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.
File pertains to a photograph album containing some photographs of various Alpine Club of Canada, American Alpine Club, Sky-Line Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies, and personal trips. Photographs primarily depict mountain views, buildings, lakes, and people, some of whom are identified.
The bulk…
1 album (173 prints : b&w and col. ; 25 x 22.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to a photograph album containing some photographs of various Alpine Club of Canada, American Alpine Club, Sky-Line Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies, and personal trips. Photographs primarily depict mountain views, buildings, lakes, and people, some of whom are identified.
The bulk of the album is dedicated to Christmas cards sent to Lillian Gest by various people from 1949-1958.
Inserts pertain to two photographs of a group of people sitting on the front porch of a cabin in Lake O'Hara. Ernest Feuz is seated far right.
File consists of one personal photograph album [likely created by Eleanor Luxton]. Content pertains to staff members of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation Aircraft Division and related events including a dinner party in New York, as well as friends and relatives of the Luxton family. Includes images of…
Some photographs produced by Associated Screen News Ltd., Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Byron Harmon
Date Range
[ca. 1910]
[ca. 1920 - ca. 1930]
[ca. 1940 - ca. 1945]
1941 - 1944
1950
1954
1956
[ca. 1960 - ca. 1970]
1967 - 1969
Physical Description
1 album (193 b&w photographs ; 20 x 25.5 cm or smaller -- 2 textual records)
Scope & Content
File consists of one personal photograph album [likely created by Eleanor Luxton]. Content pertains to staff members of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation Aircraft Division and related events including a dinner party in New York, as well as friends and relatives of the Luxton family. Includes images of Eleanor Luxton as a child and as an adult, group and individual portraits of mostly unidentified individuals [likely immediate and extended family and friends of Eleanor, including Norman and Georgina Luxton], unidentified children playing, images from the Calgary Stampede parade [ca. 1940s], unidentified Indigenous groups and individuals [possibly Stoney Nakoda community members during Banff Indian Days], Dr. Casey's Ranch [1944], and a family picnic. File also includes one small textual record describing a 1943 Curtiss-Wright Corporation staff event, as well as an annotated Christmas card from Ruth and Frank Neustadt [n.d.].
Notes
Some items are annotated on back
Items not in chronological or other clear order
Material Details
Album has clear plastic layer on surface of front and back covers
Green plastic stitched around border of both covers and side bindings
File consists of one photograph album containing 54 photograph prints and 2 newspaper clippings pertaining to Norman Luxton winning a turkey shooting contest [ca. 1940] and an Old Timers Association event attended by Eleanor Luxton in Calgary in 1964. Photographs pertain to Eleanor Luxton as a baby…
1 album (54 b&w prints ; 9 x 14 cm or smaller -- 2 newspaper clippings)
Scope & Content
File consists of one photograph album containing 54 photograph prints and 2 newspaper clippings pertaining to Norman Luxton winning a turkey shooting contest [ca. 1940] and an Old Timers Association event attended by Eleanor Luxton in Calgary in 1964. Photographs pertain to Eleanor Luxton as a baby and young child with her parents, posing with chickens and a turkey on a farm, with other small children [unidentified] and standing by the Bow River; portrait photographs of Eleanor as a young girl [roughly ages 5 to 12 years old]; a wedding celebration [possibly that of Norman and Georgina Luxton in 1904]; and images of a pregnant woman and a man on a farm [likely Georgina Luxton and possibly her father, David McDougall, ca. 1908]
Notes
One photograph of Eleanor Luxton as a young child, posing alone and smiling in a dark dress, was moved to its current location from album LUX / III / A3 / PD - 2.
File consists of 1 album with 226 b&w photographs and 9 colour photographs depicting everyday scenes of the Wing family around Banff. Includes photographs of the two eldest Wing children (Carole and Paul) as babies and young children. Album has 1 colour print of the Bow valley on front and is bound…
Photograph Album : 1 photograph album (235 photographs; b&w and col.).
Scope & Content
File consists of 1 album with 226 b&w photographs and 9 colour photographs depicting everyday scenes of the Wing family around Banff. Includes photographs of the two eldest Wing children (Carole and Paul) as babies and young children. Album has 1 colour print of the Bow valley on front and is bound with black cord. Plastic lacing around edges of album is broken in some parts. Images mostly adhered with photo corners.
