Fonds consists of two series : I. Dan McCowan series; II. Mary E.(Fee) McCowan series. I. Dan McCowan series, ca.1905-1967?, ca.30 cm of textual records, ca.3400 photographs, 4 graphic records. Includes five sub-series: A. Correspondence; B. Writing; C. Photography; D. Professional activities; E…
ca.50 cm of textual records. -- ca.3400 photographs (ca.1000 negatives, ca.1540 lantern slides, ca.770 transparencies 35mm, 117 prints). -- 4 graphic records
History / Biographical
Dan McCowan, 1882-1956, was a naturalist, lecturer and writer at Banff, Alberta, Canada. McCowan came to Banff from Scotland in 1907. There he met Mary Ethel Fee, 1888-1973, a teacher, and they married in 1921. Mary McCowan shared an interest in Dan's work, hand-coloured his lantern slides and accompanied him on his tours. Dan McCowan was an active photographer and naturalist and lectured at hospitals during and following the First World War. He was later recommended to Sir Edward Beatty, CPR President and hired by the CPR to promote the scenic beauties and natural history of the mountains, which he did for 26 years. For a period his lantern slide presentations included motion pictures. During the 1940s, he used natural colour Kodachrome slide photography. While in England in 1936, McCowan was made a Fellow of the Royal Zoological Society. From ca.1907 onwards, he wrote for magazines and newspapers. The first of six books was published in 1936; the last in 1955. Beginning ca.1937, McCowan wrote and broadcast radio talks on natural history on CBC. These were heard widely in Canada and the United States. In 1939, McCowan accompanied the King and Queen on a portion of their railway tour through the mountains, providing information on natural history and residents. During the Second World War, he toured extensively on behalf of the YMCA. The McCowans retired to Cloverdale (now Surrey), B.C., ca.1951.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of two series : I. Dan McCowan series; II. Mary E.(Fee) McCowan series.
I. Dan McCowan series, ca.1905-1967?, ca.30 cm of textual records, ca.3400 photographs, 4 graphic records. Includes five sub-series: A. Correspondence; B. Writing; C. Photography; D. Professional activities; E. Ephemera.
Correspondence includes incoming letters re writing, business and broadcasting. Writing is in the form of notes and notebooks, unpublished and published manuscripts, newspaper articles and other materials.
Photography includes negatives, lantern slides, 35mm transparencies and prints. Material pertains to flora, fauna, people, places and scenery, also family, activities and events. Photographs of Banff personalities and visitors are available in negative and lantern slide form, 254 items.
Lantern slides were designed for lectures such as: "On skyline trails in the Canadian Rockies"; "On nature trails at Banff and Lake Louise"; "A naturalist in the Canadian Rockies" (200 slides); "Snow peaks and flower meadows in the Canadian Rockies" (200 slides); "Over the hills and far away: a pictorial review of the Canadian Rockies"; "Victory Day, May 8th 1945, Dan McCowan presents: Bye-gone days in Banff" (exact titles were based on title slides).
II. Mary E. (Fee) McCowan series consists of diaries, 1926-1957, photocopied from 12 volumes (19 cm); and letters from Dan McCowan, 1943. Diaries discuss joint travels, activities, lecture tours for CPR (Canada, U.S., U.K.), Banff, trail rides, skyline hikes, and Royal Visit, 1939
Notes
Both Dan and Mary McCowan have written identifications on the slide mounts
Fonds consists of two sous-fonds: M521 and V75.
M521 consists of four series, 154 cm, ca.1870-2002. Series I: Dorothy Wardle Personal Papers, 69.5 cm, ca.1870-2002 (includes Dorothy's written work and research and notes related to Banff). Series II: Wardle Family, 32.5 cm, 1872-1998 (including cor…
154 cm of textual records. -- 1304 photographs (1190 prints, 95 negatives, 19 transparencies). -- 6 photograph albums.
History / Biographical
The Wardle family was comprised of husband and wife, James Morey Wardle (June 26,1888 - May 18,1971) and Maud Leette (Roney) Wardle (May 24,1889 - December 1,1969), and their one child, Dorothy Hope Wardle (May 23,1919 - July 20,2003).
