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 30 cm of textual and visual records previously held in 3 manuscript boxes, and 1 briefcase belonging to Bruno Engler. Contents have since been rehoused and processed in 3 manuscript boxes under M559, and one manuscript box each under V783/PA and V783/NA. Fonds consists of two seri…
24 cm of textual records -- 320 photographs (139 b&w and col. prints, 21 b&w negatives, 160 digital files)
History / Biographical
Bruno Engler's Veteran's Race was initially hosted by Bruno Engler at the Sunshine Village ski resort in Banff in 1967. In its earlier years, Bruno Engler would complete the downhill track first, and would use his recorded time as a benchmark for participants to beat. Engler participated in the race for many years. The race was typically divided into several competition categories by age range and men's and women's races. Following a day of races, there is an awards ceremony held each year for participants.
Bruno's ski race, renamed the Bruno Engler Memorial Ski Race after Bruno's passing in 2001, is currently "the longest consecutively running annual ski race in Canadian history". 2019 marked the 53rd annual race, which was held at Cascade Mountain. In recent years, the "Bruno Engler Family Fun Race", an additional race for parents and children, has been added as part of the original event.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of 30 cm of textual and visual records previously held in 3 manuscript boxes, and 1 briefcase belonging to Bruno Engler. Contents have since been rehoused and processed in 3 manuscript boxes under M559, and one manuscript box each under V783/PA and V783/NA. Fonds consists of two series:
Series I : 1952 - 1990
Series II : 1991 - 2016
Bruno Engler Memorial race committee information, race results and Bruno Engler's personal papers originally held in his personal briefcase. Also included are photos of the races and awards - these photos were held in Bruno's briefcase along with his own files.
Briefcase from accession has been transferred to Heritage.
Textual records (M559) range from 1952 to 2016 [includes documents from every year excluding 1953 - 1966] and pertain to annual ski races. Include meetings/agenda notes, ephemera, handwritten notes, registration forms, mailing lists, race results, and other relevant notes. [As 1967 was the ski race's first official year, items from 1952 are believed to be from a different ski event].
Visual records (V783) include 180 print photographs and 21 negative photographs/film strips depicting races, participants and award ceremonies [arranged by year].
Fonds also includes 3 CDs from 2004, 2005 and 2011 (V783), 1 USB stick from 2012 (M559), and 1 racing jersey (2016) which has been transferred to Heritage.
Notes
Folder with items V783 / I / PA - 1 to 41 contains photograph of Catharine Whyte in 1967 ski race
One folder with contact sheets from processed photographs dated 1972, 1975, 1976 and 1979 also stored within V783 file box
File pertains to 120 b&w prints of various historical topics, some photos taken by Bruno Engler, others collected [presumably] by him. Includes various Canadian Pacific Railway events, community events and celebrations, Skoki Lodge's 60th anniversary, the Norquay Ski Hill rope-tow, the 1968 Winter …
File pertains to 120 b&w prints of various historical topics, some photos taken by Bruno Engler, others collected [presumably] by him. Includes various Canadian Pacific Railway events, community events and celebrations, Skoki Lodge's 60th anniversary, the Norquay Ski Hill rope-tow, the 1968 Winter Olympics bid, Princess Margarite's [sic] visit in 1958, the Cosmic Ray Observatory operations, a Kiwanis Club event, ranching and ranch lands, portraits, and more.
File pertains to 69 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from December 26, 1936, to June 9, 1937. Topics include Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations and activities, gifts given and received, day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, Ame…
2.5 cm of textual records (98 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 69 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from December 26, 1936, to June 9, 1937. Topics include Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations and activities, gifts given and received, day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, American newspapers Catharine is interested in, radio programs [mostly news and operas], weather, cleaning and household chores, maintenance and upkeep of the house and property [including the construction of a screened-in porch at the back of the house, remodelling the stairs, building a darkroom on the second floor, and building a new garage], events and people in Concord, the opening of the new Administration building on the south side of the river [the Post Office is relocated here], painting/sketching, watching hockey games, skiing, descriptions of meals, the Winter Carnival, going to the movies [and Edith going to various plays], the Dominion Ski Championship being held at Norquay in March, photography and cameras, responsibilities and activities pertaining to the Ski Club, Edith's trip to Florida in March, books Catharine and Edith are reading, various holidays [both Canadian and American], trips to Skoki Lodge to ski and paint [also includes details of people who were also there, meals, and conversations], the coronation of King George VI and Queen Mary in May, the death of Catharine's Aunt Jane [Edith's sister?], day trips around the National Park to paint/sketch and have picnics with family, dinner and tea parties, print-making, frame making, and various other community events.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Some letters are written on hotel/lodge letterhead.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
101 - 31 contains a sketch of the newly remodelled stairs in the Whyte home.
