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).
File pertains to seven diaries kept by Lillian Gest from 1957-1967 from travels throughout the Canadian Rockies, Europe, and the western United States.
Includes:
M67 / 4 - 1 : black leather diary, dated 57 58 59 in red paint on the front cover. Pertains to the last few days of the summer 1957 trip …
7.8 cm of textual records (7 volumes ; 11 x 17.8 cm)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to seven diaries kept by Lillian Gest from 1957-1967 from travels throughout the Canadian Rockies, Europe, and the western United States.
Includes:
M67 / 4 - 1 : black leather diary, dated 57 58 59 in red paint on the front cover. Pertains to the last few days of the summer 1957 trip carried over from M67 / 3 - 6, a trip in 1958 involving travel to Banff, the annual Alpine Club of Canada hike, staying at the Chateau Lake Louise, hiking in Lake O'Hara, and travel back to Pennsylvania. Trip details for 1959 include travelling by train from the United States to Montreal before continuing on to Banff where she took trips to Lake O'Hara and Skoki - entries for 1959 seem to end abruptly. Also includes lists of people met over the three years, equipment used for various trips, and a list of events since Sept. 1958 including the opening of the new Sulphur gondola on July 28, 1958, the tearing down of the Brewster stables on Spray Ave, and the conversion of the ski lodge to the Post Hotel in Lake Louise.
M67 / 4 - 2 : black leather diary, dated 59 in red paint and end 1959-1962 on a piece of paper taped to the front cover. Pertains to the remainder of August 1959 (carried over from M67 / 4 - 2), and summer trips taken during 1960-1962 consisting of time spent around the Banff townsite, Lake O'Hara, and Bow Lake areas, annual organized hikes with the Alpine Club of Canada, as well as travel to and from Pennsylvania - usually by train. Also includes lists of people she met, new additions to staff at hotels Lillian Gest stayed at, luggage details, and events pertaining to Banff like construction projects, births, marriages, and deaths (including the death of Jack White in 1962, his house now being a library, and the fate of the grocery store he ran).
M67 / 4 - 3 : black leather diary, dated 1962-1964 in red paint on the cover. Pertains to the end of Lillian Gest's 1962 summer trip (carried over from M76 / 4 - 2) and trips taken during the summers of 1963 and 1964. The 1963 summer consists of travel from Pennsylvania to Banff by train, stays at various hotels (including the Club House [possibly the Alpine Club of Canada Club House], Moraine Lake Lodge, and Emerald Lake Lodge), hiking trips in Revelestoke Park and Lake O'Hara, the annual Sky Line Trail Hikers trip, and alternating between stays in Lake O'Hara and at the Club House before returning home. The 1964 summer followed a similar pattern, with stays at various hotels, hikes (both with and without organizations like the Sky Line Trail Hikers and the ACC), and travel between Pennsylvania and Banff by train. Also includes lists of people met during all three summers, equipment left in Banff (1963), a poem titled How To Die in the Mountains, evelvation of Golden, milages, and rates at the Lake O'Hara Lodge and Chateau Lake Louise. Pertains to trip to the Canadian Rockies during the summer of 1965. Includes stays around the Banff, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Lake O'Hara, and Icefield Chalet areas as well as hikes with and without organizations such as the Alpine Club of Canada and the Skyline Trail Hikers. Also includes details about booking information throughout Yoho National Park, a list of mileages, and a list of events.
M67 / 4 - 4 : gold embossed red plastic spiral bound diary titled Can R. 1965 on adhesive paper on front cover. Pertains to the summer of 1965 and includes time spent in Banff, trips to and around Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Lake O'Hara, the Icefiled Parkway, and Mt. Robson areas as well as stays at the The Club House (possibly the Alpine Club of Canada Club House), a trip with the Sky Line Trail Hikers in Little Yoho (Aug 1-5) and the annual ACC Camp (Aug 23 - Sept 3). The trip back to Pennsylvania was completed by train as far as Winnipeg, from where Gest took a plane. Also includes Lake O'Hara register notes, details on Yoho National Park, lists of mileages, books at the ACC Club House and its staff that year, 1965 events (unclear if entirely dedicated to Banff), and people met.
M67 / 4 - 5 : gold embossed red plastic spiral bound diary. Pertains to a trip to Alaska during the summer of 1966 and a trip to Expo 67 in Montreal from June 21-26. Also includes details on animals and birds spotted in Alaska, people met, and names of staff at places Lillian Gest stayed.
M67 / 4 - 6 : black leather diary, dated 1966 on a piece of paper taped to the front cover. Pertains to the remainder of Lillian Gest's summer 1966 travels throughout the Canadian Rockies (an extension of the Alaska trip detailed in M67 / 4 - 5). Also includes lists of items left in Banff and items purchased in both Alaska and Canada, reminders about correspondence, notes about Lake O'Hara, and events from Banff.
M67 / 4 - 7 : brown cardstock diary with black fabric tape on spine. Pertains to a trip to the Canadian Rockies in the summer of 1967 and includes hiking trips with and without organizations like the Alpine Club of Canada and the Sky Line Trail Hikers, as well as stays in Banff, Lake Louise, Glacier, Lake O'Hara, and the [probably ACC] Club House. Also mentions Expo 67 (details of that trip in M67/ 4 - 5), and contains lists of staff at the Lake O'Hara Lodge, Chateau Lake Louise, and the Club House, as well as events from around Banff, including the Mount Royal Hotel burning down.
Also includes loose items consisting of a brochure for the 1965 Sky Line Trail Hikers and address list, a letter from Caroline HInman regarding a 1959 trip plan, notes written by Lillian Gest [possibly reminders], a postcard, a Chirstmas letter from Peter and Catharine Whyte, and newspaper clippins.
Notes
Blank pages not scanned.
To read M67 / 4 - 7 start on the right-hand pages to the end, return to the front, flip the book upside-down and continue back to front.
File pertains to 69 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from March 23 to August 29, 1942. Topics include day to day life, weather, Catharine's Home Nursing classes, cleaning and household chores, news pertaining to the war, updates on war-time rations [mostly on …
1.5 cm of textual records (72 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 69 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from March 23 to August 29, 1942. Topics include day to day life, weather, Catharine's Home Nursing classes, cleaning and household chores, news pertaining to the war, updates on war-time rations [mostly on food items and gasoline/coal], visits from friends, Kay Baker-Carr and her kids moving to Banff in April [D'Arcy is stationed in Hong Kong], uncertainties surrounding Pete's volunteer status in the war effort, matters pertaining to the store and apartments on Banff Ave [including the construction of new apartments], a visit from the Governor General in late April, errand trips to Calgary [mostly to see the dentist], going to the movies, bike riding and hiking, radio programs [mostly operas and the news], wildlife, books Catharine and Edith are reading, events and people in Concord [including Russel's activities in the US Army], various holidays [both Canadian and American], Catharine's involvement with the Red Cross, slide making and presentations, Pete and Catharine participating in an art show at [possibly] the Mount Royal Hotel, Jean Caird coming to visit for July, sightseeing trips around Banff National Park [including the Lake Louise area, Temple, and Bow Lake], going to the Calgary Stampede, Banff Indian Days, participating in the annual Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies hike in the Sunshine area [late July], Pete becoming the acting Quartermaster [for the Airforce?] in early August, painting/sketching, and various other Banff community activities.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoplesand Japanese people used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are mostly typed, some hand-written. Many typed letters have hand-written notes and post scripts added throughout.
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.
File pertains to 65 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from May 29 to December 29, 1940. Topics include travelling back to Banff from a visit to Concord by car, day to day life, weather, visits from friends and visitors, radio programs [mostly operas and the new…
1.9 cm of textual records (116 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 65 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from May 29 to December 29, 1940. Topics include travelling back to Banff from a visit to Concord by car, day to day life, weather, visits from friends and visitors, radio programs [mostly operas and the news], news pertaining to the war [including Italy entering the war in June, British children being brought to Canada, the Blitz], the Lake Louise-Jasper highway officially opening [Pete and Catharine drive up for the weekend, their first visit to Jasper National Park], the deaths of Louise Rungius in May and Dave White in late June [also includes details of Dave's funeral], errand trips to Calgary [mostly to meet with Clifford about Dave's estate], Catharine and Pete's 10th wedding anniversary, visits to Bow Lake to paint throughout July and August [a large forest fire was burning about 30 miles north of Bow for most of July], Banff Indian Days, Pete joining the militia ["Non-Permanent Active Service" force part of the 2nd Battalion of the Calgary Highlanders], going on the annual Skyline Trail Hikers trip in August, painting/sketching [including a short visit to Lake O'Hara in mid-August for this purpose], Catharine going to Concord for a few weeks in early September, Pete and Catharine going to Victoria at the end of September [Annie was having health issues and was advised to go to Victoria - they went to help], cleaning and household chores [including installing new blue linoleum in the kitchen], minor repairs to the roof and other outdoor work to the property, wildlife, books Catharine and Edith are reading, trips to Mount Temple Lodge to help Cliff with various chores, descriptions of meals, updates on the construction of the new Lake Minnewanka dam, photography and cameras [including colour photography], Pete helping construct the basement of the Mount Royal Hotel, events and people in Concord, various holidays [both Canadian and American], going to the movies, working on the annual Christmas card, and various other Christmas activities, presents, and parties.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoplesand Japanese people used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are typed and hand-written. Many typed letters have hand-written notes and post scripts added throughout. Some are written on hotel/lodge letterhead. Most typed letters are written on a single side of paper, hand-written letters are mostly double-sided.
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.
109 - 17 contains a sketch of the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge's main building, recently completed.
109 - 56 contains a sketch of the ground floor of Pete and Catharine's home, including the new partition wall in the living room.
File pertains to 63 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from July 27 to December 31, 1941. Topics include details of things immediately following Edith and Mildred Owen's visit to Banff, day to day life, weather, visits from friends, Pete and Catharine sorting ou…
1.4 cm of textual records (78 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 63 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from July 27 to December 31, 1941. Topics include details of things immediately following Edith and Mildred Owen's visit to Banff, day to day life, weather, visits from friends, Pete and Catharine sorting out their plot in the cemetery, trips to Bow Lake [Num-Ti-Jah Lodge] and Lake O'Hara for sketching/painting and hiking throughout August, events and people in Concord [including Russell's activities in the US Army], updates on war-time rations [mostly on food items and gasoline/coal], books Catharine and Edith are reading, wildlife, painting/sketching, photography, errand trips to Calgary and Lake Louise [the latter mostly to help Jack with matters pertaining to the Mount Temple Lodge], radio programs [mostly operas and the news], matters pertaining to the the store and apartments on Banff Ave [mostly consisting of settling the affairs and estate following Dave's death], the sudden death of Margaret Simpson in September, installing a partition screen/wall in the front room to make it smaller and easier to heat, cleaning and household chores, Pete participating in drills as a reservist in the RCAF, various holidays [both Canadian and American], news pertaining to the war, installing a stoker for the furnace, construction of the new dam at Lake Minnewanka, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on December 7 and America's subsequent entry into the war [also included Canadian reserve forces being placed on 2-hour call to mobilize], putting together slides, and Christmas activities and parties.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoplesand Japanese people used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are typed and hand-written. Many typed letters have hand-written notes and post scripts added throughout.
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.
111 - 25 contains a sketch of the new partion in the front room.