James Wardle, born in Chiliwack, British Columbia, was a civil engineer and public servant. He was the Superintendent of Banff National Park from 1918-1921, Chief Engineer for Parks Canada from 1921-1935, and Deputy Minister of the Interior from 1935-1936. He is primarily known as a highway design engineer, particularly for building the Banff-Windermere, Banff-Lake Louise, and Banff-Jasper highways. He was a councillor for the Municipality of Rockcliffe Park in Ontario and he was the President of the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies in Banff from 1925-1929. Mount Wardle in Vermillion was named after him in 1921. James married Leette on November 4, 1913, with whom he had one child, Dorothy.
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Dorothy (also known as Dot and Dorie) grew up in Banff, Alberta and Ottawa, Ontario, due to her father's position with the federal government. She was educated at the Mountain School in Banff and at the Elmwood School in Ottawa. All three family members were graduates of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. James graduated in 1912 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Leette graduated with a Bachelor's degree, and in 1942, Dorothy also earned a Bachelor's degree. Dorothy was prominent in student life and active in athletics. In 1941, Dorothy became the first woman elected as President of the Alma Mater Society and during her academic career, Dorothy was a member of the Levana Intercollegiate Debative, University Centenary Committee, and Queen’s War Aid Commission.
Dorothy spent her career as a freelance writer however, upon graduation she served as the first Secretary-In-Charge of Records at Carleton College (now Carleton University) from 1942-1944 in Ottawa and in the mid-1950s worked as a secretary for the Glenbow Foundation in Calgary. Dorothy pursued a lifelong interest in traveling, art, and antiques. Although she was fiercely proud and protective of Banff and the Park, and remained a volunteer and patron of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Dorothy eventually settled in Sidney, British Columbia and shared an apartment with Sheila Iris Ritchie, with whom Dorothy travelled extensively. After her death in 2003, Dorothy, "Dorie," was laid to rest alongside her parents in the Old Banff Cemetery.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of two sous-fonds: M521 and V75.
M521 consists of four series, 154 cm, ca.1870-2002. Series I: Dorothy Wardle Personal Papers, 69.5 cm, ca.1870-2002 (includes Dorothy's written work and research and notes related to Banff). Series II: Wardle Family, 32.5 cm, 1872-1998 (including correspondence with Carl Rungius and Mrs. Helen Brett, and Christmas and other greeting cards from Peter and Catharine Whyte). Series III: Queen's University, 7.5 cm, 1911-1980 (including graduation certificates for each family member and records pertaining to Dorothy's participation on the Alma Mater Society). Series IV: Travel, 44.5 cm, ca.1950-1988 (includes hand-written notebooks meticulously detailing their travels).
V75 consists of two series, 79.5 cm, ca. 1912-2001. Series I: Wardle Family, ca. 1912-1971, 6 albums, 31 cm of photograph prints and negatives (including family trips, trail rides in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and family gatherings). Series II: Dorothy Wardle, 1972-2001, 34 cm of photograph prints, negatives, and transparencies (including Dorothy's travels in Alberta and British Columbia, overseas, and various outings with friends).
Fonds pertains to the McCowan family, mainly the McCowan brothers and John and Jen (McCowan) Wilson. Content includes Banff personalities and places; activities, including curling, hockey, curling and fishing; events, including floods and fires in the town; Banff personalities and places. Also p…
Fonds includes photographs by Bill McCowan and Dan McCowan. Negatives are mainly by Dan McCowan. Wilson-McCowan photograph album was assembled by Bill Waterworth
Date Range
1908-1981, predominant 1908-[ca.1950]
Physical Description
80 photographs (40 negatives, 38 prints, 2 transparencies). -- 2 photograph albums (ca.800 prints). -- 1 textual record (1 v.)
History / Biographical
Bill McCowan, 1897-1975, was a government employee at Banff, Alberta, Canada. McCowan came to Banff from Scotland with his family in 1911. His brother, Dan McCowan, was a renowned naturalist and writer. Other siblings were Marie, Jim, Duncan, Rae, Jock and Jennie. Jennie McCowan (1894-1984) married John Clark Wilson (1888-1932), son of Tom and Minnie Wilson. Their daughter, Bernice, married Bill Waterworth.
