File pertains to 65 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 3 to July 31, 1939. Topics include New Year's Eve celebrations and activities, Christmas presents, radio programs [mostly operas and the news, but also plays], books Catharine and Edith are read…
2.3 cm of textual records (138 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 January 3 to July 31, 1939. Topics include New Year's Eve celebrations and activities, Christmas presents, radio programs [mostly operas and the news, but also plays], books Catharine and Edith are reading, day to day life, weather, slide-making, skiing at Norquay, visits from friends and visitors, descriptions of meals, wildlife [often in the yard], print-making, photography and cameras, events and people in Concord, day trips to Lake Louise, the Winter Carnival, construction of the Mount Temple Chalet finishing and subsequent trips to Temple to ski, cleaning and household chores, trips to Skoki to ski, painting/sketching, photography, updates on Dave White's health, errand trips to Calgary, various holidays [both Canadian and American], planning a new additon to the back of the house, going to Victoria and back in April-May [they stayed in Lethbridge, Nelson, Grand Forks, Kamloops, and Vancouver before arriving in Victoria by car and then took the train back to Banff from Prince George through Revelstoke and Golden], preparing the house for renovations [includes deep cleaning and having the floors sanded], the King and Queen visiting in late May, the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, Russ' health concerns, short trips around the mountains to paint/sketch [mostly up to Bow Lake/Saskatchewan River Crossing and into Yoho National Park], the Calgary Stampede, Banff Indian Days, progress on the construction of Num-Ti-Jah Lodge at Bow Lake, and preparing for the annual Skyline Trail Hikers trip.
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Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.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 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.
106 - 47 contains details of the 1939 Royal Visit.
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 six diaries kept by Lillian Gest from 1968-1975 from travels throughout the Canadian Rockies.
Includes:
M67 / 5 - 1 : black leather diary. Pertains to summer trips taken during the summers of 1968 and 1969. Summer 1968 includes travel between Banff and Pennsylvania by airplane and …
7.5 cm of textual records (6 volumes ; 10.8 x 17.7 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to six diaries kept by Lillian Gest from 1968-1975 from travels throughout the Canadian Rockies.
Includes:
M67 / 5 - 1 : black leather diary. Pertains to summer trips taken during the summers of 1968 and 1969. Summer 1968 includes travel between Banff and Pennsylvania by airplane and hiking and visiting around Banff, Lake Louise, Lake O'Hara and the Icefields Parway areas. Summer 1969 time spent in Banff, along the Icefields Parkway, and in the Golden and Lake O'Hara areas as well as various club activities as part of the Alpine Club of Canada. Also includes lists of birds seen, reservation details, people met and staff of various places, events from Banff (including the death of Fred Brewster and Catharine Whyte receiving an honourary degree), song lyrics, and [what is possibly] a joke.
M67 / 5 - 2 : black leather diary, dated 1970 in white ink (possibly white out) on the front cover. Pertains to a 1970 trip to the Canadian Rockies and includes hikes with and without organizations like the Alpine Club of Canada and the Sky Line Trail Hikers as well as stays at the Banff Springs Hotel, the ACC Club House, Lake O'Hara, and the Bugaboo Lodge, BC. Also includes transcriptions from the Abbot Pass Hut Register from 1926-1939 (presumably only of people Lillian Gest knew personally), reservation details, lists of people met, and a list of events from 1970, including the sale of the ACC Club House for $70, 000 (does not mention to who).
M67 / 5 - 3 : black leather diary, dated 1971 in ink on masking tape adhered to the front cover. Pertains to a summer visit in 1971 to the Canadian rockies and includes stays around the Banff, Lake Louise, and Lake O'Hara areas, hiking trips with and without organizations like the Sky Line Trail Hikers and the Alpine Club of Canada, and travel between Banff and Pennsylvania by air. Newspaper clipping on page 125 pertaining to the death of Edmee Brewster. Also includes lists of people met and staff (Lake O'Hara Lodge, Chateau Lake Louise, ACC Club House), events from Banff, list of birds, details for a Bow Valley Naturalists trip, and the plaque dedication ceremony for Lawrence Grassi at Lake O'Hara, June 26, 1971.
M67 / 5 - 4 : black leather diary, dated 1972 in black ink on fabric tape adhered to the front cover. Pertains to the summer of 1972 spent in the Canadian Rockies time spent in and around the Banff, Lake Louise, Lake O'Hara, Jasper, and Tonquin Valley areas as well as travel between Banff and Pennsylvania by air. Insert pertains to diary entries for the final few days of September as the book ran out of pages. Also inlcudes lists of people met, birds spotted at Lake O'Hara, and list of events from Banff (including the move of the Moore house to its current location).
