Search Results - Research Collections - Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

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