Fonds consists of records pertaining to the Calgary Mountain Club. Fonds includes two volumes of club meeting minutes, 1960-1987; one financial ledger book, 1964-1980; bound volume containing the club's constitution, route descriptions, photographs, and related content from various expeditions; one…
7 bound volumes -- two mounted b&w prints : 28 x 35 cm -- 3 cm textual records
History / Biographical
The Calgary Mountain Club (CMC) is Calgary's oldest mountaineering organization that is dedicated specifically to the furtherance of hard climbing objectives on significant peaks. These peaks are predominantly in the Canadian Rockies, but in many cases extend to significant mountain ranges throughout North America and Europe.
The CMC was founded in 1960 and is still an active club as of 2023. Chic Scott's publication, "History of the Calgary Mountain Club" (1988) provides a detailed summary of the club's early history.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of records pertaining to the Calgary Mountain Club. Fonds includes two volumes of club meeting minutes, 1960-1987; one financial ledger book, 1964-1980; bound volume containing the club's constitution, route descriptions, photographs, and related content from various expeditions; one copy of Chic Scott's publication, "History of the Calgary Mountain Club" (1988); registers for Archie Simpson Hut (1972-1974) and Castle Mountain Hut (1967-1984); two mounted black & white prints depicting the Graham Cooper Hut and Black Rock Needle; memorial booklet for Archie Simpson; and one folder of loose textual records including correspondence, pamphlets, administrative documents, and related materials.
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 three sous-fonds: M573 / V797 / S60.
M573 consists of three series, 26 cm of textual records, 1924-2005. Series I: Personal Papers, 19 cm, ca.1930-2005 (including notebooks and drafts of various talks that Jean delivered and records related to her participation in the Trail Rider…
26 cm of textual records.-- 109 photographs (42 prints, 67 lantern slides). -- 2 sound recordings.
History / Biographical
Jean Alexandra Hembroff was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on April 5, 1908 to Walter B. Hembroff (d. 1945) and Sarah Jane Hembroff (d.1952). Jean was accepted to the MacPhail School of Music and Dramatic Art at the University of Minnesota, from which she graduated in 1927. She returned to Winnipeg to begin teaching courses in speech arts and drama. To establish herself, she first volunteered as the "story lady" at the Williams Avenue Public Library and quickly became known as an excellent speaker sought by many different organizations. She taught at St. Mary's Academy and the Evening Institute at the University of Manitoba, as well as offered private sessions. Many of her students used the skills they learned from Jean as they entered radio, television, politics, and business. Jean was also very active in organizing and adjucating Speech Arts festivals in Manitoba, often going to inaccessible places to give workshops. Her teaching, broadcasting, adjucating, coaching, and speaking career spanned more than 50 years.
Jean was hired by the Canadian Pacific Railway's promotions manager to give presentations and broadcast interviews across Canada and the United States. In 1937, Jean joined the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies and participated in their summer trail ride in the same year. For that year's issue of the Trail Rider's Bulletin Jean wrote an article - and became the first woman to ever do so. In 1938, during her lecture titled "Trail Riding in the Rockies" on January 18, 1938 at the Royal Alexandra Hotel, Jean met John David (Jack) MacDonald. Jack and Jean were married on June 18, 1938, and the couple had one son, Bruce Walter James MacDonald (August 28, 1946-August 25, 2016).
Jean participated in several trail rides with the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies and the Sky Line Trail, and produced articles reflecting her experiences. Jean loved to travel and visited places all around Canada and the United States, Borneo, Tangier, Montevideo, Stockholm, New Delhi, and Tonga. At the age of 102, Jean passed away on February 2, 2011 and is buried in Winnipeg.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of three sous-fonds: M573 / V797 / S60.
M573 consists of three series, 26 cm of textual records, 1924-2005. Series I: Personal Papers, 19 cm, ca.1930-2005 (including notebooks and drafts of various talks that Jean delivered and records related to her participation in the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies and the Sky Line Hikers of the Canadian Rockies, particularly 1937-1939). Series II: Correspondence and Newspaper Clippings, 4 cm, 1924-2000 (including correspondence with John Murray Gibbon, former students, and attendees at various talks, as well as newspaper articles that Jean wrote about various subjects and articles of her achievements). Series III: Collected Materials and Ephemera, 3 cm, ca.1930-1950 (including a variety of collected poems and ephemera, as well as a copy of The Beaver Magazine from 1940, for which Jean wrote an article titled "On the Trail of Sir George").
