Fonds constitutes the principal resource for the study of the history of Canadian mountaineering. It provides a wealth of information on individual alpinists, expeditions, mountains, national parks, conservation, climbing, alpine organizations, publications, guiding, scientific study and the Alpin…
ca.42 m of textual records. -- ca.12,500 photographs: prints, stereographic prints, transparencies, slides, negatives, postcards. -- 85 photograph albums. -- 8 motion pictures: films, video recordings. -- 3 sound recordings
History / Biographical
The Alpine Club of Canada, the national mountaineering club, was co-founded in 1906 by A. O. Wheeler and Elizabeth Parker, and other like-minded climbers. The club espoused scientific study and exploration, cultivation of art, public education, acquisition of climbing skills, and preservation of natural areas within the mountainous regions of Canada. Through a national executive, local sections and volunteer committees, the club provided climbing camps, clubhouse, huts, and publications, including the Canadian Alpine Journal. ACC expeditions and projects resulted in pioneer exploration, first ascents, and included mountain warfare training during the Second World War. In recent years, the club's membership has increased dramatically with the popularity of climbing and its programs have evolved to serve the needs of unguided climbers using sophisticated technical aids.
Scope & Content
Fonds constitutes the principal resource for the study of the history of Canadian mountaineering. It provides a wealth of information on individual alpinists, expeditions, mountains, national parks, conservation, climbing, alpine organizations, publications, guiding, scientific study and the Alpine Club itself.
The fonds consists of four Sous-fonds: I. Alpine Club of Canada records; II. Mount Everest Expedition (1982) records; III. Personal papers and photographs; IV. Other material. Club administration records (series I.A.) pertain to executive positions; head office; finance; camps, climbing and treks; expeditions; huts and properties; clubhouses; library; publications; photography; other committees; other activities; and other. Other club records include section records (series I.B.), hut registers and summit records (series I.C.).
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.
Fonds consists of two or more series. Series I. Photography, 1893-1913, is processed. Series II. Textual records are processed and consist of six series. Photography series consists of twenty-four sub-series: A. to O. Travel 1893 to Travel 1907; P. to S. Travel 1909 to Travel 1913; T. Travel ge…
2924 photographs: 2632 negatives, 167 transparencies, 125 prints. -- 1 photograph album (50 prints). -- ca.2.7 m textual records
History / Biographical
The Vaux family of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were photographers, mountaineers and scientists. Mary M. Vaux, 1860-1940, George Vaux Jr., 1863-1927, and William S. Vaux Jr., 1872-1908, were the children of George Vaux (VIII) of Philadelphia. They were all involved in photography in the early 1880s and were members of the Photographic Society of Philadelphia. All three were taking photographs when the family made its first trip west in 1885. The first Vaux family photographs of the Canadian mountain west were made in 1887 during a summer trip along the Canadian Pacific Railway to Glacier House in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia in 1887.
The family made frequent visits to the Selkirk and Rocky Mountains over the next two decades to study the Illecillewaet and other glaciers, photograph, paint and climb. George's and Mary's photographic work centred on the mountain landscape, while William's concentrated upon the movement and physical features of glaciers. Due to the size of their large format cameras, the two brothers took most of the photographs during these trips and Mary was responsible for all of the printing. William Vaux died in 1908 and George did not return to the Canadian mountains after 1911; however, Mary Vaux Walcott returned to the region virtually every summer for over forty years. A detailed discussion of their activities is contained in "Legacy In Ice: The Vaux Family and the Canadian Alps," Whyte Foundation, Banff, 1983
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of two or more series. Series I. Photography, 1893-1913, is processed. Series II. Textual records are processed and consist of six series.
