Narrow Results By
- Alpine Club of Canada fonds 49
- Ben Gadd fonds 31
- Luxton family fonds 20
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Lillian Gest fonds 10
- Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies fonds 10
- Bruno Engler fonds 8
- Dorothy Wardle fonds 8
- Douglas Leighton fonds 7
- Kidney family fonds 6
- Bob Hind fonds 5
- Maryalice Harvey Stewart fonds 5
Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions36
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Scope & Content
- Fonds consists of papers, photographs and sound recordings of Peter and Catharine Whyte and the papers and photographs of their respective families. Consists of three sous-fonds: V683, S37 and M36. M36 and S37 consists of three series. Series I: Peter and Catharine Whyte, Series II: Robb and Morse …
- Date Range
- 1856-1980
- Reference Code
- M36 / S37 / V683
- Description Level
- 1 / Fonds
- GMD
- Drawing
- Motion picture
- Film
- Photograph
- Album
- Ambrotype
- Cased photograph
- Daguerreotype
- Negative
- Photograph print
- Postcard
- Tintype
- Transparency
- Sound recording
- Cassette
- Reel to reel
- Textual record
- Plan
- Poster
- Private record
- Published record
1 Electronic Resource
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 1 / Fonds
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Sous-Fonds
- TBD
- Accession Number
- 3069 and various
- Reference Code
- M36 / S37 / V683
- GMD
- Drawing
- Motion picture
- Film
- Photograph
- Album
- Ambrotype
- Cased photograph
- Daguerreotype
- Negative
- Photograph print
- Postcard
- Tintype
- Transparency
- Sound recording
- Cassette
- Reel to reel
- Textual record
- Plan
- Poster
- Private record
- Published record
- Other Title Info
- Also known as the Whyte family fonds
- Date Range
- 1856-1980
- Physical Description
- 25 m of textual records. -- ca.46,000 photographs : prints, albums, postcards, cased photographs, transparencies, negatives. -- 178 sound recordings : audio tape reels, audio tape cassettes. -- 6 motion pictures (and film strips)
- History / Biographical
- Peter and Catharine Whyte were artists, photographers, outdoor enthusiasts, travelers, philanthropists and cultural workers at Banff, Alberta, Canada. Peter Whyte, 1905-1966, was born at Banff in 1905 to pioneer merchant Dave White and Annie (Curren) White. He was an accomplished skier and ski jumper and one of the region's first native-born painters with an intimate knowledge of the mountains and was an active photographer from ca.1920 until the 1950s. Peter Whyte studied art at the Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles, 1923-1924, and at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Boston, 1925, where he met Catharine Robb. Catharine Robb Whyte, 1906-1979, was born in 1906 at Concord, Massachusetts and grew up amongst the wealth and creativity of the Robb and Morse families. She studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Boston, 1925-1929.
- Following their marriage in 1930, the Whytes pursued a life of painting, photography, hiking, skiing and travelling. Their log home and studio in Banff became a focal point for their artist friends, Stoney Indians and local pioneers. Catharine shared Pete's involvement in skiing and hiking organizations and together they managed Skoki Lodge from 1932-1934. In following years, the Whytes travelled extensively. During the Second World War, Peter served in the reserve army, with the Royal Canadian Air Force as a photographer and, briefly, as an official war artist. Catharine continued to paint and maintain their home and, when possible, accompanied Pete to his military postings. In civilian life, Pete resumed his art career, explored new photographic techniques and sculpted.
- Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the Whytes formulated plans for a foundation to preserve the art and history of the Canadian Rockies. Plans for a building to house an archives, public library and gallery were in preparation when Pete died in 1966. The Peter Whyte Foundation was named in his honour. Catharine immersed herself in the development of what is now the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, in the cultural community, painting, outdoor activity, travel and work with the Stoney First Nations. She became a more active photographer, recording her travels and outdoor pursuits. She served in an official capacity with numerous cultural and charitable organizations, was a patron to individuals studying art and music, and supported numerous causes relating to the Stoney First Nations. Catharine also supported causes related to multiculturalism, regional culture and recreation, and cancer research. Despite her modesty and often anonymous patronage of causes, Catharine was recognized with numerous awards and honours, including the Order of Canada in 1978. She died in Banff in 1979.