V797 consists of two series, 24.5 cm of visual records, ca.1928-1939. Series I: Photograph Prints, 3 cm, ca.1928-1939 (includes personal photographs of Jean and her family and friends as well as photographs of Jean and Jack's visit to Lake Louise in 1939). Series II: Lantern Slides, 21.5 cm, ca.1937-1939 (Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies official ride of 1937 to Mt. Assiniboine; Sky Line Hikers of the Canadian Rockies official ride of 1939 to Ptarmigan Valley and Skoki; collection of trail ride songs).
S60 consists of two sound recordings, 1 cm, 2004 and 2007 (Winnipeg at Christmas, narrated by Jean, broadcasted on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).
Fonds consists of textual and visual records pertaining to Malcolm Geddes, as well as his immediate family: wife Jennie (Waters) Geddes, and children Alvin and Enid Geddes; and extended family members. Fonds includes records related to Malcolm's work as a poet and author (including original drafts …
Some views are by Malcolm Geddes; many were obtained through other sources
Date Range
[1896-2013]
Physical Description
444 photographs: 385 b&w and col. transparencies, 59 b&w prints -- 1 album (28 b&w prints) -- 11 cm of textual records
History / Biographical
Malcolm Daniel Geddes, 1866-1927, was a journalist, publisher and mountaineer at Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Geddes was one of the founders of the "Farmers and Ranch Review" in 1904, and served as vice-president and editor until his death. He joined the Alpine Club of Canada in 1917, was active in ACC summer camps and served as Honorary Secretary from 1924 to 1926. Geddes was killed in a mountaineering accident on Mount Lefroy in 1927.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual and visual records pertaining to Malcolm Geddes, as well as his immediate family: wife Jennie (Waters) Geddes, and children Alvin and Enid Geddes; and extended family members. Fonds includes records related to Malcolm's work as a poet and author (including original drafts and publications), Malcolm's career in real estate, family letters, financial records, records of mountain ascents and hikes with the Alpine Club of Canada, family trees and genealogical research, and other related materials.
Notes
Fonds consists of three series:
Series I : Professional records
I / A : Published materials
I / B : Manuscripts and notes
I / C : Professional correspondence
Series II : Financial records
Series III : Personal and family records
III / A : Travel and mountain expeditions
III / B : Genealogy and research
III / C : Other personal and family records
Arrangement of fonds was redone by Processing Archivist Kate Skelton between December 2020 and March 2021 to accommodate unprocessed materials from accessions 7846, 2014.8306 and 2015.8558
Fonds consists of transparency slides, maps, handwritten notes and club records, song books, and scrapbooks pertaining to Margaret Ruth Oliver and the Tuesday Hikers club.
28 photographs : col. slides -- 1.5 m of textual records (3 binders -- 1 record book -- 10 song books -- maps, annotated -- 11 scrapbooks)
History / Biographical
Margaret Ruth Oliver was born on December 19, 1927 to parents Edgar and Gladys (Brazier) Hammett in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Margaret's siblings include Dorothy (1922), Muriel "Miv" (1923), John (1929), and Jean (1933). Margaret graduated from United College (Winnipeg) in 1949 with a B.Sc. degree, and worked as an Assistant Librarian at the University of Manitoba afterwards. Margaret later enrolled in a Laboratory Technician program at the University of Manitoba Medical College. Margaret married Thomas Albert Oliver, a fellow University of Manitoba alumnus, on September 25, 1954. The couple moved to Calgary for work (Thomas taught at the University of Calgary, and Margaret worked for a geophysical company). Margaret travelled extensively following the death of her husband in 1997, visiting places such as Nepal, Cambodia, Russia, Egypt and Greenland.
