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
Fonds consists of five 16mm film reels with visual content pertaining to skiing in Banff, Lake Louise and Chile.
Films included in fonds:
"Herman Godner and Party ski in Rockies (Old B&W Silent)"
"Banff and Lake Louise Skiing (Silent and Colour) Old Ski- Banff and Lake Louise- Temple, Skoki area"…
Douglas Sinclair was a film producer whose work primarily focused on topics related to Canadian wildlife and landscapes, skiing, national parks, and the Canadian Rockies.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of five 16mm film reels with visual content pertaining to skiing in Banff, Lake Louise and Chile.
Films included in fonds:
"Herman Godner and Party ski in Rockies (Old B&W Silent)"
"Banff and Lake Louise Skiing (Silent and Colour) Old Ski- Banff and Lake Louise- Temple, Skoki area"
"Skiing in Portillo Chile Sound and Colour Running Time 18 min"
"Ski Material at Grey Rockes Enos at Banff with Merm and Wurtle Twins" (Silent, B&W)
"Let's Go Skiing with Lucile Wheeler at Banff"
Notes
Further information about films provided by donor Dianne Wheeler, available in Douglas Sinclair case file.
Fonds relate to mountaineering with the Alpine Club of Canada. The fond consists of three series: I. Textual records consist of 8 newsclippings from July 1938 pertaining to the first ascent of Mount Columbia by women: Lillian Gest, Kathleen Chapman, Christine Reid, Jean McDonald, and Jean Petrie as…
1 cm textual records. -- 8 albums (257 photographs : b&w ; 25 x 20 cm or smaller). -- 4 photographs : b&w silver gelatin prints ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller.
History / Biographical
Dr. Jean Knox (McDonald) Petrie, born 1913, was an active member of the Alpine Club of Canada, Edmonton Section during the 1930s and 1940s, attending the Alpine Club of Canada summer camps from 1937-1940, 1942 and 1946 as well as making many weekend climbs in the Jasper area with Captain E. R. Gibson. In 1938 she was one of the four women to make a first ascent of Mount Columbia by women, as well as Mount Forbes in 1940. Married in 1960 to Robert Petrie (died 1966), Dr. Jean Petrie worked in Ottawa, Ontario (1940-1945) in munitions gauge testing for the National Research Council. Following the war, she worked as an astrophysicist for the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, British Columbia (1945-1966) and taught at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia. (1966-1971).
Scope & Content
Fonds relate to mountaineering with the Alpine Club of Canada. The fond consists of three series: I. Textual records consist of 8 newsclippings from July 1938 pertaining to the first ascent of Mount Columbia by women: Lillian Gest, Kathleen Chapman, Christine Reid, Jean McDonald, and Jean Petrie as well as a photocopied "Guide to the Tonquin" signed by K. G. Chapman ca.1935. II. Photographic records include an unbound album of 44 pages: 111 prints divided by the donor into 3 sections: 1. To the Tonquin Valley, July 1938; 2. Alpine Club Camp, Columbia Icefields, July 12-31, 1938; 3. Alpine Club Camp Tonquin Valley, April 1939. The album also includes artwork and map. A second unbound photograph album of 28p: 170 prints are divided into 5 sections: 1. ACC camp in the Ice River Valley, July 1939; 2. ACC ski camp in Little Yoho Valley, March 23-31, 1940; 3. Our climb of Roche Miette, May 24, 1940; 4. Our summertime journey into the Little Yoho Valley, July 1940; 5. Our climb of Mts. Fitzwilliam & Bucephelas, September 3, 1940. III. Photographic Prints consist of 4 loose prints unrelated to other contents of the fond.
Notes
Unbound books are numbered in pencil by the creator, pages appear to be missing due to absent page numbers.
File consists of 59 photographs collected by Eleanor Luxton as research material for the book Banff: Canada's First National Park. Images pertain to skiing and ski jumping, canoeing, Banff Indian Days, the King Edward Hotel, swimming at the Cave and Basin, the Banff Winter Carnival, wildlife, and v…
59 photographs : b&w prints ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 59 photographs collected by Eleanor Luxton as research material for the book Banff: Canada's First National Park. Images pertain to skiing and ski jumping, canoeing, Banff Indian Days, the King Edward Hotel, swimming at the Cave and Basin, the Banff Winter Carnival, wildlife, and various views in and around the town of Banff.
File pertains to 136 b&w & colour prints of various Banff community events, including Back to Banff 1985, unseasonable snowfall, mild flooding of area around the recreation grounds and Buffalo Nation Museum, summer traffic jams, an unidentified parade, the designation of Mt. Jimmy Simpson, Banff Wi…
136 photographs : b&w & col. ; 25.2 x 20.2 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to 136 b&w & colour prints of various Banff community events, including Back to Banff 1985, unseasonable snowfall, mild flooding of area around the recreation grounds and Buffalo Nation Museum, summer traffic jams, an unidentified parade, the designation of Mt. Jimmy Simpson, Banff Winter Carnival, RCMP Musical Ride, Banff Triathlon, and filming at Norquay Ski Hill.
Image of a row of unidentified children wearing skis standing in a line on Banff Avenue [possibly as part of the Banff Winter Carnival] with buildings [including the Brewster Trading Co] and Sulphur Mountain in the background - "Boy's Ski Race on Banff Avenue" written on the back in pencil
Image of a row of unidentified children wearing skis standing in a line on Banff Avenue [possibly as part of the Banff Winter Carnival] with buildings [including the Brewster Trading Co] and Sulphur Mountain in the background - "Boy's Ski Race on Banff Avenue" written on the back in pencil
File consists of copy photographs from the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies which were collected by Eleanor Luxton for research purposes. Content pertains to early views of Banff and local businesses and views, including: various views of Banff Avenue; the Bow River Boathouse; the Frank Lloyd W…
Photographs copied from original materials owned by the Whyte Museum
Date Range
[ca.1887-1930]
Physical Description
53 photographs : b&w prints ; 17.5 x 12.5 cm and 25 x 20 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of copy photographs from the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies which were collected by Eleanor Luxton for research purposes. Content pertains to early views of Banff and local businesses and views, including: various views of Banff Avenue; the Bow River Boathouse; the Frank Lloyd Wright Pavilion; Norman Luxton and coworkers outside of the Crag and Canyon; Banff Indian Days and Banff Winter Carnival events; trap shooting, cross country skiing, skating and other sports; dog sled and hiking trips; and related subjects.
Notes
Prints LUX/II/B5/PA-124 to 159 originally accompanied by b&w copy negatives (9.5 x 12 cm) in yellow envelope; negatives have been stored separately and numbered as items LUX / II / B5 / NA - 83 to 118.
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.