Scope & Content
Fonds pertains to the McCowan family, mainly the McCowan brothers and John and Jen (McCowan) Wilson. Content includes Banff personalities and places; activities, including curling, hockey, curling and fishing; events, including floods and fires in the town; Banff personalities and places. Also pertains to World War I events and 82nd Battalion; royal visits; Calgary, Alberta places and events; scenic views, Banff and area, Rocky Mountains; Margaret Ashley, Henry and Mrs. Fonda. Textual item is Jock McCowan scrapbook, 1913-1981.
File consists of Banff Indian Days photographs and negatives depicting identified and unidentifed Indigenous individuals and families primarily in Banff. Photographs depict studio and environmental portraits, parades, events at the Banff Springs Hotel, 1944 Stampede, and ceremonies. There is a trip…
Date Range
1902
1913
1923
1926
1927
1932
1934
1939
1941
1944
1948
1950
[ca. 1950s]
Reference Code
LUX / I / D3a / 15 / NA - 01 to NA - 02
LUX / I / D3a / 15 / PA - 001 to PA - 108
Photographs are produced by J.G. Noble, F. Gully, Ernest A. Kehr, C.P.R. Photo, International Photographic Services Banff Springs Hotel, Western Ways Tucson, Associated Screen Limited and potentionally Byron Harmon.
Date Range
1902
1913
1923
1926
1927
1932
1934
1939
1941
1944
1948
1950
[ca. 1950s]
Physical Description
110 photographs : 2 b&w negatives ; 12 x 16 cm or smaller : 108 b&w prints ; 25.5 x 20.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of Banff Indian Days photographs and negatives depicting identified and unidentifed Indigenous individuals and families primarily in Banff. Photographs depict studio and environmental portraits, parades, events at the Banff Springs Hotel, 1944 Stampede, and ceremonies. There is a triptych of Ludwig "Big Chief" Banjo purchased by Clifford White from the Western Music Supply Co. Subjects include Enos Hunter, Nat Hunter, George Kaquitts, Tom Kaquitts Jacob Twoyoungmen, Hector Crawler, Ernest Kehr and others. Photographs are taken by J.G. Noble, F. Gully, Ernest A. Kehr, C.P.R. Photo, and potentionally Byron Harmon.
Notes
Some of the photographs have typed or handwritten annotations, photographer copyright stamps, and copyright embossing and debossing of early 20th century prints. PA-83,84,85 and 90 and may show government officials from Tasmania including John Francis Gaha.
PA-88 includes a copy negative. NA-01 has a copy print. Some prints or negatives have processing slip or enlargement requests.
PA-26 may have been used as a reference for Banff Indian Days poster drawn by Palenske, LUX / I / D3 / 8
File consists of Canadian Pacific Railway negative photographs pertaining to trail riders, camp staff, guides and outfitters, trail rides, fishing, camps, ceremonies, scenic views of Yoho, Jasper, and Banff National Parks, Canmore and surrounding area, and Banff's townsite. Trail riders in photogr…
129 photographs : b&w nitrate negatives ; 12 x 9.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of Canadian Pacific Railway negative photographs pertaining to trail riders, camp staff, guides and outfitters, trail rides, fishing, camps, ceremonies, scenic views of Yoho, Jasper, and Banff National Parks, Canmore and surrounding area, and Banff's townsite. Trail riders in photographs include John Murray Gibbon, Carl Rungius and Charlie Beil.
Notes
Original order retained, appears to be chronological.
Most negative envelopes individually titled and dated, majority from 1943 and 1944. Mostly nitrate photographs.
Original CPR negative envelopes retained in document file.
Sub-series pertains to 185 black and white negatives and includes group and individual portraits, weddings, scenic and landscape views, wildlife, sports, activities, businesses, buildings and facilities, and others.
Includes:
[1] - 2 Bill Wellman?, 1946
[2] - 12 [Mountain scenes] 1946 Nov.
[3] - 14…
185 photographs : b&w negatives ; 12.1 x 9.9 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
Sub-series pertains to 185 black and white negatives and includes group and individual portraits, weddings, scenic and landscape views, wildlife, sports, activities, businesses, buildings and facilities, and others.
