Fonds consists of correspondence re establishment and premises, 1949-1961; constitution and minutes, 1949-2006; miscellaneous textual items, including poster, blueprint and calendar of community events, 1974-1976; and a sound recording of the Banff Library/Seniors Centre opening ceremony, April 20,…
6 cm of textual records. -- 1 sound recording : audio tape reel; 217cm of unprocessed textual and visual material
History / Biographical
The Banff Public Library, also known as the Banff Library, was initially sponsored by local service groups in various premises, including the Banff Clinic, 1949-1961, a home on the Whyte property, 1961-1967, and in the Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation building (now Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies) from 1968-1985. In 1985, the Banff Public Library relocated to the lower floor of the new Banff Library/Seniors Centre, and in 1990 the library came under the jurisdiction of the new Town of Banff.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of correspondence re establishment and premises, 1949-1961; constitution and minutes, 1949-2006; miscellaneous textual items, including poster, blueprint and calendar of community events, 1974-1976; and a sound recording of the Banff Library/Seniors Centre opening ceremony, April 20, 1985.
Unprocessed Includes:
Box 1 consists of Banff Public Library minutes 1949 to 1994
Box 2 consists of Banff Public Library minutes 1995 to 2006
Box 3 consists of: Banff Public Library Needs Assessment, 1987, Banff Public Library Collection Assessment Project January – April 1995, Banff Public Library Renovations 1998, Banff Public Library Bylaws & Policy (1983?), Banff Public Library Plan of Service, By-Laws & Policy (1994?), Banff Public Library Rules & Regulations (1953-54?), George Stacey, Proposed Library Philosophy 1981, and Banff Public Library Goals & Objectives 1998, and Minutes of the Banff Library/Seniors’ Centre Building Committee.
Also included is Proposed Banff Seniors’s Centre/Library Complex: Proposed Financing and funds, Proposal for Architectural Services, Budget for Construction and Consulting costs, Site Plan.
Documents regarding establishing a Building Committee: Letter from George Stacey, Secretary-Treasurer, Banff Library Board to W. R. Roberge, Chairman, Banff School District No. 102 requesting School District representation on the Building Committee and List of Committee members
Other various documents included are: Library Building Program Checklist, Review and remarks of the Building Committee’s visit to Lacombe, Space & design requirements; Fundraising, Planning, Clippings, One file “Banff Public Library up to 1962 clippings (incl. 1949 & before), Nine files labelled 1990-91, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 containing newspaper clippings, advertisements, and programme posters. Also included: library logo contest c. 1985, One blue receipt book containing receipts for fundraising donations for the new library at 101 Bear St. c. 1982-83, Seniors’ Centre: Plans, Anticipated Needs and Suggestions, Library Citizen Survey, and Space Plan April 1981
Leasehold Correspondence
Letter; E. J. Hart, Administrator, Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation to George Stacey, Secretary/Treasurer Banff Library Board
Letter; George Stacey, Secretary/Treasurer Banff Library Board to Cliff White, President, Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation
Letter; Lee Racine, Building and Development Officer, Parks Canada, Banff Township Office to Patricia Langridge, Chairperson Banff Library/Seniors’ Centre Building Committee
Letter; Patricia Langridge, Chairperson Banff Library/Seniors’ Centre Building Committee to Mr. Tom Ross, Acting Superintendent, Banff National Park
Letter; E. J. Hart, Administrator, Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation to Patricia Langridge, Chairperson Banff Library/Seniors’ Centre Building Committee
Letter: Patricia E. McNamee, Librarian/Secretary/Treasurer, Banff Public Library to Patricia Langridge, Chairperson Banff Library/Seniors’ Centre Building Committee
Letter: Patricia E. McNamee, Librarian/Secretary/Treasurer, Banff Public Library to Patricia Langridge, Chairperson Banff Library/Seniors’ Centre Building Committee
Box 4
Two small green photograph albums
Banff Public Library 1984-1989
Banff Public Library 2003-2007 Programming, staff events, renovations
Fourteen photos mounted on foam core with a sheet of paper describing the images. Copied and mounted by Chic Scott for a library celebration c. 2005.
Box 5
Two guest books containing visitor comments from 1999 and 2000
One file of negatives – ca. 1970? to 2000? and 1 CD-R disc containing 109 J-PEG photos dating 2000-2007
One VHS containing the Much Music Snowjob event, March 1995 containing a segment filmed in the library (staff Margaret Watson & Max Elliott).
Special program event posters
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.