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).
Sub-series pertains to 121 black and white negatives and includes group and individual portraits, scenic and landscape views, wildlife, sports, activities, businesses, buildings and facilities, and others.
Includes:
[1] - Natural Gas [gas company conference displays?]
[2] - Standish Block
[3] - Boe…
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 …
Date Range
1957
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 141
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Postcard
Private record
afternoon,
Nick is the CanadianPacific flp:Rxa::tmx Photographer and his
wife " Willie " is the one who
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 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.
File pertains to 71 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 3 to July 30, 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 [mo…
Date Range
1957
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 140
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Postcard
Private record
. Gen. Panet was the Chief Investigator of the CanadianPacific for many years and in charge of all
1.6 cm of textual records (97 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 71 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 3 to July 30, 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], errand trips to Calgary, travelling back from a visit to Concord in early January, the Winter Carnival, the death of Walter Painter [February], trips to Concord in late April-early May and mid-June, and road trips to Cowley and Fort Macleod in July. Some letters are typed and some hand-written. Also includes one notecard.
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 51 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 2 to June 30, 1950. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, photography, painting, weather [including temperatures down to -50F (-45C) in January], the CPR test of the…
1.6 cm of textual records (93 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 51 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 2 to June 30, 1950. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, photography, painting, weather [including temperatures down to -50F (-45C) in January], the CPR test of their new diesel engines, events and people in Concord, world news, radio programs, the North American Ski Championship in February [for which Pete designed pins], the Banff Winter Carnival, installing fluorescent lights in the kitchen [prior to that they had "temporary" lights], purchasing a new Jeep stationwagon, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor visiting Banff in April, driving to Concord in May and back to Banff in June, plans for Banff Indian Days, a trip to Bow Lake, and Pete and Catharine's 20th wedding anniversary. Also includes postcards.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples 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.
File pertains to 53 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 3 to June 28, 1952. Topics include New Year's Eve events, day to day life, Banff events, visitis from friends, photography, painting, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs, clear…
1.2 cm of textual records (72 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fond level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 53 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 3 to June 28, 1952. Topics include New Year's Eve events, day to day life, Banff events, visitis from friends, photography, painting, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs, clearing a new ski run on Norquay, Gray Campbell starting on his first book ["We Found Peace"], the death of King Geroge VI in February, the Winter Carnival [called "Silver City"], installing a new hot water tank in the house, Peter submitting a painting to a competition for ex-RCAF men to be sent to the Queen, clearing trees from their yard, buying a new Jeep, being interviewed by Ken Liddel in June, and camping/sketching trips to Lake Louise and Bow Lake. Also includes a postcard.
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.
130 - 16 has a section cut out from the middle of the page.
130 - 24 appears to be missing the first page of the letter.
130 - 28 contains a recreation by Catharine of a design Jon Whyte made of a Weaving School he thought his mother should start.
File pertains to 51 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 1 to June 29, 1955. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs [mostly news and hock…
1 cm of textual records (61 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 51 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 1 to June 29, 1955. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs [mostly news and hockey games], various holidays [both Canadian and American], errand trips to Calgary, Peter working on paintings for the Luxton Museum, the Winter Carnival [including Peter and Catharine judging the ice sculptures], Edith's companion Hanne moving in, the death of Ted Paris in April, replacing the oil furnace with a gas one in the house, Peter's mother Annie dying suddenly in May, and sketching trips, mostly around the Bow Lake area.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Most letters 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 71 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 1 to June 29, 1956. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs [mo…
1.3 cm of textual records (87 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 71 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 1 to June 29, 1956. 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], construction of the Trans-Canada Highway through Banff to Lake Louise, Pete giving Frank Kaquitts painting lessons, the death and funeral of David Bearspaw in February, the Winter Carnival, opening the new post office, a visit to Gray and Elanor Campbell's ranch in Cowley, a trip to Bow Lake, Catharine's 50th birthday, and her nephew Rusty arriving for a visit. Also includes one notecard.
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.
138 - 08 is a carbon copy of the first page of 138 - 07