101 - 43 insert may or may not belong to this specific letter - no identifying marks can be found on it.
101 - 59 is a brochure advertising Lake Minnewaska Mountain Houses, New York, and does not appear to be associated to a specific letter and so has been scanned as it's own entry.
File pertains to 67 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from February 6 to July 30, 1935. Topics include travelling back to Banff from Montreal on the train, cleaning and household chores, the Winter Carnival, day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, wa…
Date Range
1935
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 97
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Private record
climbed Mount M
cKinley with on skies in winter. Re
is from Minneapolis.
Today Pete is sketching while I
1.7 cm of textual records (89 pages ; 21.5 x 27.8 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 67 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from February 6 to July 30, 1935. Topics include travelling back to Banff from Montreal on the train, cleaning and household chores, the Winter Carnival, day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, watching hockey games and curling matches, weather, photography and cameras, events and people in Concord, going to Skoki to ski, going to the movies and seeing friend's homemade films, the birth of Russ and Kitty's first child Gale in late February [Edith's first grandchild], watching ski races at Norquay, converting an outbuilding from a garage/one bedroom into a garage/darkroom, dinner and tea parties [both at home and around town], sketching/painting, discussions of operas Edith has seen, Pete going to Vancouver for a few days in mid-April to help his parents [Dave was advised to go to sea level by doctors to help with ailments he'd been having], wildlife, developing photos and print-making, various holidays [both Canadian and American], descriptions of meals and various recipes, yardwork and redoing the driveway, Catharine going to Concord for a month [mid-May to mid-June], construction of a new road to Norquay ski camp, Pete constructing a cover for the back of their truck to be used for camping, going to Calgary for the Stampede, Banff Indian Days, and camping trips around Lake Louise and Yoho National Park.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are mostly hand-written, some typed - typed letters often have hand-written post scripts.
A few letters written on lodge/hotel letterhead.
Most letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
Some letters have numbers written in pencil or red pencil crayon in the upper margin of the first pages from an unknown project.
97 - 16 contains a sketch of the garage outbuilding and the plans to convert half of it into a darkroom.
File pertains to 27 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from February 1932 to May 1932. Topics include Catharine's travel back to Banff [from Concord?], Peter and Catharine going into the ski business with Skoki, setting up Skoki lodge for business [with a detail…
1.3 cm of textual records (151 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to 27 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from February 1932 to May 1932. Topics include Catharine's travel back to Banff [from Concord?], Peter and Catharine going into the ski business with Skoki, setting up Skoki lodge for business [with a detailed description of interior], the first ski party, the ski visit of Russel Robb Jr. and group, the death of Edwin Noble, daily life in Banff, people in Concord, and meeting and working with various locals and Skoki guests [including Tex Woods and his daughter Ruth Woods, Vic Kutschera, Norman Knight, Cyril Paris, Ike Mills, Mr. and Mrs. Rankin, Rupe Edwards, Bill Niche, Waddy [Wattie?] Potts, Kingman ski party, Ulysses LaCasse, Bill Oliver, Russel Robb Jr., Charlie Pierson, and Faith Donaldson] and going to see Noel Odell speak about Everest.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples, people of colour, and those of the Jewish faith used throughout is outdated and offensive. Some items were stapled together and therefore scanned together as one document. It appears that one letter is unfinished or has missing pages.
Letters are all handwritten and include some hotel and camp letterheads. Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981. Some letters also have numbers written in pencil crayon, believed to be from when originally processed.
