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 …
Date Range
1856-1980
Reference Code
M36 / S37 / V683
Description Level
1 / Fonds
GMD
Drawing
Motion picture
Film
Photograph
Album
Ambrotype
Cased photograph
Daguerreotype
Negative
Photograph print
Postcard
Tintype
Transparency
Sound recording
Cassette
Reel to reel
Textual record
Plan
Poster
Private record
Published record
Rockies Winter Sports Ltd. – 1940 – 1946 (M36/968)
ii. Ski Club of the Canadian Rockies – 1930 – 1953 (M36
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.
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.
Image of Banff's first hockey rink - possibly on the Bow River or modern-day recreation grounds - with a church and Cascade Mountain visible in the distance
Image of Banff's first hockey rink - possibly on the Bow River or modern-day recreation grounds - with a church and Cascade Mountain visible in the distance
Image of Catharine Whyte holding ski poles with a hotel and ski hill visible in the background - "Obergurgl 1936" written on the back in pencil by Catharine
Image of Catharine Whyte holding ski poles with a hotel and ski hill visible in the background - "Obergurgl 1936" written on the back in pencil by Catharine
Image of Catharine Whyte on skis with a hotel and ski hill visible in the background - "Catharine Whyte Obergurgl 1936" written on the back in pencil by Catharine
Image of Catharine Whyte on skis with a hotel and ski hill visible in the background - "Catharine Whyte Obergurgl 1936" written on the back in pencil by Catharine
Image of Catharine Whyte and Dennis Mighall on skis at Mt. Norquay - "Mt Norquay - 1931 [/] 1. Catharine Whyte [/] 2. Dennis Mighall" written on the back in pencil
Image of Catharine Whyte and Dennis Mighall on skis at Mt. Norquay - "Mt Norquay - 1931 [/] 1. Catharine Whyte [/] 2. Dennis Mighall" written on the back in pencil