Scrapbook consists of newspaper clippings pertaining to King George VI's coronation and Queen Elizabeth; newspaper clippings relating to British West Indies, Australia and other Empire colonies as well as related stories. Scrapbook also includes articles relating to King George VI and family. Also …
Scrapbook consists of newspaper clippings pertaining to King George VI's coronation and Queen Elizabeth; newspaper clippings relating to British West Indies, Australia and other Empire colonies as well as related stories. Scrapbook also includes articles relating to King George VI and family. Also included are two file folders containing:
four postcards bearing images of the King and Queen's visit to Belfast, troops inspections and two publications titled: "Their Majesties' Canadian Visit, 1939" and a timetable of Pilot train and boats and itinerary of activities [placed in a mylar sleeve and file folder].
booklet and b&w photographs relating to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's Royal Visit, 1939 [placed in a file folder].
File pertains to 81 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 3 to December 29, 1957. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs …
2.4 cm of textual records (128 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 81 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 3 to December 29, 1957. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs [mostly news and hockey games], various holidays [both Canadian and American], seeing off Carl Rungius to New York, going to Edmonton for a cataract operation on Peter's right eye [August 23] - Catharine's time in Edmonton mostly consisted of sitting with Peter in the hospital, running errands in the city, and answering letters [she stayed at the Corona Hotel], starting construction of eventual Buffalo Block [consisting of three stores along Buffalo St. and a restaurant on the second floor], concerns regarding Edith's health, a visit to Concord from mid-October to mid-November [travelled by train], a second visit to Edmonton in December for Peter's eye, putting together their annual Christmas card, and other Christmas activities. Some letters are typed and some hand-written. Also includes one postcard.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
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 67 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 5 to December 30, 1958. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs …
1.8 cm of textual records (104 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 67 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 5 to December 30, 1958. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs [mostly news and hockey games], various holidays [both Canadian and American], a road trip from north-eastern United States through Canada back to Banff in early August [written mostly on postcards], a trip to Lethbridge in late August, various construction projects [the new Sulphur Mountain gondola, the chimney and basement furnace of their house, and the Trans-Canada Highway], a trip to Concord in late November, and preparation of Chirstmas cards. Letters are mostly typed, some hand-written. Also includes postcards and a Christmas card.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Many typed letters have hand-written notes added throughout; many post scripts are hand-written.
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.
143 - 39 includes a sketch of a shelving unit Catharine hoped to have installed in their bedroom.
143 - 64 is the 1958 Christmas card made by Catharine and Peter
File pertains to 55 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from December 13, 1953 to June 27, 1954. Topics include a trip to Hawaii from December to March [includes mainland travel between Banff and California by train and travel to and from Hawaii by boat], Christm…
1.7 cm of textual records (114 pages ; 21 x 27 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 55 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from December 13, 1953 to June 27, 1954. Topics include a trip to Hawaii from December to March [includes mainland travel between Banff and California by train and travel to and from Hawaii by boat], Christmas and New Years Eve activities, travelling around to different parts of the island, meeting with other vacationers from Banff, going straight to Edmonton [from California by train] to see Peter's doctor about new glasses, day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, photography, weather, events and people in Concord, Peter's mother Annie being in the hospital, the deaths of Jean Caird in April and Belmore Browne in May, a second trip to Edmonton for Peter's eyes [during this trip he is admitted to the hospital for depression, possibly brought on by stress], Annie moving from Banff to Vancouver, and Peter receiving psychiatric treatment in Calgary. Also includes postcards.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Most letters hand-written, some typed. 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.
Many letters written during the Hawaii trip, as well as during stays in Calgary and Edmonton, are written on hotel letterheads.
134 - 04 includes sketches of the location of the apartment they stay in in Honolulu and of the layout of their apartment.
File pertains to 100 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from February 20 to December 29, 1951. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, hockey games, photography, painting, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs, Catharin…
1.7 cm of textual records (136 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fond level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 100 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from February 20 to December 29, 1951. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, hockey games, photography, painting, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs, Catharine's uncle John passing away, installing a suite in Annie White's house, the deaths of Jack W. Brewster and Allan Mather on the same day [June 12], camping/sketching trips [mostly to Lake Louise, Bow Lake and Yoho National Park], Banff Indian Days, installing a new bridge over the Spray River, a roadtrip to Lethbridge in August for a ceremony to make Governor General Ciscount Alexander an honourary chief [ceremony held in Standoff], Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillips' tour of Canada, the deaths and funerals of Colonel Phillip Moore and Hal Waterhouse in November, making up the annual Christmas card, and various Christmas activities and parties. Also includes postcards and note cards.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples 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.
