Series consists of the following series: A. Dave White Sr. papers, 1887- 1942; B. Annie White papers, 1875-1955; C. Dave (Jack) White papers, 1911- 1955; D. Clifford White notebook, ca.1915; E. John D. Curren papers, 1886- 1940; F. White-Curren family photographs, 1885-1953. Papers consist of pers…
ca. 2 m of textual records (and 36 oversize items). -- ca.3100 photographs (ca.1800 negatives, ca.1300 prints, 5 albums of ca.400 prints).
History / Biographical
The White and Curren families of Banff, Alberta were the maternal and fraternal relatives of Peter Whyte. Dave McIntosh White, 1864- 1940, Peter Whyte's father, came to the Canadian Rockies in 1885 with the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1894 he opened a general merchandise business, the Park Store, in Banff. The success of this business resulted in expansions in 1908-1909 and in 1912-1913. For a short time, Whyte operated a similiar business in Bankhead. White was a long-time friend of the Stoney Nakoda, Annie (Curren) White, 1879-1955, emigrated to Canada from Scotland with her father, John Donaldson Curren, and a brother in 1886. They settled in Anthracite, east of Banff, where J. D. Curren operated a small coal mining business. Annie Curren married Dave White in 1901. Their children, all born in Banff, were Clifford, 1902-1964, Lila, 1903-1961, Peter, 1905-1966, and Dave Jr. (Jackie), 1908-1961. Clifford and Jack worked for the family business, Dave White and Sons.
Scope & Content
Series consists of the following series: A. Dave White Sr. papers, 1887- 1942; B. Annie White papers, 1875-1955; C. Dave (Jack) White papers, 1911- 1955; D. Clifford White notebook, ca.1915; E. John D. Curren papers, 1886- 1940; F. White-Curren family photographs, 1885-1953. Papers consist of personal, legal and financial papers; and records of Dave White, General Merchant, Dave White and Sons and White and Bayne Store. Pertains to Stoney Nakoda First Nations, Banff Indian Days, Highland gatherings, buildings, churches, skiing, coal and coal mines and Lake Minnewanka. Photographs consist largely of negatives and prints produced by various members of the White family, including Dave, Annie, Clifford and Jack White, pertaining to the White family members, travels, activities; the Banff-Lake Louise area; Banff events, places and people; winter sports; social events and friends, 1910- 1953, and glass negatives by J. D. Curren pertaining to Curren and White families and activities, Mount Assiniboine pack trip and Bow Valley scenes; ca.1885-1905. Also includes collected prints of family and friends, family businesses and buildings and winter sports, and albums pertaining to White and Curren families, 1885-1919 and Clifford White photographs, 1917-1921.
Access to photographs requires permission in advance from the Head Archivist.
Finding Aid
Series-level outline available. Electronic database available. Photographs are described at the sub-series level only (printed inventory provides more detail than the computer inventory).
Related Material
Consitutes Sous-fonds III of the Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds.
Title Source
Title based on contents of file
Content Details
Forms part of Sous-fonds III of the Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds.
Photographs in this section begin with the early family portraits of David McIntosh White taken in New Brunswick and those of Annie Curren White taken in Scotland. The earliest negatives attributable to David and Annie White date ca.1908, or approximately the time they moved to their new home between Lynx Street and Bow Avenue. Most of the negatives from the first two decades of family photography are sized 8.3 x 11 cms., with the exception of what appears to be occasional experimentation with other formats, such as vest pocket and 4 x 5 Graflex, and images generated by other family members, such as J.D. Curren and the White children. This body of photography was undoubtedly initiated through the acquisition of a roll film camera on or about 1908.
Judging from subject arrangement and other evidence, including shadow images of the photographer, most White family photography is attributable to Annie Curren White. There are several photographs from the collection showing her holding a camera or photographing family members, while no such photographs exist of Dave White. There can be little doubt, however, that Dave White participated in the photographic process, particularly in the period from 1910 to 1917, when there are numerous photographs of Annie and the children.
On family motor trips, which began around 1917 and lasted until ca.1923, Dave and Annie's son Clifford appears to have shared photographic responsibilities. From this period on, Clifford and Annie, either one or the other, are the only family members who do not appear in group photographs. From this it is assumed that Dave White played a very minor roll as family photographer after 1918.