Photography series consists of twenty-four sub-series: A. to O. Travel 1893 to Travel 1907; P. to S. Travel 1909 to Travel 1913; T. Travel general, 1894?-1912?; U. Prints, 1899-1907; V. Lantern slides, 1900-1909; W. Photograph album, before 1907; X. Textual records, 1893-1910; Y. Damaged Negatives; Z. Mary Schaffer Negatives. Photographic negatives, arranged chronologically, are prominent in the series. Images pertain to landscape studies and scenic views of the Selkirk and Rocky Mountains, especially the Glacier, Yoho and Lake Louise areas; glaciers in the Selkirk and Rocky Mountains, especially Illecillewaet, Asulkan, Yoho and Bow Glaciers; mountain scenes and panorama views in the Selkirks and Rockies; Canadian Pacific Railway in the Selkirks and CPR hotels; Glacier and Field, B.C. and Banff, Alberta and areas; climbing and other mountain activities; United States and Canadian views on trips to the mountains. Negatives include both glass (962 items) and film negatives (1740 items). Textual records are exposure records, original negative envelopes and publications.
Textual series consists of six series: I. Trip Series, II. Correspondence Series, III. Publications Series, IV. George Vaux: Legal and Finance Management Series, V. Photographic Related Material, VI. Other Series (O.S.). Textual records pertain to glacier study, including research papers, maps and publications; William S. Vaux Jr. papers re travels, engineering and architecture, other; George Vaux Jr. writing and other papers; Mary Vaux correspondence and papers re writing and presentations; and other records, 1877, 1912-1913. Textual records also include family travel papers, 1881-1911; George Vaux, Jr. "Glacier" files; correspondence between George Vaux and the Schäffers, 1899-1926; papers of Dr. Charles Schäffer, Mary Schäffer and Schäffer estate, 1855-1927.
Copyright, privacy, commercial use and other restrictions may apply
Language
Language is English
Finding Aid
Finding aids and reference tools: arrangement outline
series description
file description for Series I
electronic finding aid for Series I
selected modern reference prints
digital images in Images database and in Alberta InSight database
Related Material
Related by provenance to the Vaux family collection of photographs held by the Library Company of Philadelphia and the Vaux collection of correspondence, documents and graphics held by Special Collections of Haverford College Library, Haverford, Pennsylvania
Sub-series consists of the meeting minutes and reports of the Alpine Club of Canada between 1913 and 2011. Records pertain to meetings of the Executive Committee of the ACC, as well as the Executives of the various sections of the ACC, including the Banff Section, the Calgary Section, the Edmonton …
Sub-series consists of the meeting minutes and reports of the Alpine Club of Canada between 1913 and 2011. Records pertain to meetings of the Executive Committee of the ACC, as well as the Executives of the various sections of the ACC, including the Banff Section, the Calgary Section, the Edmonton Section and others. Records also include the Annual General Meeting minutes of the ACC during this time period.
Sub-series is arranged chronologically.
Notes
See file-level entries for inventories of club meeting minutes and reports.
Sub-series consists of correspondence with Catharine Robb Whyte, 1927-1962; chronological correspondence files, 1909-1962; and other papers, [ca.1920- ca.1930], in the form of business cards, addresses, greeting cards, and other.
Sub-series consists of correspondence with Catharine Robb Whyte, 1927-1962; chronological correspondence files, 1909-1962; and other papers, [ca.1920- ca.1930], in the form of business cards, addresses, greeting cards, and other.
Finding Aid
File description available in printed form and through this database.
Related Material
Constitutes Sub-series 2 of I.B. Peter Whyte papers and photographs.
Sub-series consists of registers placed and maintained in ACC huts and clubhouses. Includes registers for: A. O. Wheeler Hut, Abbot Pass Hut, Banff Clubhouse, Balfour Pass Hut, Bow (Glacier) Hut, Canmore Clubhouse, Elizabeth Parker Hut, Fairy Meadows Hut, Fay Hut, Fryatt Hut, Glacier Circle Hut, Graham Cooper Bivouac Hut, Great Cairn Hut, Memorial Hut, Mount Robson Hut, Mount Seymour Cabin, Neil Colgan Hut, Peter and Catharine Whyte Hut (Peyto Hut), R. C. Hind Hut, Ralph Forster Hut, Sapphire Col Hut, Saskatchewan Glacier Hut, Seaver Cabin, Scott Duncan Hut, Stanley Mitchell Hut, Vermilion Cabin and Wates-Gibson Memorial Hut.