- Scope & Content
- Fonds consists of papers, photographs and sound recordings of Peter and Catharine Whyte and the papers and photographs of their respective families. Consists of three sous-fonds: V683, S37 and M36. M36 and S37 consists of three series. Series I: Peter and Catharine Whyte, Series II: Robb and Morse families, Series III: White and Curren families. Within Series I, there are four Sub-series: Series: A. Catharine Robb Whyte papers; B. Peter Whyte papers; C. Peter and Catharine Whyte papers accessioned after 2017; D. Peter and Catharine Whyte sound recordings.
- Name Access
- Whyte, Peter
- Whyte, Catharine
- Subject Access
- Arts
- Communications
- Environment
- Exploration, discovery and travel
- Family and personal life
- First nations
- Sports, recreation and leisure
- Access Restrictions
- Some restriction/s on access
- Copyright, privacy, commercial use and other restrictions may apply
- Language
- Language is English
- Finding Aid
- Finding aids and reference tools: arrangement outline
- sous-fonds, series and file description for textual
- sub-series and group description for photographs
- item description, subject/proper name index, and summaries for sound recordings
- reference copies for sound recordings
- Creator
- Whyte, Peter
- Whyte, Catharine
- Category
- Arts
- Communications
- Environment
- Exploration, discovery and travel
- Family and personal life
- First nations
- Sports, recreation and leisure
- Title Source
- Title based on contents of fonds
- Processing Status
- Processed
Electronic Resources
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
Read more.
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Date Range
- 1962-1972
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 5 / b / 1701
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- I.A.5. Catharine Robb Whyte papers / photographs
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 5 / b / 1701
- Date Range
- 1962-1972
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Subject Access
- Banff
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
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- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Date Range
- 1967-1974
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 5 / b / 1702
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- I.A.5. Catharine Robb Whyte papers / photographs
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 5 / b / 1702
- Date Range
- 1967-1974
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Subject Access
- Banff
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
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- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Date Range
- 1961-1974
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 5 / b / 1706
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- I.A.5. Catharine Robb Whyte papers / photographs
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 5 / b / 1706
- Date Range
- 1961-1974
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Subject Access
- Banff
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
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Earthwatch Golden
https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions8487
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Scope & Content
- Earthwatch III, Golden, B.C. - meeting organized by Columbia Valley Naturalists.
- Date Range
- 1973-1974
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 4 / b / iii / 1372
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- I.A.4. Catharine Robb Whyte papers / photographs
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 4 / b / iii / 1372
- Date Range
- 1973-1974
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope & Content
- Earthwatch III, Golden, B.C. - meeting organized by Columbia Valley Naturalists.
- Subject Access
- Environment
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
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- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Date Range
- 1974-1978
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 4 / b / iii / 1375
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- I.A.4. Catharine Robb Whyte papers / photographs
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 4 / b / iii / 1375
- Date Range
- 1974-1978
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Subject Access
- Environment
- Conservation
- Land use
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
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Government Communiques
https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions8493
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Scope & Content
- Includes brief submitted by Catharine regarding Village Lake Louise and redevelopment of area.
- Date Range
- 1969-1972
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 4 / b / iii / 1378
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- I.A.4. Catharine Robb Whyte papers / photographs
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 4 / b / iii / 1378
- Date Range
- 1969-1972
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope & Content
- Includes brief submitted by Catharine regarding Village Lake Louise and redevelopment of area.
- Subject Access
- Village Lake Louise
- Environment
- Conservation
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
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- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Scope & Content
- Articles written by Jack Gorman.
- Date Range
- 1964-1971
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 5 / b / 1732
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- I.A.5. Catharine Robb Whyte papers / photographs
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 5 / b / 1732
- Date Range
- 1964-1971
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope & Content
- Articles written by Jack Gorman.
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
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Letters to Mother [February - June 1960]
https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions7492
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Scope & Content
- File pertains to 68 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from February 3 to June 30, 1960. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, wildlife, travel, camping, construction projects around the house (mostly pertaining to the new …
- Date Range
- 1960
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 146
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- GMD
- Postcard
- Private record
1 image
1 Electronic Resource
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- I.A.2. Catharine Robb Whyte papers / photographs
- Sous-Fonds
- M36
- Accession Number
- .