Photographs attributable to Peter Whyte begin to appear around 1920, but most of his photography appears to be more personal than of a family record variety. None of the photographs in the early part of the collection have been attributed to Lila or Jack (Dave Jr.) White.
After 1923, the point when the White children were grown and beginning to move away from home, Annie White becomes the primary family photographer. In the late 1920s she appears to have experimented with a Graflex camera for a time, but by 1930 had returned to a smaller format roll film camera. She continued to take numerous family photographs, usually group poses of her children and grandchildren, after Dave White's death in 1940 until shortly before her own passing in 1955.
Also included in this section of the collection are a number of personal photographs generated by Clifford and Jackie (Dave Jr.) White. Around 1918, Clifford appears to have acquired his own camera which produced a 3 x 5 inch negative, and from that period until ca.1923, he produced many images of activities shared with friends and brothers, including a number of photographs of early ski tours and ski jumping in the Banff area. One album bears Clifford's initials on nearly all photographs, and these images match with many of the 3 x 5 inch negatives found elsewhere in the collection. Photographs attributed to Jackie (Dave Jr.) date from the late 1940s and early 1950s and may have entered the collection prior to the death of Annie White.
Much of the dating of this collection from 1908 to 1920 was done by estimating the ages of various White children. Beyond that, the usual techniques were utilized, i.e. identification and dates noted on prints by family members, the depiction of specific historical events, changes in physical and cultural features, model dating of automobiles, reading of license plates, etc.
File consists of 2 books; one 18th century, one 20th century stamp book. Includes 1723 copy of ‘A Life of Mahomet’ by Humphrey Prideaux; missing front/back covers, replaced with plain brown paper covers. Handwritten title ‘Mahomet’ written on front cover and side binding in different handwritings; …
Humphrey Prideaux (1648-1724) was born in Cornwall and eventually became a Doctor of Divinity. Prideaux was an author of multiple textual works pertaining to faith and particularly Christianity. He was the Dean of Norwich from 1702 until his death in 1724.
Scope & Content
File consists of 2 books; one 18th century, one 20th century stamp book. Includes 1723 copy of ‘A Life of Mahomet’ by Humphrey Prideaux; missing front/back covers, replaced with plain brown paper covers. Handwritten title ‘Mahomet’ written on front cover and side binding in different handwritings; front believed to be by Nicholas Morant (?), side unknown. Also includes book of Japanese stamps collected by Nicholas Morant; many not dated, various designs and sizes, annotated on covers with Nicholas Morant's personal ink stamp.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 75 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 91
File consists of one photograph album containing 27 photograph prints and 5 tintype photographs. Contents include black and white portraits of various unnamed individuals, as well as one photograph of a large group of children posing outside of a log building [possibly a schoolhouse].
Photographs in album produced by Charles H. Wright, James Sinclair, Burgess Photography [Guelph], T. Smith Photographic Artist [Guelph], and other unnamed photographers.
Date Range
[ca. 1865 - 1870]
Physical Description
1 album (32 photographs : b&w ; 12 x 8 cm or smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of one photograph album containing 27 photograph prints and 5 tintype photographs. Contents include black and white portraits of various unnamed individuals, as well as one photograph of a large group of children posing outside of a log building [possibly a schoolhouse].
Notes
First page of album is annotated in black ink [see "Content Details"].
Date range provided is estimate by Processing Archivist based on contents of album [active periods of photographers credited in album overlap between ca. 1867 - 1870; album is signed by "Annie McKenzie", who married and became "Annie McDougall" in 1871].
File consists of 13 antique maps, 6 of which depict regions in India and 7 which depict regions in Germany. Content pertains to a small map collection originally issued to Tim Ffrench (?) during WWII which were later owned by Nicholas Morant. Some maps of reserves contain personal annotations and h…
Date Range
1868
1892
1894
1903
1904
1917
1921
1950
Reference Code
M300 / III / D / 5 / 54 to 66 O.S. & V500 / III / D / 5 / PA - 96 O.S.
