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 …
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.
Fonds includes textual records and photographs generated and collected by the Wilson family and pertaining to Tom Wilson, son Ed Wilson, daughter Ada Wilson and other family members. Textual records include: Ed Wilson's scrapbook, 1881-1968, which includes mainly items pertaining to Tom Wilson, Ed …
2 v. and 2 cm of textual records. -- ca.400 photographs : prints, copy negatives. -- 1 cm of print material
History / Biographical
The Wilson family were guides, outfitters and ranchers at Morley, Kootenay Plains, Banff and Nordegg, Alberta, Canada. Thomas Edmonds (Tom) Wilson, 1859- 1933, and Minnie McDougall Wilson, 1865-1936, had six children, including sons John Clark Wilson, 1888-1932, and Thomas Edmonds (Ed) Wilson, 1892-1973. Daughters were Ada, 1886-1967?, Rene, Bessie and Dora. Tom Wilson is credited with the discovery of Lake Louise in July of 1882, while working as a packer on the Canadian Pacific Railway survey through the mountains. In 1883, Wilson established his own business at Banff, Lake Louise and Field, British Columbia. After selling the business in 1904, Tom Wilson operated a horse ranch at Kootenay Plains. He later retired to Banff. Ed Wilson was born at Morley and raised in Banff. Around 1910 he began working for Brewster Trading Company at Banff and, later, Lake Louise. Just before the First World War, he moved to Nordegg, where he worked for the Bighorn Trading Company for many years.
Scope & Content
Fonds includes textual records and photographs generated and collected by the Wilson family and pertaining to Tom Wilson, son Ed Wilson, daughter Ada Wilson and other family members.
Textual records include: Ed Wilson's scrapbook, 1881-1968, which includes mainly items pertaining to Tom Wilson, Ed Wilson, the Wilson family, and early guiding and exploration in the Canadian Rockies (photocopy in two volumes); miscellaneous papers, 1905-1929, including a holograph speech by D. D. Galletly on the cave at Banff; letter and note re sale of horses to Frank Wellman, 1920; letters to Catharine Whyte from Ada Wilson re personal matters and Wilson family history, 1964-1965; transcripts of manuscripts by Tom Wilson and B. M. (Bess) Wilson re the CPR and tourism and 1916 pack trip Lake Louise to Kootenay Plains; letters of Col. Robert O'Hara to Tom Wilson, 1895- 1914, re Mount Assiniboine and Lake O'Hara; letter by Catharine Robb Whyte to Tom Link, 1965, re Lake O'Hara history based partly upon above material; diary, Trip to ranch by B. M. Wilson; essay, The last of the pathfinders by Dorie (Wilson) Legit; programmes, articles, clippings re Tom Wilson, 1924-1982; Eliza Edmonds certificate, 1845, and later clipping.
Photographs pertain to outfitting and guiding activities of Tom, John and Ed Wilson, including clients, associates and trips throughout the Rocky Mountains; Wilson family, friends and associates; Stoney Indians; Kootenay Plains; Banff people and events; Banff townsite and surrounding area; Canadian Pacific Railway; Nordegg area; 1861-1930. Includes photograph of Tom Wilson at Lake Louise inscribed to A. O. Wheeler, 1932. Many of the early photographs were taken by clients of Tom Wilson. Later, after settling at Kootenay Plains, Wilson was apparently given a camera by Mary Vaux and likely took many of the Stoney Indians views. Ed Wilson was an amateur photographer and likely took most of the views of staff at Lake Louise and of Nordegg.
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Identification made by Big Horn Elders: Charlie Abraham and John Wesley
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Item consists of Wapta mnûtha Wîyâbi (Big Horn women), Annie House seated on the left next to a child and unknown woman seated on the right holding a baby.
Item consists of Wapta mnûtha Wîyâbi (Big Horn women), Annie House seated on the left next to a child and unknown woman seated on the right holding a baby.
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Identification made by Stoney Nakoda Elders, not fully certain
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Stoney Nakoda Elders provided naming and other culturally relevant information during interviews held for Recognizing Relations, an archives initiative active from 2014-2023. The goal of this initiative was to name local Indigenous peoples in photographs held in the WMCR archives as well as encouraging access for Indigenous communities to these images.
Stoney Nakoda Elders provided naming and other culturally relevant information during interviews held for Recognizing Relations, an archives initiative active from 2014-2023. The goal of this initiative was to name local Indigenous peoples in photographs held in the WMCR archives as well as encouraging access for Indigenous communities to these images.
Multiple different identifications made for this photo not confirmed by Elders, unsure of certainty of identification.
Content Details
[Mrs. Silas Abraham (Stoney) at Kootenay Plains[also identified as Annie Twoyoungmen]]
[Updated description: Gussie Abraham, Stoney Nakoda-2017 dd]
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.
Information provided by Stoney Nakoda Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify Indigenous people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections.