Fonds consist of four separate series: A. Photograph Albums; B. Prints; C. Motion Picture; D. Written Materials. Fonds consists of 10 motion pictures pertaining mainly to skiing, particularly in the Skoki area and include 1 16mm film "Skolff" ca.1966 by Bruno Engler and 1 16mm film "Skoki" ca.1932…
13 reels of motion pictures. -- 3 photograph albums: 72 prints. -- 84 photographs: prints. -- 5 textual records
History / Biographical
Clifford White (I), 1902-1964, skier, mountaineer and photographer was the son of Dave and Annie White, and the brother of Peter Whyte. He spent his life in the Banff area and was a pioneer in ski development in the Banff and Lake Louise areas. In 1932, he and Russell H. Bennett, J.A. Weiss and A.L. Withers skied a 300 mile route from Jasper to Lake Louise in a 20 day period. Cliff White made numerous pioneering ski expeditions including trips to Skoki, the Columbia Icefields and the Coast Range of British Columbia in 1934. Clifford was an active participant in the construction of Skoki Lodge and Mount Temple Chalet, managing Mount Temple from 1939-1945. He also participated in the development of skiing at Mount Norquay. Following World War I, Clifford helped organize the first Banff Ski Club, 1926. Cliff White married Mildred Jackson, d.1953 and they had three children - Clifford Jr., Donald, and Peter.
Scope & Content
Fonds consist of four separate series: A. Photograph Albums; B. Prints; C. Motion Picture; D. Written Materials. Fonds consists of 10 motion pictures pertaining mainly to skiing, particularly in the Skoki area and include 1 16mm film "Skolff" ca.1966 by Bruno Engler and 1 16mm film "Skoki" ca.1932-34 by Cliff White Sr.; 3 photograph albums pertaining mainly to skiing and Sunshine 1940s and 1960s; ca.119 photographs pertaining mainly to Clifford J. White and his brothers as children, Sunshine ski area vehicles, Joe Smith at Silver City, Mt. Waddington, skiing in the Rockies and Europe, Robin Peyto and one of Castle Mountain internment camp.
Albums are: "Crossing the Coast Range, B. C., March-April 1934," 29 prints recording expedition; "Sunshine in the Canadian Rockies," ca.1940, produced for Brewster Transport Company and the Canadian Pacific Railway by British Photographic Laboratories, Banff, Alberta, 18 prints; and, "Sunshine Village, Photo Album," ca.1975, 26 prints, all views except one by Bruno Engler, Alpine Films, Banff, Alberta.
Textual records include a birth certificate, 1935; letter from Hilary McDowall, 1963; 2 share certificates: Ski Club of the Canadian Rockies, 1932.
Notes
Skolff (snow golf) was a game invented by Bev & Cliff White at Sunshine. The Skoki film may have been one of four reels called "Skoki Mail," salvaged by Jim Santa Lucia, others destroyed. Photos in Bridle & Golfer by Cliff White Sr., cover annotated by him.
Copyright, privacy, commercial use and other restrictions may apply
Language
Language is English
Finding Aid
Finding aids and reference tools: basic description
motion picture summaries and selected video copies
Related Material
Clifford White photographs are also included in Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds (series: Whyte/Curren family photographs (M36/V683 - V) and Paris Tea Room photographs (V639). Some Clifford White textual material can be found in the Ski Club of the Canadian Rockies fonds (M188).
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.