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 146
- Date Range
- 1960
- Physical Description
- 1.1 cm of textual records (87 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
- History / Biographical
- See fonds level description.
- Scope & Content
- File pertains to 68 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from February 3 to June 30, 1960. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, wildlife, travel, camping, construction projects around the house (mostly pertaining to the new addition), events and people in Concord, weather, and returning from a trip to Concord in June. Letters are mostly hand-written, some typed. Also includes postcards and a notecard.
- Notes
- Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive. Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981. 146 - 20 has a small newspaper clipping attached to the letter.
- Name Access
- Whyte, Catharine
- Whyte, Peter
- Robb, Edith Morse
- Simpson, Jimmy, Sr.
- Evans, Sam
- Morant, Nicholas (Nick)
- Morant, Willie
- Brewster, Fern
- Harmon, Don
- Kaquitts, George
- Kaquitts, Frank
- Beil, Charlie
- Vallance, Doris
- Vallance, Sydney
- McCowan, Dan
- Grayson, L. Stuart
- Ward, Sam
- Moore, Edmee
- Subject Access
- Activities
- Animals
- Art
- Artists
- Banff
- Banff Centre
- Banff Indian Days
- Banff Public Library
- Banff School of Fine Arts
- Banff Springs Hotel
- Bird watching
- Birds
- Birthday
- Businesses
- Calgary Stampede
- Camping
- Children
- Christmas
- Community events
- Community life
- Correspondence
- David Thompson Highway
- Deer
- Family
- Family and personal life
- First Nations
- Flowers
- Glenbow Foundation
- Golf Course
- Home
- Hot Springs
- Indigenous Peoples
- Lake Louise
- Leisure
- Painting
- Personal and Family Life
- Post Office
- Scenery
- Skating
- Ski areas
- Ski racing
- Ski jumping
- Skiing
- Stoney Nakoda
- Sunshine Village
- Weather
- Geographic Access
- Banff
- Lake Louise
- Moraine Lake
- Banff National Park
- Columbia Icefield
- Bow Lake
- Yoho National Park
- Calgary
- Alberta
- Concord
- Massachusetts
- Canada
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Conservation
- Good : all pages creased throughout from being folded prior to accession, minor rips and tears along the edges of most pages. 146 - 20 : staple removed from insert, replaced with plastic paper clip.
- Creator
- Robb Whyte, Catharine
- Title Source
- Title based on contents of file
- Processing Status
- Processed
Electronic Resources
Images
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
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Letters to Mother [January 1961 - February 1962]
https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions7494
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Scope & Content
- File pertains to 41 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 2, 1961 to February 15, 1962; Edith passed away February 18, 1962. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, wildlife, travel, hockey and football games, the C…
- Date Range
- 1961-1962
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 148
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- GMD
- Postcard
- Private record
1 image
1 Electronic Resource
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- I.A.2. Catharine Robb Whyte papers / photographs
- Sous-Fonds
- M36
- Accession Number
- .
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 148
- Date Range
- 1961-1962
- Physical Description
- 2.6 cm of textual records (ca. 185 pages ; 21.9 x 27.8 cm or smaller)
- History / Biographical
- See fonds level description.
- Scope & Content
- File pertains to 41 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 2, 1961 to February 15, 1962; Edith passed away February 18, 1962. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, wildlife, travel, hockey and football games, the Calgary Stampede, weather, and the 1962 space launch. Letters are mostly hand-written, some typed. Also includes postcards and notecards. M36 / 148 - 114 to 120 are not fully dated - unsure of order within other 1961 letters. All are postcards.
- Notes
- Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive. Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981. M36 / 148 - 29 is missing its second half, indicated by Catharine to be a picture of Bow Lake.
- Name Access
- Whyte, Catharine
- Whyte, Peter
- Robb, Edith Morse
- Harvie, Eric
- Brewster, Fred
- Morant, Nicholas (Nick)
- Simpson, Jimmy, Jr.
