Skip header and navigation

Narrow Results By

2 records – page 1 of 1.

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

m36_s37_finding_aid.pdf

Read PDF Download PDF
Less detail
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and potentially offensive content. Read more.
Part Of
David Zweifel fonds
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of 2 cm of textual records consisting of correspondence from Catharine Robb Whyte [1967-1973] and Murray Adaskin to David Zweifel; 9 colour transparencies pertaining to a 1977 ski trip in Lucerne, Switzerland and David and Marilyn Zweifel's wedding in 1975; 6 colour prints from a 197…
Date Range
1967
1972
1975
1989
Reference Code
M571 / V796 / S58
Description Level
1 / Fonds
GMD
Textual record
Cassette
Private record
Photograph
Photograph print
Transparency
Sound recording
Part Of
David Zweifel fonds
Description Level
1 / Fonds
Fonds Number
M571 / V796 / S58
Sous-Fonds
M571
V796
S58
Accession Number
2019.02
Reference Code
M571 / V796 / S58
GMD
Textual record
Cassette
Private record
Photograph
Photograph print
Transparency
Sound recording
Responsibility
Corresponence written by David Zweifel and Catharine Robb Whyte
Date Range
1967
1972
1975
1989
Physical Description
2 cm of textual records -- 15 photographs (9 col. transparencies, 6 col. prints) -- 1 sound recording
History / Biographical
David Zweifel (1950 -) is a professional violinist who met Catharine Robb Whyte in December 1966 at the age of 16, shortly following the death of her husband Peter Whyte. Catharine helped to fund Zweifel's musical education and concert trips over the following years, and arranged with her friend Murray Adaskin for Zweifel to obtain a violin that had been previously owned by David White, who was the father of Peter Whyte. Zweifel attended Master classes in music at the Banff Centre as a young adult and stayed in Catharine's home with her during the summer months. David and Catharine were both active in outdoor activities and sports, and the pair went on multiple skiing trips and hikes together including Mount Rundle. Upon completing his education, Zweifel moved to Switzerland to join the Lausanne Orchestra. Catharine visited David and his wife Marilyn in Switzerland at least twice, in 1972 and 1977. Zweifel later became a concert violinist for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra upon returning to Canada. David performed at Catharine Robb Whyte's memorial service at the Banff Centre on March 15, 1979 alongside Ken Stromberg [violin], and Tom Rolston [viola]. Marilyn Zweifel also performed a vocal solo. David Zweifel made a brief appearance in the 2016 film "Drawing Home", which tells the story of Peter and Catharine Whyte, in which he plays an unnamed violinist on a train ride to Banff.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of 2 cm of textual records consisting of correspondence from Catharine Robb Whyte [1967-1973] and Murray Adaskin to David Zweifel; 9 colour transparencies pertaining to a 1977 ski trip in Lucerne, Switzerland and David and Marilyn Zweifel's wedding in 1975; 6 colour prints from a 1972 ski trip in Austria with Catharine Robb Whyte, David Zweifel, and Marilyn Zweifel; and 1 sound recording of Catharine Robb Whyte's memorial service in 1979 Fonds consists of one series which currently includes all listed content in the fonds: Series I : Catharine Robb Whyte
Name Access
Zweifel, David
Whyte, Catharine
Zweifel, Marilyn
Adaskin, Murray
Adaskin, Frances
Banff Centre for the Arts
Subject Access
Performance
Music
Concert
Memorial
Skiing
Travel
Weddings
Geographic Access
Canada
Alberta
Banff
Calgary
Switzerland
Lucerne
Austria
Obergurgl
Access Restrictions
Some restrictions may apply [duplicate of Loan for Copy audio recording available in place of original]
Reproduction Restrictions
Some restrictions may apply
Duplication of musical segments of the memorial service is not permitted unless authorized by musicians
Language
English
Creator
David Zweifel
Category
Family and personal life
Biographical Source Notes
"Romance in the Rockies: The Life and Adventures of Catharine and Peter Whyte" by Kim Mayberry (Canmore: Altitude Publishing Canada Ltd., 2003), p. 98-99.
Copy of "Romance in the Rockies" located in the Whyte Museum's library under code [06 W62ma c.1]
Drawing Home Production Notes, M.Y.R.A. Entertainment, LLC. p. 34 [PDF]
Title Source
Title based on contents of fonds
Content Details
Cassette tape in accession 2019.02 is Loan for Copy, rest of items in fonds are part of a gift donation
Processing Status
Processed
Less detail
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and potentially offensive content. Read more.
Back to Top