Fonds consists of papers, photographs and sound recordings of Peter and Catharine Whyte and the papers and photographs of their respective families. Consists of three sous-fonds: V683, S37 and M36. M36 and S37 consists of three series. Series I: Peter and Catharine Whyte, Series II: Robb and Morse …
25 m of textual records. -- ca.46,000 photographs : prints, albums, postcards, cased photographs, transparencies, negatives. -- 178 sound recordings : audio tape reels, audio tape cassettes. -- 6 motion pictures (and film strips)
History / Biographical
Peter and Catharine Whyte were artists, photographers, outdoor enthusiasts, travelers, philanthropists and cultural workers at Banff, Alberta, Canada. Peter Whyte, 1905-1966, was born at Banff in 1905 to pioneer merchant Dave White and Annie (Curren) White. He was an accomplished skier and ski jumper and one of the region's first native-born painters with an intimate knowledge of the mountains and was an active photographer from ca.1920 until the 1950s. Peter Whyte studied art at the Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles, 1923-1924, and at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Boston, 1925, where he met Catharine Robb. Catharine Robb Whyte, 1906-1979, was born in 1906 at Concord, Massachusetts and grew up amongst the wealth and creativity of the Robb and Morse families. She studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Boston, 1925-1929.
Following their marriage in 1930, the Whytes pursued a life of painting, photography, hiking, skiing and travelling. Their log home and studio in Banff became a focal point for their artist friends, Stoney Indians and local pioneers. Catharine shared Pete's involvement in skiing and hiking organizations and together they managed Skoki Lodge from 1932-1934. In following years, the Whytes travelled extensively. During the Second World War, Peter served in the reserve army, with the Royal Canadian Air Force as a photographer and, briefly, as an official war artist. Catharine continued to paint and maintain their home and, when possible, accompanied Pete to his military postings. In civilian life, Pete resumed his art career, explored new photographic techniques and sculpted.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the Whytes formulated plans for a foundation to preserve the art and history of the Canadian Rockies. Plans for a building to house an archives, public library and gallery were in preparation when Pete died in 1966. The Peter Whyte Foundation was named in his honour. Catharine immersed herself in the development of what is now the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, in the cultural community, painting, outdoor activity, travel and work with the Stoney First Nations. She became a more active photographer, recording her travels and outdoor pursuits. She served in an official capacity with numerous cultural and charitable organizations, was a patron to individuals studying art and music, and supported numerous causes relating to the Stoney First Nations. Catharine also supported causes related to multiculturalism, regional culture and recreation, and cancer research. Despite her modesty and often anonymous patronage of causes, Catharine was recognized with numerous awards and honours, including the Order of Canada in 1978. She died in Banff in 1979.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of papers, photographs and sound recordings of Peter and Catharine Whyte and the papers and photographs of their respective families. Consists of three sous-fonds: V683, S37 and M36. M36 and S37 consists of three series. Series I: Peter and Catharine Whyte, Series II: Robb and Morse families, Series III: White and Curren families. Within Series I, there are four Sub-series: Series: A. Catharine Robb Whyte papers; B. Peter Whyte papers; C. Peter and Catharine Whyte papers accessioned after 2017; D. Peter and Catharine Whyte sound recordings.
Album contains 121 b&w prints, pasted in, some tipped in. Prints pertain to Catahrine Robb Whyte and Russell Robb Jr. and their early childhood years. Prints document Catharine and Russell in the Robb home, on the Robb grounds, and posed for portraits alone and with family and friends. Prints also …
Photograph Album: 1 photograph album (121 b&w prints) --
Scope & Content
Album contains 121 b&w prints, pasted in, some tipped in. Prints pertain to Catahrine Robb Whyte and Russell Robb Jr. and their early childhood years. Prints document Catharine and Russell in the Robb home, on the Robb grounds, and posed for portraits alone and with family and friends. Prints also relate to the late Robb twins, Edward and Frederick.
