Fonds consists of textual records and photographs by and about Aileen Harmon, as well as collected items. Textual records include: letter from Harmon to the Director of Alberta's provincial parks re addition of Yamnuska area to Bow Valley Provincial Park, 1973; brief, from Harvie Heights and Bow Va…
26.5 cm of textual records. -- 33 photographs (26 prints : b&w and col. ; 20.5 x 30 cm or smaller -- 6 negatives : b&w nitrate negatives ; 12.5 x 10 cm -- 1 transparency : col. slide ; 35 mm)
History / Biographical
Aileen Harmon (1912 - 2015), daughter of Byron Harmon, worked as a government naturalist at Banff, Alberta, Canada and was involved in local natural history groups and activities. Aileen was a founding member, alongside Bruce Gordon, of the Bow Valley Naturalists, and was also on the Board of The Canadian Wildlife Federation and The Society of Alberta Naturalists. Aileen moved to Mill Bay on Vancouver Island, B.C. in 1981 following the end of a lengthy career with Parks Canada. During her retirement years, Aileen travelled extensively, reaching all seven continents. She also authored an autobiographical book, titled "Tales of My Mountain Life", in 2004. Aileen passed away on January 9, 2015 at the age of 102.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual records and photographs by and about Aileen Harmon, as well as collected items. Textual records include: letter from Harmon to the Director of Alberta's provincial parks re addition of Yamnuska area to Bow Valley Provincial Park, 1973; brief, from Harvie Heights and Bow Valley subdivision residents to public hearings on land use and resource development in the eastern slopes, 1973; letter re James Hector, 1979; notes on career, 2003; notes on Catharine Whyte for CBC recording, 2004; Christmas cards and collected articles, ca.1960. Photographs, made by and collected by Aileen Harmon, pertain to Aileen Harmon and friends, skiing, Skoki area, Mount Yamnuska, Banff Indian Days. Includes photographs by Byron Harmon.
Added content from accession 2016.8596 : ca. 25 cm of textual records including personal correspondence, guest book, original writing and notes by Aileen Harmon, personal travel journals from a 1931 packing trip and 1933 ski trip to Skoki, drafts of autobiographical book "Tales of My Mountain Life", articles pertaining to or written by Aileen Harmon, Christmas cards, and letters of condolence to Carole Harmon following Aileen's passing. Also 26 print photographs, 6 negative photographs from a 1937 hiking trip, and one transparency.
Fonds consists of one series :
Series I - Personal records
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 consists of 16 photograph prints depicting various First Nations people both in studio settings and in camp settings. Most prints are mounted on various kinds of cardboard or cardstock.
Eliza Hunter Wîchîyânâgish (Young Woman), probably born in the early 1900s, lived in Morley most of her life. She attended the Calgary Stampede and Banff Indian Days regularly, and was married to Judas Hunter (maiden name unknown).
Collection of 16 photograph prints donated by Eliza in 1970 to the Archives of the Canadian Rockies, annotations on the backs on some written by Catharine Robb Whyte.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of 16 photograph prints depicting various First Nations people both in studio settings and in camp settings. Most prints are mounted on various kinds of cardboard or cardstock.
Fonds consists of a broad-ranging commercial negative collection in two series. Mainly scenic, skiing and documentary views of Banff and area, the Rocky Mountains and some other Alberta and British Columbia locations. Photographs include many Banff personalities known to the photographer. I. Candi…
ca.2325 photographs : negatives; some prints and transparencies
History / Biographical
Lloyd Harmon, 1914-2000, was a professional photographer who specialized in ski, action and scenic photography at Banff, Alberta, Canada. Harmon was a son of photographer Byron Harmon and worked in his father's business with his brother, Don Harmon, ca.1933-1941 and 1945-1954. During World War II, he served with the RCAF in Burma, Italy and North Africa. After leaving Banff, Harmon worked in the oil industry at Calgary. During the 1950s he married Elizabeth Ellwood. He retired to Canada's west coast.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of a broad-ranging commercial negative collection in two series. Mainly scenic, skiing and documentary views of Banff and area, the Rocky Mountains and some other Alberta and British Columbia locations. Photographs include many Banff personalities known to the photographer.
