which was located at 4920 Maisonneuve W. Boulevard in Montreal. Wolfe retired in 1986 and died around 1995.