Includes:
[1] - 2 Bill Wellman?, 1946
[2] - 12 [Mountain scenes] 1946 Nov.
[3] - 14 [Couple and baby] 1946 Nov.
[4] - 15 Girl at skating ring] 1946 Dec.
[5] - 17 River scenes 1946 Summer
[6] - 19 [Photographer at work] 1946 Summer
[7] - 20 [Two men] 1946 Summer
[8] - 21 [Man golfing] 1946 Sept.
[9] - 22 [Man fishing] 1946 Summer
[10] - 25 [Clouds] [1946?]
[11] - 26 [Interior of bus or train depot] 1946
[12] - 27 [Banff Indian Days parade] 1946 Summer
[13] - 28 [Banff Indian Days events] 1946 Summer
[14] - 30 [Banff Indian Days] 1946
[15] - 33 [Glass ball at Chateau Lake Louise] [1956?]
[16] - 34 [Scenes at Vermillion Lakes] 1946
[17] - 35 [Banff Indian Days] 1946
[18] - 38 [Views along Canadian Pacific Railway line near Banff] 1946
[19] - 39 [Man on glacier] [1946?]
[20] - 40 [Views along road near Banff] 1946
[21] - 42 [Bow Valley] 1946
[22] - 43 [Diving at Cave and Basin] 1946
[23] - 44 [Fishing] [1946?]
[24] - 45 [Car along road near Banff] 1946
[25] - 46 [Banff National Park east gate and Tunnel Mountain Campground gate] 1946
[26] - 47 [Train near Banff] 1946
[27] - 48 [Cave and Basin pool] 1946
[28] - 49 [Woman at Cave and Basin pool] 1946
[29] - 50 [Rocky Mountain sheep] 1946 Spring
[30] - 51 [Automobile on rails (near Banff?)] 1946
[31] - 53 [Tepees (at Indian Grounds?)] 1946
[32] - 54 [Buses at Johnston Canyon; view from near Johnston Canyon] 1946
[33] - 58 [Fishing] 1946 Summer
[34] - 59 [Man on horse (at Indian Grounds?)] 1946
[35] - 60 [Mountain views from along road, some including car] 1946
[36] - 61 [Rockslide?] 1946 Summer
[37] - 62 [Musicians at Banff Springs Hotel] 1946 Summer
[38] - 63 [Winter scene] 1945 Winter
[39] - 64 [Bow River and boathouse at Banff] 1945 Winter
[40] - 66 [Walking Buffalo] 1946 Summer
[41] - 67 [Deer family in Banff] 1946 Summer
[42] - 71 [Train at Banff Station] [1946?]
[43] - 75 [Couple hiking] 1946 Summer
[44] - 76 [Swimming pool at Chateau Lake Louise] [1946?]
[45] - 77 [Mountain scene] [1946?]
[46] - 78 [Musicians / concert at the Banff Springs Hotel] 1946
[47] - 80 [Horseback riding near Banff] [1946?]
[48] - 82 [Musicians / concert at the Banff Springs Hotel] 1946 Summer
[49] - 83 [Mountain scene] 1946
[50] - 84 [People feeding bears] 1946 Summer
[51] - 86 [Two men having drink] [1946?]
[52] - 87 [Oil industry material] 1946
[53] - 90 [Turner Valley? oil industry material] 1946 Summer
[54] - 91 Aircraft 1938?