File pertains to 65 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 3 to July 31, 1939. Topics include New Year's Eve celebrations and activities, Christmas presents, radio programs [mostly operas and the news, but also plays], books Catharine and Edith are read…
Date Range
1939
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 106
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Private record
a contrast to the other winter we were h1:1re
when for six weeks it only got up above 20 degrees
t1vo
2.3 cm of textual records (138 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 65 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 3 to July 31, 1939. Topics include New Year's Eve celebrations and activities, Christmas presents, radio programs [mostly operas and the news, but also plays], books Catharine and Edith are reading, day to day life, weather, slide-making, skiing at Norquay, visits from friends and visitors, descriptions of meals, wildlife [often in the yard], print-making, photography and cameras, events and people in Concord, day trips to Lake Louise, the Winter Carnival, construction of the Mount Temple Chalet finishing and subsequent trips to Temple to ski, cleaning and household chores, trips to Skoki to ski, painting/sketching, photography, updates on Dave White's health, errand trips to Calgary, various holidays [both Canadian and American], planning a new additon to the back of the house, going to Victoria and back in April-May [they stayed in Lethbridge, Nelson, Grand Forks, Kamloops, and Vancouver before arriving in Victoria by car and then took the train back to Banff from Prince George through Revelstoke and Golden], preparing the house for renovations [includes deep cleaning and having the floors sanded], the King and Queen visiting in late May, the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, Russ' health concerns, short trips around the mountains to paint/sketch [mostly up to Bow Lake/Saskatchewan River Crossing and into Yoho National Park], the Calgary Stampede, Banff Indian Days, progress on the construction of Num-Ti-Jah Lodge at Bow Lake, and preparing for the annual Skyline Trail Hikers trip.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are typed and hand-written. Many typed letters have hand-written notes and post scripts added throughout. Some are written on hotel/lodge letterhead. Most typed letters are written on a single side of paper, hand-written letters are mostly double-sided.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
106 - 47 contains details of the 1939 Royal Visit.
File pertains to 51 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 2 to June 30, 1950. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, photography, painting, weather [including temperatures down to -50F (-45C) in January], the CPR test of the…
Date Range
1950
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 126
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Postcard
Private record
to operate on it this winter when
they aren ' t so busy but since then it hasn't bothered so much and
Dr
1.6 cm of textual records (93 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 51 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 2 to June 30, 1950. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, photography, painting, weather [including temperatures down to -50F (-45C) in January], the CPR test of their new diesel engines, events and people in Concord, world news, radio programs, the North American Ski Championship in February [for which Pete designed pins], the Banff Winter Carnival, installing fluorescent lights in the kitchen [prior to that they had "temporary" lights], purchasing a new Jeep stationwagon, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor visiting Banff in April, driving to Concord in May and back to Banff in June, plans for Banff Indian Days, a trip to Bow Lake, and Pete and Catharine's 20th wedding anniversary. Also includes postcards.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are typed and hand-written. Many typed letters have hand-written notes and post scripts added throughout.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
File pertains to 17 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 8 to March 9, 1936. Topics include travelling from New York to Austria via England in mid-January, activities aboard ship [including descriptions of the ship itself and other passen…
Date Range
1936
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 99
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Private record
Wintersportpla1Jcs. Sic hebcn in Ober-
Idcshelb die Gcwihr, keincn «gr0n•n•Winter 1nrutrclfcn.
~
~
•✓,
~ -~ ~ ~Al
1.5 cm of textual records (62 pages ; 22.4 x 28.9 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 17 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 8 to March 9, 1936. Topics include travelling from New York to Austria via England in mid-January, activities aboard ship [including descriptions of the ship itself and other passengers], the death of the King George V while Pete and Catharine are in London, books Catharine and Edith are reading, travelling to the mainland and arriving in Innsbruck [Austria], travelling to Obergurgl by train, meeting new people, exploring the local towns and cities, skiing and ski lessons [mostly for Catharine], architecture, descriptions of local landscapes, people and events in Concord, photography and cameras, visiting local historic churches, going to museums and galleries, watching Olympic ski races and other skiing events in Garmisch Bavaria, meeting with friends, descriptions of different kinds of snow and skiing conditions, travelling to Zurich at the end of February, making a short trip to Murren and Gindlewald Switzerland before returning to Zurich, and then making preparations to return to Canada in early March. Also includes newspaper clippings and brochures for the Hotel Goldener Adler in Innsbruck and the area of Obergurgl.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Most letters are written on hotel/lodge letterhead.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
Some letters have been numbered in pencil in the upper margin of the first page for an unknown project.
Inserts 1-5 have been seperated from their accompanying letters at an unknown point.
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.