In 1971, Margaret formed a hiking group within the University Faculty Women's Club (F.W.C.) through the University of Calgary. In 1976, this group became a private club called the Tuesday Hikers, which no longer held any affiliation to the F.W.C. Trips included weekly hikes and/or ski trips, as well as longer backpacking excursions.The club is still active as of 2022.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of transparency slides, maps, handwritten notes and club records, song books, and scrapbooks pertaining to Margaret Ruth Oliver and the Tuesday Hikers club.
Notes
Materials are unprocessed and stored in three boxes:
Box 1: 1 envelope "T. Hikers' Slides" - 28 film transparencies and printed notes; various maps with handwritten notes
Box 2: 1 record book "T.H. Record Book" - handwritten lists and statistics of trips, attendance, miles; 2 binders with handwritten notes, titled "National Parks - Banff and Assiniboine" and "Nat'l Parks - Glacier + Jasper"
Box 3: 1 binder titled "Tues. Hikers- Past Members and Guests"; 10 song books; trail, park and road maps; 11 scrapbooks, 1971-2010
Fonds consists of the records of the Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies and reflect the society's organisation, activities, events, and membership. Photographic records include 22 photograph albums documenting Skyline camps, hikes and members; photographs collected by Marian Goldstrom during r…
Previously known as Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies
Date Range
[1933]-2000
Physical Description
22 photograph albums. -- photographs: ca.160 transparencies; 35mm, ca.30 prints, 2 videocassettes. -- 1.3 m textual records. -- 4 audiocassettes
History / Biographical
In the 1920s John Murray Gibbon, Head of the Publicity Department of the Canadian Pacific Railway, recommended the creation of new activities and recreational pursuits for tourists visiting the national parks. Gibbon decided that horseback riding and sleeping outdoors in tents, teepees, or railway bungalow camps would appeal to many tourists and the Skyline Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies was established. Outdoor enthusiasts who visited Banff annually along with Banff and area residents proposed a similar organization for hikers. Gibbon responded with the Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies, with their inaugural hike occurring in 1933. The first annual meeting of the Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies was held immediately following the first hike and N.B. Sanson, retired meteorologist of Banff, became the Club's first president. The five vice-presidents elected were: Major Selby Walker of Calgary, Peter Whyte of Banff, Carl Rungius of New York, Ian Somerville of Philadelphia, and Miss Georgina Englehard of New York. A secretary-treasurer and council members were also elected and a certified hiking mileage of 25 miles in the Canadian Rockies was set as the criteria for admission of new members.
In 1961 C.P.R. sponsorship ceased for both the Trail Riders and the Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies. Both groups re-organized as separate volunteer, non-profit organizations and the Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies was renamed the Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies. The offices of the five vice-presidents as well as the honourary president were discontinued and replaced with an executive commitee consisting of President, Vice-President, Executive Secretary, and Committee Chairperson.
The Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies establish a new base camp location each summer and coordinate five 1-week camps from that base camp throughout the summer.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of the records of the Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies and reflect the society's organisation, activities, events, and membership. Photographic records include 22 photograph albums documenting Skyline camps, hikes and members; photographs collected by Marian Goldstrom during research for "Fifty Years of Trails and Tales, Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies," published in 1982; ca.160 35mm transparencies in 2 Kodak carousels containing promotional slides, presenter's guidelines and 4 sound track audio-tapes; 1 BASF videotape containing a recording of CBC mini-report about Skyline Hikers; 1 TDK videotape "Skyline Camp at Sunset Pass 1998" by Moe Bilous.
Textual records include Skyline Hikers minutes of meetings, 1961-1980 and 1980-1997; minutes, agendas, and reports, 1991-1995 and 1996-1997; marketing articles and advertisements; guest lists, 1949-1975; membership lists, 1973-1986; by-laws, 1961-1976, 1986; outfitter's agreement, 1998-99; hostess guidelines, 1991; camp and membership lists, 1991-2000; correspondence with Parks Canada and miscellaneous; budgets, 1994-1997; legal insurance, completed evaluations, 1994-1996; cardex files of membership cards and inactive members.
File consists of drafts, notes and correspondence pertaining to a guidebook for the Blue Lake Centre Nature Trail near Hinton, Alberta. Ben Gadd researched, designed and produced the guidebook for the Blue Lake Centre between 1989 and 1990, while working as a freelance consultant.