I. Candid, action and scenic views. -- [ca.1928-ca.1954]; predominantly 1933-[ca.1940]. -- ca.1750 items : mainly negatives; 12.5 x 17.5 cm or smaller; most are 8 x 10.5 cm or smaller. -- Series pertains to skiers, ski action and competition, ski touring; Mount Norquay, Sunshine, Assiniboine, Skoki and Yoho regions; scenic views in Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks and Revelstoke area; Banff Indian Days and Indigenous peoples; horses and trail riding; Banff buildings and facilities; personal and family photographs. Views were taken for personal and business purposes. Includes early vest pocket camera shots and later view camera work. Negatives are not numbered by the photographer except for a small sub-series with original numbers 1 through 86. Some negatives accompanied by duplicate views. (V108 / 1 - 1927)
II. Scenic and commercial views. -- [ca.1928-ca.1954]; predom.1946-1954. -- ca.575 items : mainly negatives; 12.5 x 17.5 cm or smaller. -- Series includes landscape views in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho and Waterton National Parks, Windermere and Golden areas; Calgary and southern Alberta towns; Banff townsite, buildings and area; ski areas; Indigenous portraits; wildlife; lodges, bungalow camps, etc. -- Some views may be attributed to Don Harmon. -- Most negatives are numbered by the photographer using a block numeric system ranging from 50 to 2800. Unnumbered negatives are retained in proximity to similar material. Some negatives are accompanied by duplicate views, copy negatives or positive transparencies. (V108 / 1928 - 2509)
Copyright, privacy, commercial use and other restrictions may apply
Language
Language is English
Finding Aid
Finding aids and reference tools: basic description in Archives Finding Aids computer database. Selected reference prints available in visual reference file. Also available is a list of unverified identifications of people and places provided by volunteers.
Fonds consists of textual and visual records pertaining to Malcolm Geddes, as well as his immediate family: wife Jennie (Waters) Geddes, and children Alvin and Enid Geddes; and extended family members. Fonds includes records related to Malcolm's work as a poet and author (including original drafts …
Some views are by Malcolm Geddes; many were obtained through other sources
Date Range
[1896-2013]
Physical Description
444 photographs: 385 b&w and col. transparencies, 59 b&w prints -- 1 album (28 b&w prints) -- 11 cm of textual records
History / Biographical
Malcolm Daniel Geddes, 1866-1927, was a journalist, publisher and mountaineer at Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Geddes was one of the founders of the "Farmers and Ranch Review" in 1904, and served as vice-president and editor until his death. He joined the Alpine Club of Canada in 1917, was active in ACC summer camps and served as Honorary Secretary from 1924 to 1926. Geddes was killed in a mountaineering accident on Mount Lefroy in 1927.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual and visual records pertaining to Malcolm Geddes, as well as his immediate family: wife Jennie (Waters) Geddes, and children Alvin and Enid Geddes; and extended family members. Fonds includes records related to Malcolm's work as a poet and author (including original drafts and publications), Malcolm's career in real estate, family letters, financial records, records of mountain ascents and hikes with the Alpine Club of Canada, family trees and genealogical research, and other related materials.
Notes
Fonds consists of three series:
Series I : Professional records
I / A : Published materials
I / B : Manuscripts and notes
I / C : Professional correspondence
Series II : Financial records
Series III : Personal and family records
III / A : Travel and mountain expeditions
III / B : Genealogy and research
III / C : Other personal and family records
Arrangement of fonds was redone by Processing Archivist Kate Skelton between December 2020 and March 2021 to accommodate unprocessed materials from accessions 7846, 2014.8306 and 2015.8558
Fonds consists of photographs, published booklets and film reels which belonged to William Royle. Content pertains to the Banff Boy Scouts: local events, including Banff Winter Carnival, Banff Indian Days and Banff's Centennial Parade in 1967; hiking, camping, skiing and other recreational activiti…
ca.348 photographs (204 b&w and col. prints, 144 col. transparencies) -- 0.5 cm of textual records -- 7 film reels
History / Biographical
William "Bill" Royle (1905-1980) moved to Banff from Lethbridge in 1952 with his mother (Mary Elizabeth) and two young sons (Bernard and Walter), following the death of his wife. William started the business Banff Plumbing and Heating Ltd., which he operated until his death. William and his brother, John J. Royle, were also involved with a laundromat business in Banff. From its inception in 1953, William also worked as director and president of the Banff Park Savings and Credit Union (now Bow Valley Credit Union). In his spare time, William volunteered with the Banff Boy Scouts, as well as St. Mary's Church in Banff, the Seniors' Society and the Alberta Council of the Aging.