- Simpson, Jimmy, Sr.
- Twoyoungmen, Jacob
- Beil, Charlie
- Morant, Willie
- Madsen, Ken
- Currie, Flossie
- Vallance, Doris
- Fulmer, Alice
- Link, George K. K. (Tommy)
- Link, George K.K.
- Vallance, Sydney
- Whyte, Jon
- Luxton, Norman
- Moore, Edmee
- Moore, Pearl
- Ward, Sam
- Subject Access
- Activities
- Animals
- Art
- Artists
- Banff
- Banff Centre
- Banff Indian Days
- Banff Public Library
- Banff School of Fine Arts
- Bird watching
- Birds
- Birthday
- Businesses
- Calgary Stampede
- Camping
- Children
- Christmas
- Community events
- Community life
- Correspondence
- David Thompson Highway
- Deer
- Family
- Family and personal life
- First Nations
- Flowers
- Glenbow Foundation
- Glenbow-Alberta Institute
- Home
- Hot Springs
- Indigenous Peoples
- Lake Louise
- Library
- Leisure
- Painting
- Personal and Family Life
- Post Office
- Prince of Wales Hotel
- Royal Canadian Legion, Colonel Moore Branch No.26
- Scenery
- Skating
- Ski areas
- Skiing
- Stoney Nakoda
- Weather
- Geographic Access
- Banff
- Lake Louise
- Moraine Lake
- Banff National Park
- Columbia Icefield
- Bow Lake
- Jasper
- Jasper National Park
- Rocky Mountain House
- Yoho National Park
- Waterton National Park
- Calgary
- Alberta
- Canada
- Language
- English
- Creator
- Robb Whyte, Catharine
- Title Source
- Title based on contents of file
- Processing Status
- Processed
Electronic Resources
Images
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
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Letters to Mother [July - December 1960]
https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions7493
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Scope & Content
- File pertains to 74 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from July 2 to December 30, 1960. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, wildlife, travel, camping, construction of the new kitchen & workroom (including the removal of …
- Date Range
- 1960
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 147
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- GMD
- Postcard
- Private record
1 image
1 Electronic Resource
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- I.A.2. Catharine Robb Whyte papers / photographs
- Sous-Fonds
- M36
- Accession Number
- .
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 147
- Date Range
- 1960
- Physical Description
- 1.7 cm of textual records (107 pages ; 21.9 x 27.8 cm or smaller)
- History / Biographical
- See fonds level description.
- Scope & Content
- File pertains to 74 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from July 2 to December 30, 1960. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, wildlife, travel, camping, construction of the new kitchen & workroom (including the removal of the original stone chimney in the kitchen), the Calgary Stampede, the death of George Paris, Walter Phillips going blind, the United Nations summit in September, weather, and a visit Catharine made to Concord in December. Letters are mostly hand-written, some typed. Also includes postcards, a telegram, and a notecard.
- Notes
- Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive. Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981. M36 / 147 - 28 appears to be missing page 2, but could be misnumbered.
- Name Access
- Whyte, Catharine
- Whyte, Peter
- Robb, Edith Morse
- Whyte, Barbara
- Whyte, Clifford
- Simpson, Jimmy, Sr.
- Lefroy, Beatrice
- Lefroy, Robert
- Browne, Belmore
- Browne, Evelyn
- Evans, Sam
- Cameron, Stewart
- Millar, Chuck
- Link, George K. K. (Tommy)
- Link, George K.K.
- Morant, Nicholas (Nick)
- Morant, Willie
- Brewster, Fern
- Paris, George
- Phillips, Walter J.