13 Maps: print; b&w, and set of 4 rag paper mounts
Scope & Content
File consists of 13 antique maps, 6 of which depict regions in India and 7 which depict regions in Germany. Content pertains to a small map collection originally issued to Tim Ffrench (?) during WWII which were later owned by Nicholas Morant. Some maps of reserves contain personal annotations and highlighted/coloured routes; none of German maps are annotated.
File also contains set of 4 rag paper mounts, annotated. 3 naming artist Walter Wilcox (likely formerly held his works but are now blank). One labelled 'Model'.
Notes
Maps were originally stored together in one poster tube labelled:
"MAPS OF GERMANY INDIA See notes inside"
Shipping label: PLS HOLD Armand To Nicholas Morant 222 Melville Ave Westmount Montreal" (with two 3 - cent stamps attached)
Note inside, written by Nicholas Morant:
"These maps were among those issued to Capt. Tim Ffrench (?) preparatory to intelligence work done during W. War II"
Signed "Nick M."
Wilcox mounts were stored in brown paper packaging with several other blank mounts (disposed of). Labelled section of original paper packaging has been stored with mounts in oversize box for reference.
Two annotated books: History of Ireland by John Mitchell,1869 and Holy Bible, 1886, containing notes on family history by various family members including Annie White and Florence White. Florence is Jack's second wife.
Two annotated books: History of Ireland by John Mitchell,1869 and Holy Bible, 1886, containing notes on family history by various family members including Annie White and Florence White. Florence is Jack's second wife.
File consists of letters, legal papers, receipts, typescript, newsclippings, ephemera including Fred Brewster, Jack Brewster, Jim Brewster, Willie and James Brewster, Bill Brewster, Pearl B. Moore, Philip A. Moore, Dalton Gordon Brewster, Sarah I. Brewster
File consists of letters, legal papers, receipts, typescript, newsclippings, ephemera including Fred Brewster, Jack Brewster, Jim Brewster, Willie and James Brewster, Bill Brewster, Pearl B. Moore, Philip A. Moore, Dalton Gordon Brewster, Sarah I. Brewster
Title Source
Title based on contents of file
Content Details
Life Insurance certificate for George Alexander Brewster, 1888. Held in Oversize storage "B"
Window display card from Teepee Inn in old Brett building, ca.1950.
Drawing of two men titled "Here is my tip" by P. Spohn, ca.1971. Reverse is Paris restaurant paper mat showing view from Mount Norquay.
Ink drawing of bears scaring pack train titled "Wuff" by Stan J. Carr, 1974, also signed "Windy"
Ink drawing titled "Swimming the Bow at Hillsdale 1913" by Stan J. Carr, 1974. Carr writes about event to Pat Brewster on the reverse side.
Pencil drawing of Bassett Hound by Eadie, ca.1975.
Pencil cartoon of cow wrangling by W. Eadie, ca.1975.
Pencil cartoon animal heads by W. Eadie, ca.1975, reverse has various ways of writing W. Eadie.
Land title photocopy re John Brewster title to land in the 40th township, 26 range West, 4th meridian in the District of Alberta, NWT, ca.1890?
Held in oversize "H"
Sub-series consists of research notes relating to western Canadian history.
Title Source
Title based on contents of sub-series
Content Details
LIST OF FILES (LUX / II / B4 - 269 to 278 ) :
* 9 research notebooks, Canadian and western history research
* 1 research notebook
* 9 articles: "Fort Owen - A Chronology"; "Ukrainians in Canada"; "Esterhazy - Saskatchewan's Fifty-Year Old Magyar Settlement"; "Pioneer Spirit: Kaposvar The Oldest Hungarian Colony, 1886-1926"; Comment on "Pioneer Spirit"; "Steinbach: The First Mennonite Settlement in Western Canada"; "Icelanders in Canada"; "The Church and the Pioneering Life in Scandia"; "Across the Prairies Two Centures Ago."
* 1 research notebook
* 1 research notebook
* 0.7 cm research notes
* 1 research notebook
* 0.3 cm collected correspondence re Buffalo Hunt [1910-1974]
* 3.0 cm collected essays, correspondence and articles[1869-1955]
Ambrotype in case. Case covered with black coated paper. Front and back covers feature architectural and vegetal design in relief. The inside cover features a design debossed in red velvet and an adhesive sticker that reads “Catharine Newbury Robb.” The Ambrotype is framed in a brass coloured, decorative metal mat.