Black commercial album with “Photographs” embossed on front cover. Written by hand on front cover is “C.+ R jr.” Album contains 104 pages (1 loose and 58 empty).
Album contains 185 b&w prints, tipped in, some pasted in, some captioned. Prints pertain to Catahrine Robb Whyte and her early life. Prints document Catharine in the Robb home, on the Robb grounds, and posed for portraits alone and with family and friends.
Photograph Album: 1 photograph album (185 b&w prints) --
Scope & Content
Album contains 185 b&w prints, tipped in, some pasted in, some captioned. Prints pertain to Catahrine Robb Whyte and her early life. Prints document Catharine in the Robb home, on the Robb grounds, and posed for portraits alone and with family and friends.
Black commercial album with “Photographs” embossed on front cover. Written by hand on front cover is “Catherine.” Sticker on album spine reads “Catherine #1.” Album contains 104 pages.
Robb Family Album – titled “Miscellany,” [ca. 1900 - ca. 1915]. Album contains 340 photographs, captioned throughout album. Photographs pertain to Houses, farms, family and friends, ruins, army parade, outdoor gardens and scenery, pictures of house interiors, furniture and plants, Sailboats, ladi…
Photograph Album : 1 photograph album (340 photographs; b&w, cyanotypes ). --
Scope & Content
Robb Family Album – titled “Miscellany,” [ca. 1900 - ca. 1915]. Album contains 340 photographs, captioned throughout album. Photographs pertain to Houses, farms, family and friends, ruins, army parade, outdoor gardens and scenery, pictures of house interiors, furniture and plants, Sailboats, ladies sewing, picnic games, picnic by the water, Edward Morse, Edith Morse and Russel Robb.
Description and condition report: Black commercial cloth album. Album binding is intact and in good condition. Album contains 340 photographs; some cyanotypes. The album has gold embossing on the front cover. 105 pages. Captioned throughout album with written page numbers. One stamped silhouette image. Photo on page 104 has writing on the back and is made out to Edith Morse.
Album contains 30 b&w cabinet cards, 4 b&w tin types, 3 b&w prints, slipped into apertures, some captioned. Prints, cabinet cards, and tintypes relate to portraits of family and friends of the White and Curren Families.
Individuals pictured in the album include: John D. Curren, May Whyte Campbell, …
Photograph Album: 1 photograph album (37 b&w prints) --
Scope & Content
Album contains 30 b&w cabinet cards, 4 b&w tin types, 3 b&w prints, slipped into apertures, some captioned. Prints, cabinet cards, and tintypes relate to portraits of family and friends of the White and Curren Families.
Individuals pictured in the album include: John D. Curren, May Whyte Campbell, Annie Curren, the 2nd Mrs.John Curren, Mrs. Florence, Bill Peyto, Mary Lamb (I.Lamb's sister), Mike Kavanaugh, Bella Curren (sister of Annie White), Dave Whyte, Elizabeth White Jones (sister of Dave White), Fred W. Atkinson, and Jim McGravy.
Photographic Studios noted on the cabinet cards include: Taylor and Sons, Kirkaldy, est. 1868; Trask, Philidelphia; R.H.Trueman & co., Vancouver, BC; Weese, Artist, Bellville; Wilbur M. Lee, Oconto, Wis; Byron Harmon, Banff; A.E.McDiarmid, Calgary, NWT; Trueman&Caple, Vancouver; A.Lamb, photographer.
Commercial cabinet card album. Front and back covers are covered in velvet. The front cover features a botanical motif and the word ‘album’ in low-relief. The cover is stained and has been damaged. Some of the velvet on the front page and spine has been worn off. Velvet on back cover is mostly intact. Album has a metal clasp that no longer closes. Album contains 28 pages, 3 empty apertures. Two of the empty apertures contain sketches possibly by Peter Whyte (pages 1 and 17). Sketches are done in pencil on backing paper of the apertures. Sketches are profiles of unknown subjects.