- Lonsdale, Tom
- Vallance, Sydney
- Ward, Sam
- Reid, Charles
- McLean, George
- McLean, Bill
- Subject Access
- Activities
- Animals
- Art
- Artists
- Banff
- Banff Centre
- Banff Indian Days
- Banff Public Library
- Banff School of Fine Arts
- Bird watching
- Birds
- Birthday
- Businesses
- Calgary Stampede
- Camping
- Children
- Christmas
- Community events
- Community life
- Correspondence
- David Thompson Highway
- Deer
- Family
- Family and personal life
- First Nations
- Flowers
- Funeral
- Home
- Hot Springs
- Indigenous Peoples
- Lake Louise
- Leisure
- Painting
- Personal and Family Life
- Post Office
- Scenery
- Skating
- Ski areas
- Skiing
- Stoney Nakoda
- Sunshine Village
- Weather
- Geographic Access
- Banff
- Lake Louise
- Moraine Lake
- Banff National Park
- Columbia Icefield
- Bow Lake
- Jasper
- Jasper National Park
- Yoho National Park
- Calgary
- Alberta
- Concord
- Massachusetts
- Canada
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Creator
- Robb Whyte, Catharine
- Title Source
- Title based on contents of file
- Processing Status
- Processed
Electronic Resources
Images
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
Read more.
Man & Resources
https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions8503
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Date Range
- 1972-1973
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 4 / b / iii / 1388
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- I.A.4. Catharine Robb Whyte papers / photographs
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 4 / b / iii / 1388
- Date Range
- 1972-1973
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Subject Access
- Environment
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
Read more.
Northwest British Columbia
https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions8563
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Scope & Content
- Proposed development scheme for Northwest B.C.
- Date Range
- 1973-1974
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 4 / b / iii / 1421
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- I.A.4. Catharine Robb Whyte papers / photographs
- Reference Code
- M36 / I / A / 4 / b / iii / 1421
- Date Range
- 1973-1974
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope & Content
- Proposed development scheme for Northwest B.C.
- Subject Access
- Environment
- Conservation
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
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Peter Whyte papers and photographs
https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions828
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Scope & Content
- Series consists of the following sub-series: 1. Personal papers, 1905-1956; 2. Correspondence, 1909-1962; 3. Financial, legal and business papers, 1914-1964; 4. Professional activities and interests, 1920-1961; 5. Photographs, ca.1900-1930. Textual records pertain to Whyte's interests, influences a…
- Date Range
- 1905-1964
- Reference Code
- M36 / S37 / V683 / I / B
- Description Level
- 3 / Series
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 3 / Series
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- I.B. Peter Whyte papers and photographs series
- Accession Number
- 3069
- Reference Code
- M36 / S37 / V683 / I / B
- Date Range
- 1905-1964
- Physical Description
- 73 cm of textual records. -- ca.3400 photographs (ca.2000 prints, ca.1400 negatives, 3 albums of ca.300 prints).
- History / Biographical
- Peter Whyte, 1905-1966, was an artist, photographer, outdoor enthusiast, traveller and philanthropist at Banff, Alberta. Born in Banff, Alberta to pioneer Banff merchant Dave White and Annie (Curren) White, Peter Whyte took advantage of the many opportunities for winter sports afforded by the mountains, becoming an accomplished skier and ski jumper. He was one of the region's first native-born painters with an intimate knowledge of the mountains. Whyte studied cartooning by correspondence and was encouraged by resident and visiting artists to pursue an art career, first at the Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles, 1923-1924, and in 1925 at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston where he met Catharine Robb.
- Peter Whyte's varied activities included driving Hollywood stars to mountain motion picture locations, escorting groups of Chinese workers for the Canadian Pacific Railway, painting with Belmore Browne and J. E. H. MacDonald and travelling around the world by steamer. Following his marriage to Catharine, their painting flourished and their involvement in early ski development at Skoki occupied their winters. The accidental death of one of their ski guests had a profound effect on Pete and they left the ski business to travel.
- During the war, Whyte seved in the reserve army, Banff Company of the Calgary Highlanders and later with the Royal Canadian Air Force as a photographer. He served briefly as an official war artist. In civilian life he resumed his art career, explored new photographic technologies and sculpted. Cataracts interupted his work during the 1950's. Declining health plagued Whyte and after a protracted illness he died in 1966. The Peter Whyte Foundation (later the Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation) was named in his honor.
- Scope & Content
- Series consists of the following sub-series: 1. Personal papers, 1905-1956; 2. Correspondence, 1909-1962; 3. Financial, legal and business papers, 1914-1964; 4. Professional activities and interests, 1920-1961; 5. Photographs, ca.1900-1930.
