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).
The Nicholas Morant fonds consists of Morant's freelance work from his early days with the Winnipeg Free Press to his retirement from the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1981. It is national in scope and also includes some international material. The fonds is comprised of three series: I. Photograp…
Nicholas Everard Morant, 1910-1999, was a professional photographer based at Banff, Alberta, Canada. He was a Canadian commercial photographer of international repute and Canada's premier railway photographer of the 20th century.
Morant was born at Kamloops, British Columbia, the son of Francis and Mollie Morant. After attending the University School at Victoria, Morant served as Special Photographer to the CPR from 1929 to 1935 and again from 1944 to 1981. From 1935 to 1939, he was a cameraman for the Winnipeg Free Press, and from 1940 to 1944 worked with the Wartime Information Branch of the federal government (later to be known as the National Film Board Stills Division).
Morant had a prolific career as a freelance commercial, portrait, magazine, landscape and documentary photographer. His work appeared in numerous books and magazines, including Time, Life, Liberty, Saturday Evening Post, (Toronto) Star Weekly, Northern Sportsman, Reader's Digest, Country Guide, The Standard, National Home Monthly, Canadian Photography, Outdoor Canada, National Geographic, the Globe & Mail, Winnipeg Tribune, New York Daily News, and the two Canadian Pacific Railway magazines, The Spanner and Rail News.
Two wartime images were featured on postage stamps, while three landscape views appeared on Canadian $10, $50 and $100 bills. His images were also used for corporate annual reports, postcards, brochures, calendars and advertisements. From the 1950s to 1980s Morant gave public slide shows of his work, two of the most popular being "A Talk Without Words" and "The World At Your Feet".
Morant married Ivy May "Willie" Young in 1936 when he was a photographer with the Winnipeg Free Press. Beginning in 1929, and until the end of her life, Morant's travelling and working companion was his wife, "Willie," 1910-1986.
Scope & Content
The Nicholas Morant fonds consists of Morant's freelance work from his early days with the Winnipeg Free Press to his retirement from the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1981. It is national in scope and also includes some international material. The fonds is comprised of three series: I. Photography; II. Professional records; III. Personal and family records.
I. Photography series consists of: A. Negatives and transparencies, B. Transparencies, C. Prints, D. Other photographs. II. Professional records series consists of: A. Working records, B. Career records, C. Topical files. III. Personal and family records series consists of: A. Nick and Willie Morant, B. Nick Morant funeral and memorial, C. Francis and Mollie Morant, D. Collected material
Notes
Full summary of sub-sub-series levels:
I / A : 1) Darkroom Files [ a) Negative Albums b) Black/White Series I and II c) Colour Series I and II
d) Leica Negs ]
2) GD Files
I / B : 1) Presentations [ a) Topical Files b) Thematic Files ]
2) General Files
3) Other
I / C : 1) Print Files
I / D : 1) Exhibition and Display Prints
2) Photographs used by John Garden
3) Other Photographs
II / A : 1) Log Books
2) Notebooks
II / B : 1) Career Binders [ a) Postcards b) Brochures and Advertising c) clippings and articles
d) Calendar Photographs ]
2) Scrapbooks [ a) Content 1933 - 1946 b) Content 1940 - 1980 ]
II / C : 1) Numbered / Titled Files [ a) Group A b) Group B c) Group C d) Group D e) Group H
f) Group P g) Group R ]
2) Other Topical Files [ a) Railway; i) Timetables ii) Publications iii) Other
b) Photography; i) Textual Records ii) Print Material
c) Travel d) Exhibitions and Galleries e)Personal f) Other ]
3) Postcards, Greeting Cards and Ephemera Collection
4) Published Images and Text
5) Professional Photography
6) Promotional Items, Awards and Correspondence
7) Presentation and Interview Materials
III / A : 1) Correspondence
2) Personal Papers [ a) Personal Records b) Notes and Notebooks c) Lists and Card Files
d) Awards and Retirement ]
3) Personal Photographs
4) House Records [ a) Construction b) Household Records ]
5) Business, Financial and Legal Papers
6) Interviews, Reminiscences Personal Recordings
7) Other Records (Signs, Cartoons, Drawings, etc.)