[55] - 92 Army [tank] 1944 Winter
[56] - 93 Prince Albert [military equipment] 1944
[57] - 94 Edmonton, Pig Culls [packing plant] 1945
[58] - 95 Animals [bird] [ca.1945]
[59] - 96 [Beaver? Investigating backpack] [ca.1945]
[60] - 97 P.A. [Prince Albert military views] 1944
[61] - 98 P.A. [Prince Albert military views, mainly aircraft] 1944
[62] - 99 Mr. MacMillian, Indian Agent, Peigan Reserve, Brockett, Alberta 1945
[63] - 100 [Skiing at Mount Norquay] 1945
[64] - 103 [Winter scene] 1945
[65] - 103 [Military views, Prince Albert?] 1944
[66] - 104 [Dog team] [ca. 1945]
[67] - 106 For Pete LaGrandeur, Peigan Reserve, Brockett, Alberta [ca.1945]
[68] - 109 [Bow Lake? Copy negative] [ca.1945]
[69] - 111 [Highway road sign at Banff] [ca.1945]
[70] - 113 [Lake scene] [ca.1945]
[71] - 115 [Oil industry material] [ca.1945]
[72] - 116 [Bus driver and bus at Banff Indian Grounds [ca.1945]
[73] - 117 [Mountain views, rock and ice] [ca.1945]
[74] - 118 [Mountain views, including summit shots] [ca.1945]
[75] - 119 Mink [mink farm] [ca.1945]
[76] - 120 [Turner Valley, town, people, activities oil industry] [ca.1945]
[77] - 121 Wild horses [horse roundup?] [ca.1945]
[78] - 122 [Building, exterior and interior] [ca.1945]
[79] - 123 Indian camp [people, tepees, rodeo] [ca.1945]
[80] - 124 Fox culls [fox farm] [ca.1945]
[81] - 125 Seebe Dam culls [ca.1945]
[82] - 128 Fox [copy negatives of photograph of Bill Peyto and others on speeder in front of Banff Station] [ca.1945]
[83] - 129 Yellowknife [ca.1945]
[84] - 130 Tractor Train [northern post; dog sleds, moving equipment and supplies etc.] [ca.1945]
[85] - 131 Turner Valley [fire in oil field] [ca.1945]
[86] - 132 [Children in back yard] [ca.1945]
[87] - 133 Stampede [rodeo, Calgary and other location, possibly Morley] [ca.1945]
[88] - 134 Stock Yards [mainly train loading at stockyard] [ca.1945]
[89] - 135 Pigs [and pig farm] [ca.1945]
[90] - 136 Oil [industry] [ca.1945]
[91] - 137 Ottawa [ca.1945]
[92] - 138 Oil [industry] [ca.1945]
[93] - 139 [Military operations, Prince Albert area?] 1945
[94] - 140 [Military operations, Prince Albert area?] [ca.1945]
[95] - 141 [Lake scenes, not in mountains] [ca.1945]
[96] - 142 Exercise Eskimo, Canadian Army, Prince Albert [ca.1945]
[97] - 143 [Military parade] [ca.1945]
[98] - 144 [Measurement scale?] [ca.1945]
[99] - 145 [Camping, sailing] [ca.1945]
[100] - 146 [Man feeding bear] [ca.1945]
[101] - 147 [Ottawa military/social function; includes military band and personnel, dignitaries?] [ca.1945]
[102] - 148 [Duke friends and family?] [ca.1945]
[103] - 149 Wild horses [actually residential area of unknown city in winter] [ca.1945]
[104] - 151 [Man skiing] [ca.1945]
[105] - 152 [Banff house, front and back; woman in yard] [ca.1945]
[106] - 153 [Vermillion Lakes?] [ca.1945]
[107] - 154 Varsity Meet, Norquay 1947 Views of individual ski competitors; identified
[108] - 155 [Banff Winter Carnival, parade, queen events] 1947
[109] - 156 [Interior views, living room] [ca.1945]
[110] - 157 [Bow River; ice palace] [ca.1945]
[111] - 158 [Ski area] [ca.1945]
[112] - 159 [Skier; skiers receiving awards] [ca.1945]
[113] - 160 [Skiing; teams; skiers receiving awards] [ca.1945]
[114] - 161 [Baby and parents] [ca.1945]
[115] - 162 [Skis and boots] [ca.1945]
[116] - 163 Jack Oakie [man and woman] [ca.1945]
[117] - 164 Moxie Whitney and Jack Smith [actually photographs of baby] [ca.1945]