- Textual records pertain to Whyte's interests, influences and friendships prior to his marriage; also to Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte's travels, artwork, photography and skiing. Includes material arising from Whyte's Army and Air Force career and his involvement in the Sky Line Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies and Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. Correspondents include Belmore Browne, John Murray Gibbon, Lawren Harris, J. E. H. McDonald, Aldro Hibbard, Carl Rungius.
- Photographs consist of 1390 negatives and ca.500 corresponding prints by Peter Whyte dating from the time he began photography, ca.1920, until his marriage to Catharine Robb in 1930. Negative formats include vest pocket (4 x 6 cm) and Ica roll film (8.3 x 11 cm). Material pre-dating 1920 may have been taken by another family member. Photographs pertain to scenic views in the Banff-Lake Louise area, Banff and area events, friends and activities, mountain trips and world travels. Also includes prints of friends, relatives and promotional views of national parks collected by Peter Whyte and photograph albums assembled by Whyte pertaining to family and friends, winter sports, Banff Winter Carnival and motor trips.
- Subject Access
- Banff
- Banff National Park
- Films and film making M
- Photography M
- Royal Canadian Air Force M
- Skiing
- Whyte, Catharine Robb M
- World War II, 1939-1945 M
- Access Restrictions
- Access to photographs requires permission in advance from the Head Archivist.
- Finding Aid
- Sub-series-level outline available. Inventory available in printed form and through this database. Photographs are described at the sub-series level only. Printed inventory provides more detail than the database for photographs.
- Related Material
- Constitutes Sous-fonds I, Series B of the Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds. Other photographs by Peter Whyte are found in Sous-fonds I, Series C.
- Title Source
- Title based on contents of series
- Content Details
- Forms part of Sous-fonds I, Series B of the Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds. With the acquisition of a vest pocket camera around 1920, at approximately 15 years of age, Peter Whyte's very prolific photographic career began. (While vest pocket images -- 4 x 6 cm. negatives -- appear in the White family collection as early as 1917, none of these can be positively identified as being taken by Peter; it seems more likely that the camera was utilized by Annie, Clifford, or even Lila, and then handed down to Peter.) The earliest photograph of Peter handling a camera was taken on a family trip to the western U.S. in 1921. Indeed, many of his early photographs were taken on these family motor camping trips. In late 1922 or early 1923, Peter acquired an Ica roll film camera (3 x 4 inch negative) which he used throughout his marriage to Catharine Robb and into the early 1930s. A large number of photographs were made with this camera, particularly in the 1923-1924 period. During his trip around the world in 1929, he returned briefly to the vest pocket format, probably for the sake of convenience.
- Processing Status
- Processed.
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
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- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Scope & Content
- Motion picture documents Banff Indian Days activities such as setting up teepees, dancing, and leaving the camp on horseback perhaps for Banff Indian Days Parade. A note found in the film canister states that part of the film is the “Campbell Kids? At Ranch.” The film also pertains to catamaran and…
- Date Range
- [ca.1955]
- Reference Code
- V683 / III / E / NF - 1
- Description Level
- 6 / Item
- Part Of
- Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds
- Description Level
- 6 / Item
- Fonds Number
- M36 / V683 / S37
- Series
- V683 / III / E : Peter and Catharine Whyte series
- Sous-Fonds
- V683
- Reference Code
- V683 / III / E / NF - 1
- Date Range
- [ca.1955]
- Physical Description
- 1 motion picture: 16 mm; (400ft, 11 min.) acetate, colour; sd; original --
- Scope & Content
- Motion picture documents Banff Indian Days activities such as setting up teepees, dancing, and leaving the camp on horseback perhaps for Banff Indian Days Parade. A note found in the film canister states that part of the film is the “Campbell Kids? At Ranch.” The film also pertains to catamaran and outrigger boats in Hawaii. Lead tape reads “Catamaran & Outrigger good colour. 23 18 (?) P+F (?)” Adhesive sticker on metal film can reads, “Wakiki 1953, 7c – 1955.”
- Subject Access
- Banff
- Banff Indian Days
- Family
- Title Source
- Title based on contents of file
- Processing Status
- Processed
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
Read more.