File consists of transcribed correspondence between members of the Cook, Wright and Adams families. File includes letters between Catharine Cook, Mary Wright, Cornelia Cook Adams and "Arianna" [ranging between 1844-1866]; and a letter sent from Cornelia to her brother, Roger Cook Adams, pertaining …
File consists of transcribed correspondence between members of the Cook, Wright and Adams families. File includes letters between Catharine Cook, Mary Wright, Cornelia Cook Adams and "Arianna" [ranging between 1844-1866]; and a letter sent from Cornelia to her brother, Roger Cook Adams, pertaining to the transcribed letters [ca.1944].
Cased Daguerreotype in brown coated paper case. Case does not have a front cover. Back cover has debossed floral design. Two metal latches remain on the right edge of the case. Image is framed in a brass-coloured octagonal frame. A red adhesive sticker is found in the bottom left corner on the surface of the cover glass that reads “Edward S. Morse”. Cover glass is secured in place by a brass-coloured frame that is decorated with foliate motifs.
Enclosures from letters to Catharine from her mother, includes letters from family friends and relatives. Includes old family letters 1862 - 1920, f.181. Mildred Owen is first cousin to Edith Mary B. Clarke is the sister of Edith's father, Edward S. Morse; Jenny Brooks is Edith's friend from chil…
Enclosures from letters to Catharine from her mother, includes letters from family friends and relatives. Includes old family letters 1862 - 1920, f.181. Mildred Owen is first cousin to Edith Mary B. Clarke is the sister of Edith's father, Edward S. Morse; Jenny Brooks is Edith's friend from childhood; Dorothy Wayman is the author of a biography of Edward S. Morse.
Ambrotype in wooden case. Case covered with black coated paper. Front and back covers feature architectural and vegetal design in relief. The inside cover features a design debossed in red velvet and an adhesive sticker that reads “E.S. Morse.” The Ambrotype is framed in a brass coloured, decorative metal mat
Ambrotype in black coated paper case. The covers of the case feature a simple rectilinear debossed boarder. Interior of front cover padded with red velvet. An adhesive sticker has been placed on velvet padding that reads “E.S. Morse.” Padded portion has come loose from the front cover and may fall out when Ambrotype is viewed. Cover glass is held in the case by a decorative brass-coloured foil boarder. Image is framed by an oval brass-coloured metal mat. Mat feature a small weave like motif.
Case contains 1 b&w daguerreotype. Daguerreotype documents a young man seated for a portrait in a studio setting. Young man has been identified as E.S. Morse.
V683 / IV / A : Robb / Morse Family Personal Series
Reference Code
V683 / IV / A / PT - 33
Date Range
[ca. 1840 - 1860]
Physical Description
Cased Photograph : 1 b&w Daguerreotype --
Scope & Content
Case contains 1 b&w daguerreotype. Daguerreotype documents a young man seated for a portrait in a studio setting. Young man has been identified as E.S. Morse.
Daguerreotype in brown coated paper case. Case covers feature a stylized foliate embossing. Interiors of both covers have gold embossed frames. Interior of front cover is covered with velvet padding which is also decorated with a foliate debossed design. Cover glass is held in case decorative brass-coloured foil boarder. An adhesive sticker has been placed on the top left corner that reads “E.S.Morse.” Image is framed by an oval brass-coloured metal mat. Mat feature a small foliate motif. Mat has text stamped on the bottom right corner that reads “G.M. HOWE. PORTLAND ME.”
File consists of one bound volume of genealogical research pertaining to the family of John Hanson in Osmanthorpe, Nottinghamshire, England. Content includes records from 1640 onwards, including general timelines, birth and death records, and transcriptions of earlier written accounts.
2.5 cm of textual records (1 volume : 193 pages ; 21 x 27.5 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of one bound volume of genealogical research pertaining to the family of John Hanson in Osmanthorpe, Nottinghamshire, England. Content includes records from 1640 onwards, including general timelines, birth and death records, and transcriptions of earlier written accounts.
Notes
Original date of volume creation listed as 1829; however, includes information added as late as 1846.
Material Details
Includes coloured illustration of building (annotated) between pages 74 and 75