[118] - 165 Jack Smith [golfing, singing with band] [ca.1945]
[119] - 166 Jack Smith [singing with band] [ca.1945]
[120] - 167 [House in Banff] [ca.1945]
[121] - 168 [Man with skis] [ca.1945]
[122] - 169 [Winter mountain views at unknown ski area] [ca.1945]
[123] - 170 [Skiers] [ca.1945]
[124] - 171 [Winter mountain views at unknown ski area] [ca.1945]
[125] - 172 [Man on skis] [ca.1945]
[126] - 173 [Moose near Banff] [ca.1945]
[127] - 174 [Winter mountain view] [ca.1945]
[128] - 175 [Mount Assiniboine, buildings and mountain] [ca.1945]
[129] - 176 [Food supplies laid out in cabin] [ca.1945]
[130] - 177 [Girl in Girl Guide uniform] [ca.1945]
[131] - 179 [Canadian Pacific Railway passenger train at Banff Station] [ca.1945]
[132] - 180 [Group photograph taken by river] [ca.1945]
[133] - 181 [Swimming at Banff Springs Hotel outside pool] [ca.1945]
[134] - 182 [Wedding] [ca.1945]
[135] - 185 [Couple at Banff Springs Hotel] [ca.1945]
[136] - 190 [Winter mountain scene] [ca.1945]
[137] - 191 [Kids at ice palace] [ca.1945]
[138] - 192 [Winter scene, Bow River] [ca.1945]
[139] - 194 [Woman] [ca.1945]
[140] - 195 [Woman] [ca.1945]
[141] - 196 [Woman, children] [ca.1945]
[142] - 197 [Skiers] [ca.1945]
[143] - 198 [Winter mountain scenes] [ca.1945]
[144] - 199 [Banff Springs Hotel] [ca.1945]
[145] - 201 [Women in fur coats] [ca.1945]
[146] - 202 Mount Eisenhower [Castle Mountain] trip [ca.1945]
[147] - 203 [Golfing] [ca.1945]
[148] - 204 [Man at Mount Assiniboine] [ca.1945]
[149] - 205 [Skiing] [ca.1945]
[150] - 206 [Winter mountain scene] [ca.1945]
[151] - 208 [Lodge at Mount Assiniboine?] [ca.1945]
[152] - 210 Republic Seebe and canoe [airplane (delivering canoe?) at Banff] [ca.1945]
[153] - 211 [Mount Assiniboine area in winter] [ca.1945]
[154] - 212 [Ski touring, men with skis] [ca.1945]
[155] - 214 [Ski touring, men with skis] [ca.1945]
[156] - 217 Jack Thomas [Christmas card] [ca.1945]
[157] - 218 [Mount Rundle and cloud] 1948 Sept.
[158] - 220 [Man on top of ski lodge at Mount Assiniboine] [ca.1945]
[159] - 221 Wally Anderson Wedding [ca.1945]
[160] - 222 [Mount Norquay ski lodge and area] [ca.1945]
[161] - 223 [Bus on Mount Norquay road] [ca.1945]
[162] - 224 Ski Crowds, Buses at Station [ca.1945]
[163] - 226 [People in house] [ca.1945]
[164] - 227 [Train, tracks, other scenes, not in mountains]
[165] - 228 Lift Lock at Petersborough, Ont. 1948
[166] - 229 [Racetrack, possibly Calgary] [ca.1945]
[167] - 230 [People in house] [ca.1945]
[168] - 231 [Dam, not in mountains] [ca.1945]
[169] - 232 [People swimming in lake or ocean] [ca.1945]
[170] - 233 [Blurred shots of buildings on Banff Avenue?] [ca.1945]
[171] - 234 [Snow scene] [ca.1945]
[172] - 235 [Winter scene, Mount Rundle] [ca.1945]
[173] - 236 Carnival 1948 Feb 12-15
[174] - Varsity Meet, Banff 1948 Jan 31 – Feb 1
[175] - Carnival 1948
[176] - Drama 1948 Feb.
[177] - Official Opening, Dom. Championships 1948
[178] - Ski-Jumping, Dom. Champ. 1948
[179] - Slalom, Dom. Champ. 1948
[180] - Slalom, Dom. Champ. 1948
[181] - Ski-Jumping [1948]
[182] - Cross-Country, Dom. Champ. 1948
[183] - Finishing Flash [Dominion Championships] 1948
[184] - Album [skiers and buses at train station] 1948
[185] - [Various scenes; mainly Ottawa military functions, also perhaps some family material] [ca.1945]
Notes
Numbers without square brackets are Duke's original numbering - some do not have original numbers assigned to them.
Some files may have more than one negative.