Language
English
Finding Aid
Inventory available in this database; select Alpine Club of Canada - inventory from list
Related Material
Forms Sub-series I.C.1. Hut and clubhouse registers of the Alpine Club of Canada fonds. Other records pertaining to huts and clubhouses are found in Series I.A. Administrative records, sub-series 1 to 3. Registers for government cabins can be found in the Parks Canada fonds (M317).
Sub-series consists of 14 oversize b&w prints, some mounted. The prints pertain to various portraits of locals taken by Peter Whyte and portraits by other photographers including a mounted print by Byron Harmon. Persons identified are Mrs. Hansen Bearspaw, Professor Macoun, Peter Ear, Peter Bearspa…
Sub-series consists of 14 oversize b&w prints, some mounted. The prints pertain to various portraits of locals taken by Peter Whyte and portraits by other photographers including a mounted print by Byron Harmon. Persons identified are Mrs. Hansen Bearspaw, Professor Macoun, Peter Ear, Peter Bearspaw, Paul Amos, David Bearspaw, Paul Daniels, Enoch Rider, Lazarus Dixon, Red Cloud, Moses Wesley,
V683 / II / C / PA - 380 O.S.
V683 / II / C / PA - 382 O.S.
V683 / II / C / PA - 383 O.S.
V683 / II / C / PA - 384 O.S.
V683 / II / C / PA - 385 O.S.
V683 / II / C / PA - 386 O.S.
V683 / II / C / PA - 387 O.S.
V683 / II / C / PA - 388 O.S.
V683 / II / C / PA - 389 O.S.
V683 / II / C / PA - 390 O.S.
V683 / II / C / PA - 391 O.S.
V683 / II / C / PA - 392 O.S.
V683 / II / C / PA - 393 O.S.
V683 / II / C / PA - 394 O.S.
Sub-series consists of 31 oversize b&w prints. The prints pertain to various activities in and around the Banff area. Prints document the royal visit, boats on the Bow River, Banff Indian Days, ski jumping, waxing skis, and downhill skiing.
V683 / II / E : Peter Whyte Banff and Area Activities and Events Sub-Series
Sous-Fonds
V683
Reference Code
V683 / II / E / PA - 271 O.S. to PA - 302 O.S.
Date Range
[ca.1900-ca.1930]
Physical Description
Photographs: 31 prints; b&w, oversized --
Scope & Content
Sub-series consists of 31 oversize b&w prints. The prints pertain to various activities in and around the Banff area. Prints document the royal visit, boats on the Bow River, Banff Indian Days, ski jumping, waxing skis, and downhill skiing.
V683 / II / E / PA - 271 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 272 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 273 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 274 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 275 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 276 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 277 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 278 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 279 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 280 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 281 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 282 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 283 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 284 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 285 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 286 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 287 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 288 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 289 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 290 O.S. - Portrait of two Stoney Nakoda men by F.Gully
V683 / II / E / PA - 291 O.S. - Portrait of two Stoney Nakoda men by F.Gully
V683 / II / E / PA - 292 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 293 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 294 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 295 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 296 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 297 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 298 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 299 O.S.
V683 / II / E / PA - 300 O.S. - Mounted print taken by R.H.Trueman, captioned "Bow River and Twin Peaks, Banff, ALTA."
V683 / II / E / PA - 301 O.S.- Mounted print taken by R.H.Trueman, captioned "Bow River and Twin Peaks, Banff, ALTA."
V683 / II / E / PA - 302 O.S.
Sub-series consists of personal writings, 1913-1956; trip diaries, 1930; note books, 1913-1935; notes, 1929, 1956, n.d.; and other material, 1905- 1960, in the form of certificates, memberships, cards, permits, passes, letters of introduction, and other.
Sub-series consists of personal writings, 1913-1956; trip diaries, 1930; note books, 1913-1935; notes, 1929, 1956, n.d.; and other material, 1905- 1960, in the form of certificates, memberships, cards, permits, passes, letters of introduction, and other.