8) Personal Correspondence and Notes
9) Travel Documents and Maps
III / B : 1) Nick Morant Funeral, Memorial and Estate
III / C : 1) Mollie Morant Papers
2) Other Family Papers
III / D : 1) Sound Recordings
2) Biographical Material
3) Other Papers and Photographs [ a) Burton Wheatley Family b) Other ]
4) Personal and Family Photography
5) Personal Interest and Gifts
File consists of 4 audiotape film reels with music content recorded by Nicholas Morant. Pertains to music/audio used in slideshow presentation series "A Talk Without Words" by Nicholas and Ivy "Willie" Morant (see "History/Bio"). Items (in order) are labelled "Introduction", "Showtape", "Introducti…
"A Talk Without Words" was an original presentation by Nick and Ivy "Willie" Morant featuring some of their photographs taken while travelling across Canada for work, as well as photographs from their travels in Peru. The presentation involved a brief introduction by Nick and Willie, followed by an approximately one-hour long slideshow accompanied by music which was recorded by Nick. The couple presented this slideshow, and similar variations, to the public for about 15 years (ca. 1950 to ca. 1965).
Scope & Content
File consists of 4 audiotape film reels with music content recorded by Nicholas Morant. Pertains to music/audio used in slideshow presentation series "A Talk Without Words" by Nicholas and Ivy "Willie" Morant (see "History/Bio"). Items (in order) are labelled "Introduction", "Showtape", "Introduction B" and "Showtape B".
Notes
Item S20/II/C/7/1 originally stored in brown paper Canadian Pacific mailing envelope with shipping label: "INTRODUCTION NICHOLAS MORANT BOX 1288 BANFF, ALBERTA CANADA"
Items S20/II/C/7/2 to 4 were attached by string tied around them.
Item S20/II/C/7/2 has label taped to inside of clear plastic container reading: "SHOWTAPE. Nova Scotia 123 Trees Prairies Quiet Places World at Feet Mountains 123 Exit Music."
Item S20/II/C/7/3 and S20/II/C/7/4 were in brown paper Canadian Pacific envelope labelled: "SHOWTAPE B INTRODUCTION B Excludes - Peru - Soundpix"
S20/II/C/7/3 in "Scotch Tape" brand box labelled "Introduction B .... Okay for Revere or Magnecord."
S20/II/C/7/4 in "audiotape" brand box labelled "Showtape B. Okay for Revere and Magnecord."
https://www.whyte.org/nicholas-morant-later-career
Also referenced in book "Nicholas Morant's Canadian Pacific" by John F. Garden (Revelstoke: Footprint Publishing, 1991) under chapter "A Talk Without Words"
File consists of 139 pages of handwritten research notes, correspondence, and newspaper clippings, H35 x W30 cm or smaller. File pertains to Dorothy's research on Banff and surrounding area, Parks Canada, Department of the Interior, and the history of the Canadian Rocky Mountains in general. Record…
2 cm of textual records (139 pages ; 30 x 35 cm or smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of 139 pages of handwritten research notes, correspondence, and newspaper clippings, H35 x W30 cm or smaller. File pertains to Dorothy's research on Banff and surrounding area, Parks Canada, Department of the Interior, and the history of the Canadian Rocky Mountains in general. Records were filed in an envelope that was titled "Book Notes."
Notable people include James Wardle, J.B. Harkin, Pat Brewster, Arthur Unwin, Dr. Brett, Norman Sanson, and Bill Peyto, among others. Notable places and topics include the organization of the Department of the Interior, the Banff-Windemere Highway, Rocky Mountain Park and Park Wardens, Kootenay National Park fires, coal and precious metal mines (e.g. Bankhead, Silver City), trail riding and hiking, research about James Wardle and his accomplishments, Ya-Ha-Tinda, and various parks (e.g. Glacier, Revelstoke, Elk Island, Kootenay, and Yoho).
Other records include a handwritten letter to the Auld family in Scotland (cousins of Sheila Ritchie) with a story about Glenbow and a highland cow from Oban, Scotland; personal reflections on the Banff area and mountains in general; notes that Dorothy took while doing research at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies and the Banff Public Library; and a variety of newspaper clippings.