William's son, Bernard, tragically passed away in a plane crash in 1969 while searching for new heliskiing routes in British Columbia with his friend, John Gow, who survived.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of photographs, published booklets and film reels which belonged to William Royle. Content pertains to the Banff Boy Scouts: local events, including Banff Winter Carnival, Banff Indian Days and Banff's Centennial Parade in 1967; hiking, camping, skiing and other recreational activities; Bernard Royle and friends; the Banff High School curling team; natural views and wildlife in Alberta and British Columbia; and other related subjects.
Includes three visual series: I - Prints ; II - Motion pictures ; III - Transparencies. Series I includes five sub-series: A - Boy Scouts [includes o.s. items] ; B - Banff Indian Days ; C - Banff Winter Carnival ; D - St. Mary's Baptist Church ; E - Misc.
File consists of an original travel journal/diary annotated by Aileen Harmon pertaining to a 1933 ski trip to Skoki Lodge. File also includes two complete, typed copies of text from original 1933 account [one accompanied by typed letter to "Kathryn", likely Catharine Robb Whyte], and one incomplete…
File consists of an original travel journal/diary annotated by Aileen Harmon pertaining to a 1933 ski trip to Skoki Lodge. File also includes two complete, typed copies of text from original 1933 account [one accompanied by typed letter to "Kathryn", likely Catharine Robb Whyte], and one incomplete typed copy.
Sub-series of hut registers from Abbot Hut produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1954 and 2017. Registers include entries from visitors to the huts which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while staying at the hut, wildlife sightings…
Abbot Pass Hut was built in 1922 and sits at an elevation of 2,926 meters. It is one of the highest structures in Canada. The hut was named after Philip Stanley Abbot who had died from a fall during the first known attempt to reach the summit of Mount Lefroy. The hut was a national historic site, but the hut was closed to visitors in 2018 due to the erosion of the slope beneath the hut. On June 30, 2022 Parks Canada officially removed Abbot Pass Hut, due to those environmental factors.
Scope & Content
Sub-series of hut registers from Abbot Hut produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1954 and 2017. Registers include entries from visitors to the huts which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while staying at the hut, wildlife sightings, custodial issues and updates, and related topics.
The sub-series is separated into individual hut registers, arranged by date:
M200 / IV / A / 1: Abbot Pass Hut register [1954 - 1960]
M200 / IV / A / 2: [Abbot Pass Hut Register 1954 - 1970]
M200 / IV / A / 3: [Abbot Pass Hut? loose register 1972 - 1974]
M200 / IV / A / 4: [Abbot] Pass Hut [register 1974 - 1978]
M200 / IV / A / 5: Abbot Hut [register 1979 - 1980]
M200 / IV / A / 6: [Abbot]'s Hut Registry [1980 - 1982]
M200 / IV / A / 7: [Abbot Pass Hut Register 1982 - 1983]
M200 / IV / A / 8: [Abbot Pass register 1983]
M200 / IV / A / 9: [Abbot Hut Register 1987]
M200 / IV / A / 10: Abbot's Hut Bible [register, 1988 - 1992]
M200 / IV / A / 11: Abbot Pass Hut 1992 - 93
M200 / IV / A / 12: "Abbot Pass Hut Log Book" Aug. 24, 1993 - July 20, 1995
M200 / IV / A / 13: Abbot Pass hut register Aug. 11, 1995 - July 30, 1996.