Finding Aid
File description available in printed form and through this database.
Related Material
Constitutes Sub-series 1 of I.B. Peter Whyte papers and photographs.
Prints consist of one image of an unidentified woman feeding dogs, five portraits; including James Hector, Edward Whymper, and Douglas Hector. also included are four prints by Byron Harmon of Rogers Pass, and the Waputik Ice Fields. Also included are two prints labled as copies from copy neg of V65…
Prints consist of one image of an unidentified woman feeding dogs, five portraits; including James Hector, Edward Whymper, and Douglas Hector. also included are four prints by Byron Harmon of Rogers Pass, and the Waputik Ice Fields. Also included are two prints labled as copies from copy neg of V653 / NG 407b.
Title Source
Title based on contents of file
Content Details
PA - 126 the Waputik Ice Fields.
PA - 127 Snow Slide Scene at Rogers Pass
PA - 128 Snow Slide Scene at Rogers Pass
PA - 129 Snow Slide Scene at Rogers Pass
PA - 130 Unidentified woman feeding Dogs
PA - 131 Portrait of James Hector at Revelstoke, B.C.
PA - 132 Sir James Hector
PA - 133 James Hector and Edward Whymper at Revelstoke B.C.
PA - 134 Douglas Hector
PA - 135 Douglas Hector
PA - 136 Contact copy print of V653 / NG 407b
Sub-series consists of 17 oversize b&w prints. The prints relate to the Robb and Morse families. The prints pertain to Catharine's school photos, studio family portraits of Edward Sylvester Morse, Edith Morse Robb, Catharine Robb, and Russell Robb, exterior and interior of a house.
Sub-series consists of 17 oversize b&w prints. The prints relate to the Robb and Morse families. The prints pertain to Catharine's school photos, studio family portraits of Edward Sylvester Morse, Edith Morse Robb, Catharine Robb, and Russell Robb, exterior and interior of a house.
V683 / IV / A / PA - 616 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 617 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 618 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 619 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 620 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 621 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 622 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 623 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 624 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 625 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 626 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 627 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 628 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 629 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 630 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 631 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 632 O.S
V683 / IV / A / PA - 633 O.S
Textual records consist of: a. Exposure records, 1897, 1904-1906, 9 v. (2 cm); b. Negative envelopes, 1893-1910, 12 cm; c. Publications, [ca.1900]-1901, 6 items. Exposure records consist of notebooks by George Vaux, indicating date, holder number, plate number, exposure, time of day, stop, lens,…
14 cm of textual records. -- 6 print material items
Scope & Content
Textual records consist of: a. Exposure records, 1897, 1904-1906, 9 v. (2 cm); b. Negative envelopes, 1893-1910, 12 cm; c. Publications, [ca.1900]-1901, 6 items. Exposure records consist of notebooks by George Vaux, indicating date, holder number, plate number, exposure, time of day, stop, lens, light conditions and subject. Negatives envelopes consist of a sample of enclosures indicating subject, date, number, exposure, stop, type of plate or film, filtration and sometimes photographer's name. Publications consist of: set of five souvenir CPR dining car service menus with Vaux family photographs as cover illustrations; exhibition catalogue, Vaux family exhibition with the Photographic Society of Philadelphia
774-782, 783-846 Rockies -- 1904, [1912?] -- [Views thought to be 1912 pertain to Mount Rundle (774, 775); Bow River (774-777); Bow River boat house (776, 777); Mount Temple (778-782); Valley of the Ten Peaks (782); Lake Louise (784, 785); Mount Victoria? (784); Victoria Glacier (785); Takakkaw Falls (786-789); Twin Falls (790-793); Yoho Glacier (794); pack train, trip and camps (between 795 and 844); rockslide/s (800, 804, 807, 821, 822, 837); all other views are unidentified and pertain to people, dogs, railway line, mountains, glaciers, rivers, valleys, waterfalls, other]
783 Rockies -- [Aug.24, 1904] -- [Mary M. Vaux and George Vaux Jr. with camera on Mount Fairview]