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 consist of papers and photographs produced and collected by Lawrence Grassi. Textual records consist of correspondence, 1918-1979, from family in Italy and organizations and individuals in Canada; personal papers, 1912-1975; publications and ephemera from organizations, including the Alpine C…
ca.25 cm of textual records. -- ca.2300 photographs : prints, transparencies, negatives. -- 1 photograph album (180 prints)
History / Biographical
Lawrence Grassi, 1890-1980, was a miner and mountaineer at Canmore, Alberta, Canada. Grassi was born in Falmenta, Italy and emigrated to Canada in 1912, working first as a section man for the Canadian Pacific Railway and from 1916 to 1945 as a miner for Canmore Mines. Grassi distinguished himself in solo mountain climbing and as an unofficial guide to many other mountaineers. Grassi is best remembered for trail building activities. J. S. Woodsworth led support for legislation to change the name of Twin Lakes in White Man Pass to Grassi Lakes in recognition of this work. As assistant warden at Lake O'Hara, British Columbia, Grassi upgraded and built numerous trails for which he received many honours in later life.
Scope & Content
Fonds consist of papers and photographs produced and collected by Lawrence Grassi.
Textual records consist of correspondence, 1918-1979, from family in Italy and organizations and individuals in Canada; personal papers, 1912-1975; publications and ephemera from organizations, including the Alpine Club of Canada, Canadian Youth Hostels Association, Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies; newsclippings, articles and other material pertaining to Grassi and mountaineering.
Photographs pertain mainly to mountain scenery of Alberta and British Columbia, particularly Banff National Park, Lake O'Hara and region, Jasper National Park, Mount Assiniboine and region, Grotto Mountain and Grassi Lakes, ca.1930-ca.1970. Also includes views of Lawrence Grassi, family and friends, ca.1880-ca.1970, and group of unidentified portraits, ca.1880- ca.1900. Transparencies are mainly unidentified colour mountain scenics. Most views are by Grassi; some are by Richard Rushworth and F. V. Longstaff.