Fonds consists of four series: I. Personal, II. Professional, III. Activities, IV. Brewster family. I. Personal series, 1905-1982, 18 cm of textual records, 160 photographs, 2 sound recordings. Includes correspondence, interview and recorded conversation, address/notebook, artwork, other textua…
ca.80 cm of textual material. -- ca.900 photographs : prints, postcards, transparencies, negatives, copy negatives. -- 1 photograph album (50 prints). -- 3 sound recordings : audio tape cassettes
History / Biographical
Forrest Oliver "Pat" Brewster, 1896-1982, was a trail guide, outfitter and businessman in Banff, Alberta, Canada. Pat was a native and life-long resident of Banff. As a boy, he was an active Boy Scout and, by age seventeen, was a big game guide. After serving in World War I, Brewster established the first permanent camp at Lake O'Hara for the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1926, he took over the Brewster Transport Company outfitting business from his brothers, Bill and Jim. In the 1930s, he became involved in skiing explorations in the Assiniboine, Skoki and Sunshine areas. Pat Brewster was active in community affairs and, in his later years, was an avid historian of the region. He published three books of reminiscences between 1975 and 1982.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of four series: I. Personal, II. Professional, III. Activities, IV. Brewster family.
I. Personal series, 1905-1982, 18 cm of textual records, 160 photographs, 2 sound recordings. Includes correspondence, interview and recorded conversation, address/notebook, artwork, other textual records, photographs.
II. Professional series, 1892-1982, 47.5 cm of textual records, 266 photographs, 1 sound recording. Includes papers pertaining to various Brewster family and other businesses, writing papers and sound recording, and photographs pertaining to guiding and outfitting, tourism promotion and other.
III. Activities series, 1841-1983, 6.5 cm of textual records, 262 photographs. Pertains to genealogical research, other activities and collected material.
IV. Brewster family series, 1841-1981, 2.5 cm of textual records, 132 photographs. Pertains to Brewster family, Jack Brewster, John Brewster, Pearl Brewster Moore and the Moore family.
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 consists of manuscripts, ca.1976, "Naming Lake Louise" and untitled re skiing and ski development at Lake Louise, Skoki and Whitehorn. The latter describes history of Ski Club of the Canadian Rockies, ski lifts and the Village Lake Louise proposal. Third item is Beach House Hotel register, 1…
Rodney Touche was a businessman and ski developer at Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of manuscripts, ca.1976, "Naming Lake Louise" and untitled re skiing and ski development at Lake Louise, Skoki and Whitehorn. The latter describes history of Ski Club of the Canadian Rockies, ski lifts and the Village Lake Louise proposal. Third item is Beach House Hotel register, 1887-1892, Lake Minnewanka. Includes name, residence and frequently number and size of fish caught.
Fonds consists of selected reminiscences of Stuart Armour, particularly regarding Kate and Hayter Reed, Gordon Reed, friends Pat Brewster and Hamilton Jukes and various pack trips; letters to Pat Brewster; and photographs of Banff's first hotel, ca.1883, and Stuart Armour and Brewster boy in camp a…
1 cm of textual material. -- 3 photographs : prints
History / Biographical
Stuart Armour, b.1893, was a frequent summer visitor to the Banff area with his aunt and uncle, Hayter and Kate Reed, and cousin, Gordon. Over the years, he made numerous pack trips with Pat Brewster. Armour worked as a journalist and economic advisor in Hamilton, Ontario.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of selected reminiscences of Stuart Armour, particularly regarding Kate and Hayter Reed, Gordon Reed, friends Pat Brewster and Hamilton Jukes and various pack trips; letters to Pat Brewster; and photographs of Banff's first hotel, ca.1883, and Stuart Armour and Brewster boy in camp and packing a horse, ca.1920.
Fonds consists of manuscripts and published articles on hunting and fishing, wildlife, life on the trail, etc. for various American outdoors magazines, 1929-1938; correspondence pertaining to guiding and publication of Vernon-Wood's articles, 1928-1940; other textual material, 1972; and photographs…
10 cm of textual records. -- 3 photographs : prints
History / Biographical
Nello "Tex" Vernon-Wood, 1882-1978, was a guide and outfitter, national park warden and writer at Banff, Alberta, Canada and area. He came to Canada, ca.1900, and lived at Medicine Hat, Alberta until 1905. After working a short time on a horse ranch, Vernon-Wood came to Banff to work as a guide for Jim Brewster, for whom he worked for eight summers. After working for the National Park warden service beginning in 1915, Vernon-Wood went into the guiding business for himself, working out of the Lake Louise area. One of his major clients was Charles Walcott, Director of the Smithsonian Institute. Vernon-Wood wrote numerous stories for American sporting magazines, the best-known being the "Pipestone Letters," published in Hunting and Fishing magazine beginning in 1935. Following his guiding career, Vernon-Wood established a boys camp in the Windermere Valley and worked for Kootenay National Park
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of manuscripts and published articles on hunting and fishing, wildlife, life on the trail, etc. for various American outdoors magazines, 1929-1938; correspondence pertaining to guiding and publication of Vernon-Wood's articles, 1928-1940; other textual material, 1972; and photographs of Vernon-Wood with RCMP and firefighters, ca.1915. Includes a letter dated June 20,1874 from Owen Morris, Lieutenant Governor of the North West Territories, to Rev. John McDougall of Morleyville, Bow River, instructing McDougall to advise Indians of arrival and intentions of the North West Mounted Police, boundary commission and aims of the Queen
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.
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Columbia River Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Kicking Horse River Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Mount Stephen House, CPR hotel Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"
Print is from presentation album inscribed: "W. Whyte Esq., General Superintendent, Western Division C.P.R., Winnipeg. With Boorne and May's Compliments, Calgary, January 1889"