Notes
Includes request slips and stationary from the archives at the Whyte Museum.
Potentially includes a handwritten list of Dorothy's written works.
Newspaper clippings primarily from the Times Colonist, which is published in Victoria, British Columbia.
Some of the slips of paper are taped together. Was unable to remove them without damaging the materials. May present conservation issues in the future.
File consists of 5 textual items, various authors. Content pertains to a copy of 'The Last of the Buffalo' given to Nicholas Morant in 1940 by Norman Luxton; an Illustrated booklet hand-drawn by Cyril Harris for Nicholas and Ivy Morant; a copy of 'Paintings from the Wild' by Clarence Pillenius; a 1…
File consists of 5 textual items, various authors. Content pertains to a copy of 'The Last of the Buffalo' given to Nicholas Morant in 1940 by Norman Luxton; an Illustrated booklet hand-drawn by Cyril Harris for Nicholas and Ivy Morant; a copy of 'Paintings from the Wild' by Clarence Pillenius; a 1946 journal publication containing a poem written by Mollie Morant; and a copy of 'Weathered Wood' by F.O. 'Pat' Brewster, signed.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 1 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 11
File consists of 5 framed photographic prints. Content pertains to various railway scenes: one image of a steam train taken close-up with black tape secured around the edges; one image of a train turning a corner with a mountain in the background, in a gold-painted frame with an engraved border des…
File consists of 5 framed photographic prints. Content pertains to various railway scenes: one image of a steam train taken close-up with black tape secured around the edges; one image of a train turning a corner with a mountain in the background, in a gold-painted frame with an engraved border design; and 2 steam-pressed photographs on cork bases (one depicting a b&w photograph taken by Nicholas Morant in 1938 of a train at a set of signal lights with a forest, mountains and lake in the background, and one depicting a colour image of a train travelling through a rocky pass in the early morning (?) with a body of water on its left). Also consists of one b&w portrait of Nicholas Morant as a teenager, dressed formally, with a grey metal frame and raised 'bubble-shaped' glass front.
Notes
Item V500 / III / D / 4 / PC - 3 is very similar to a photograph by Ivy 'Willie' Morant (print labelled and stored as V500 / I / C1 / 6 / PA - 28 ).
File consists of 5 maps, 3 stamps, ca.12 blank CP labels, 10 CP "value labels",1 notepad, 11 travel release forms (5 annotated) and 1 travel folder. Content pertains to travel documents and maps used by Nicholas Morant during work trips with Canadian Pacific and possibly some personal travel. Inclu…
Collected by Nicholas Morant; corporate records for Canadian Pacific owned by Canadian Pacific company
Date Range
1930
1946
1947
[ca. 1950 - ca. 1975]
1966
1977
1978
Physical Description
ca. 43 Textual records: maps, stamps, labels, notepad, small travel folder, release forms
Scope & Content
File consists of 5 maps, 3 stamps, ca.12 blank CP labels, 10 CP "value labels",1 notepad, 11 travel release forms (5 annotated) and 1 travel folder. Content pertains to travel documents and maps used by Nicholas Morant during work trips with Canadian Pacific and possibly some personal travel. Includes maps of Alberta, Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, Jasper National Park; professional supplies (travel forms, shipping labels); 14-cent Canadian stamps (from XI Commonwealth Games in 1978); notepad with 2 pages of notes written by Nicholas Morant; and small blue travel-sized folder with pockets with CP Transport label on front.
Notes
CP Rail labels, stamps, value labels, blue folder and notepad originally stored in plastic wrapping labelled "ENVELOPES PAPER STAMPS VALUE LABELS"
Travel release forms were originally stored in blue/grey CP Rail mailing envelope labelled "RR Releases" (stored in separate folder in same box)
1966 map of Alberta (fold-out map) and 3 maps of national parks were originally stored in large blue/grey Canadian Pacific envelope labelled "MAPS - PARKS ALBERTA SASKATCHEWAN ONTARIO"
Large map of Alberta formerly stored in unlabelled plastic yellow bag with red cloth border (removed for conservation purposes)
Items in this file were part of an original set of ca. 75 items; excess duplicates, blank pages and envelopes, non-annotated maps not relevant to the Canadian Rockies, etc. were discarded.