File consists of drafts, notes and correspondence pertaining to a guidebook for the Blue Lake Centre Nature Trail near Hinton, Alberta. Ben Gadd researched, designed and produced the guidebook for the Blue Lake Centre between 1989 and 1990, while working as a freelance consultant.
File consists of a summit record from Bluerock Mountain produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1989 and 1992. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the su…
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
1989-1992
Physical Description
0.5 cm of textual record
1 volume
History / Biographical
Mount Bluerock is located in Bluerock Wildland Provincial Park in Kananaskis, Alberta. Nearby are Mount Rose and Mount Ware.
Scope & Content
File consists of a summit record from Bluerock Mountain produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1989 and 1992. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
File:
M200 / V / A / 147: [Bluerock Mountain 1989-1992]
Sub-series of hut registers from the Bon Echo Hut produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1964 and 2006. Registers include entries from visitors to the huts which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while staying at the hut, wildlife si…
According to the Alpine Club of Canada website:
"The rock climbing at Mazinaw Lake is some of the finest in Ontario. The area boasts quartzite cliffs up to 100m high that rise vertically out of the lake. The routes are all traditional and range in grades from 5.0 to 5.11, with the most popular routes in the 5.4 to 5.9 range. The exposure and length of the routes make for an adventure unlike any other in the province.
The Bon Echo Hut on the lake is operated by the Toronto Section which also operates a boat to ferry climbers to and from the climbs. The hut is comfortable and an excellent place to meet other climbers and get information on the climbs. The area also offers excellent swimming and hiking.
The hut is a single-room wooden structure with a fireplace and kitchen equipped with propane stoves and a large dining table. There is a sauna located near the lake. The hut is not used for sleeping, but is a day hut and cook shelter for those staying at the campsites immediately adjacent to the hut.
Bon Echo is located approximately 300 km north east of Toronto on the east side of Mazinaw Lake, a mile north of the Mazinaw Rock and Bon Echo Provincial Park.
The drive to the public dock takes three to four hours from Toronto or one and a half hours from Ottawa. The hut can be reached by hiking overland, but this would take an entire day. Boating to the hut is much more convenient."
Scope & Content
Sub-series of hut registers from the Bon Echo Hut produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1964 and 2006. Registers include entries from visitors to the huts which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while staying at the hut, wildlife sightings, custodial issues and updates, and related topics.
The sub-series is separated into individual hut registers, arranged by date:
M200 / IV / L / 1: [Bon Echo - register Jan 28, 1964 - Nov. 25, 1967]
M200 / IV / L / 2: [Bon Echo hut register Feb. 24, 1968 - Aug. 27, 1972]
M200 / IV / L / 3: Bon Echo hut book #3 Sept 23, 1972 - Aug. 27, 1978
M200 / IV / L / 4: Bon Echo Hut book #4 Sept. 2, 1978 - July 13, 1984.
M200 / IV / L / 5: [Bon Echo Hut Register] July 14, 1984 - Apr 20, 1987
M200 / IV / L / 6: ACC Bon Echo Log Hut book #6 May 9, 1987 - July 4, 1993
M200 / IV / L / 7: [Bon Echo Hut Register] vol. 7 July 9, 1993 - Aug. 24, 1997
M200 / IV / L / 8: Bon Echo Hut Register 1998-2006
Notes
M200 / IV / L / 3: Bon Echo hut book #3 Sept 23, 1972 - Aug. 27, 1978 included a colour photographic print that has been separated into V14 / III / C / PA under the same title: Bon Echo hut book #3 Sept 23, 1972 - Aug. 27, 1978. The print was found loose inside the hut register.
M200 / IV / L / 6: ACC Bon Echo Log Hut book #6 May 9, 1987 - July 4, 1993 included a photographic print that has been separated into V14 / III / C / PA under the same title: ACC Bon Echo Log Hut book #6 May 9, 1987 - July 4, 1993. The print was found loose inside the hut register.
M200 / IV / L / 8: Bon Echo Hut Register 1998-2006 contained loose bird feathers that have been removed from page 173.
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.