M200 / IV / A / 14: [Abbot Pass] hut register July 30, 1996 - May 4, 1997
M200 / IV / A / 15: "Abbot Pass Hut Register" June 26, 1997 - September 3, 1998
M200 / IV / A / 16: Abbot Pass Hut [1998- 2000]
M200 / IV / A / 17: Abbot Pass Sep 6, 2000 - July 26, 2002
M200 / IV / A / 18: Abbot Hut Register 2002 - 2003
M200 / IV / A / 19: Abbot Pass Aug 31, 2003 - Aug 20, 2005
M200 / IV / A / 20: Abbot Pass Register 2004 - 2007
M200 / IV / A / 21: Abbot Hut Register 2007 - 2009
M200 / IV / A / 22: [2011 Abbot Hut Register]
M200 / IV / A / 23: Abbot Hut Register [2012 - 2014]
M200 / IV / A / 24: Abbot Pass Hut Register [2014 - 2016]
M200 / IV / A / 25: Abbot Pass Hut Register, 2016 - 2017
M200 / IV / A / 26: [Abbot Pass Hut Register: 2017-2018]
The Alpine Club of Canada website:
https://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/abbot-pass-hut/
The Government of Canada website:
https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/yoho/culture/abbot
File pertains to 132 35 mm slides depictiong Alpine Club of Canada Camps from 1950, 1951, 1952, and 1960, consisting mostly of shots of people hiking, climbing, and mountaineering in and around the Lake O'Hara and Mt. Assiniboine areas.
Contents include:
1950 - Maligne (1-19)
1951 - Lake O'Hara (21…
File pertains to 132 35 mm slides depictiong Alpine Club of Canada Camps from 1950, 1951, 1952, and 1960, consisting mostly of shots of people hiking, climbing, and mountaineering in and around the Lake O'Hara and Mt. Assiniboine areas.
Contents include:
1950 - Maligne (1-19)
1951 - Lake O'Hara (21-69)
1952 - Mt. Assiniboine (71-124)
1952 - Mt. Assiniboine from Monica & Dudley (126-129)
1950 - Sent to [Bill Goodrich] from '50 Maligne Camp, [Bill Goodrich] on trail to glacier (131)
1960 - B-J HWY (Sent to [Bill Goodrich])
Mt. Saskatchewan (133)
Mt. Chephren (134)
Athabaska River (135)
Pyramid Mt. (136)
Athabaska Hotel (137)
File pertains to 121 35 mm slides depictiong Alpine Club of Canada Camps from 1953-1955 & 1957, consisting of scenic shots of mountain scenes and people climbing, portraits of various camp members, group portraits, waterfalls, glaciers, summit poses, and more.
Contents include:
1953 - Mt. Hooker (&…
File pertains to 121 35 mm slides depictiong Alpine Club of Canada Camps from 1953-1955 & 1957, consisting of scenic shots of mountain scenes and people climbing, portraits of various camp members, group portraits, waterfalls, glaciers, summit poses, and more.
Contents include:
1953 - Mt. Hooker (& Edith Cavell): 1-47
1954 - The Goodsirs: 49-58
1955 - Mt. Robson: 60-120
1957 - Robson from JEAN: 121-123
Robson Glacier: 124
File pertains to 38 b&w prints of people skiing. Includes action shots of people skiing at Norquay, Lake Louise, and Sunshine, the Norquay parking lot, ski jumping, ski racing, and an unidentified person paragliding on skis at Norquay.
File pertains to 38 b&w prints of people skiing. Includes action shots of people skiing at Norquay, Lake Louise, and Sunshine, the Norquay parking lot, ski jumping, ski racing, and an unidentified person paragliding on skis at Norquay.
Sub-series pertains to 84 b&w and colour prints depicting assorted activities and events around Banff National Park. Includes pack trips, skiing, backcountry huts [Abbot Pass Hut and Bow Hut], community events, shops, a Canada Day Parade, the Canadian Centennial in 1967, a Royal visit in 1959, chur…
84 photographs : b&w and col. ; 25.1 x 20.1 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
Sub-series pertains to 84 b&w and colour prints depicting assorted activities and events around Banff National Park. Includes pack trips, skiing, backcountry huts [Abbot Pass Hut and Bow Hut], community events, shops, a Canada Day Parade, the Canadian Centennial in 1967, a Royal visit in 1959, churches, school programs, the 1967 Mount Royal Hotel fire, Banff Indian Days, high altitude mountaineering, conferences, boating on the Bow River, and rodeos.
This image is a part of the Recognizing Relations project, an archives initiative undertaken since 2014 to identify First Nations people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum Archives.
Item consists of close-up photograph of Agnes Kaquitts (sometimes pronounced Heg-a-nesh by Stoney speakers).
Notes
Note: It is believed that the handwritten information on the back of the contact sheets was written by former archival staff in the initial phases of processing the photographs of Peter and Catharine Whyte. There is no list of titles attached to the individual images. Any descriptive information or identification of people has been provided by research done through the Recognizing Relations project
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.