M67 / 5 - 5 : black leather diary, dated 1973-1974 To July 20 in ink on a piece of masking tape adhered to the front cover (1973 to 7-20 1974 in faint red paint directly on leather of cover). Pertains to the summers of 1973 and 1974 spent in and around the Canadian Rockies. Summer 1973 includes stays in the Banff, Lake Louise, Lake O'Hara, and Bow Lake areas as well as hiking trips with and without organizations like the Sky Line Trail Hikers and the Alpine Club of Canada. Summer 1974 includes stays at various hotels around Banff and in the Lake Louise and Lake O'Hara areas, a helicopter trip to and from Mt. Assiniboine and region, and organized hiking trips with the Sky Line Trail Hikers. Also includes lists of staffs and people met, birds spotted at Lake O'Hara, distances, and a list of events from 1973.
M67 / 5 - 6 : black leather diary, titled Sat July 20 1974 to 1975 - Thurs July 14 in ink on fabric [possibly plastic] adhered to the front cover. Pertains to the remainder of the summer 1974 trip (July-September) continued from M67 / 5 - 5 and details from June and July, 1975. The summer 1975 trip included travel between Banff and Pennsylvania by train [heading west] and plane [headed east], stays around Banff, Lake O'Hara, and Lake Louise, and hiking trips with and without organizations like the Sky Line Trail Hikers and the Alpine Club of Canada. Also includes lists of people met, reservation details, ACC Camp details for 1975, Sky Line Hikers trip dates and locations, and events from Banff 1975 including the ACC Club House being completely torn down.
Also includes loose items consisting of notes (to Lillian Gest from others and to herself), reminders, invoices, itineraries, and newspaper clippings.
File pertains to 44 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 1 to November 20, 1935. Topics include day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, weather, a trip to Lake O'Hara in early August following the annual Skyline Trail Hikers tri…
1 cm of textual records (70 pages ; 21.2 x 26.3 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 44 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 1 to November 20, 1935. Topics include day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, weather, a trip to Lake O'Hara in early August following the annual Skyline Trail Hikers trip, photography and cameras, hiking/climbing, wildflowers, activities and people at camp, Pete's work on commission paintings/photography projects, events and people in Concord, trips to Bow Lake to paint, dinner and tea parties [both at home and around town], overnight camping trips to Lake Louise to paint, going to the movies and seeing friend's homemade films, going back to Lake O'Hara in early September to paint and hike, Russ and Kitty's travels and activities, day trips around the National Park [mostly to Lake Louise, Bow Lake and Moraine Lake] to paint/sketch, updates on what Pete and Catharine's friends are doing [mostly as it pertains to Skoki and Assiniboine Lodges], wildlife, an overnight trip to Calgary [and a visit to Morley on the way back] in early October, 3 young Doukhobor fugitives escaping police custody that resulted in a chase and shootout in Banff National Park [October 6 - 7] and the subsequent funerals, developing photos and print-making, politics [mostly pertaining to the provincial and federal elections], various holidays [both Canadian and American], skiing, matters pertaining to the Ski Club, and preparing to leave for a trip to Concord at the end of November.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
A few letters written on lodge letterhead.
Most 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.
Some letters have numbers written in pencil in the upper margin of the first pages from an unknown project.
File pertains to 68 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from April 12 to October 19, 1936. Topics include returning from a trip out east by train, going to Skoki for a few days in April [including updates on the new camp buildings and access road], w…
2.8 cm of textual records (117 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 68 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from April 12 to October 19, 1936. Topics include returning from a trip out east by train, going to Skoki for a few days in April [including updates on the new camp buildings and access road], weather, skiing and ski conditions, film-making, visits from friends and visitors, matters pertaining to the house [opening and closing it as they come and go from various trips], errand trips to Calgary, watching hockey games, going to the movies, leaving for Hawaii via Vancouver in early May [sailing on the Empress of Canada], books Catharine and Edith are reading, arriving in Hawaii and eventually getting settled at the Grand Hotel in Wailuku, Maui, visiting with friends, descriptions of meals, photography and cameras, relocating to the Moana Hotel in Honolulu in mid-May, sightseening and day trips around the islands, sketching, descriptions of other ships coming and going from the harbour, details of the trip back to Banff in mid-June, radio programs [mostly news and operas], cleaning and household chores, events and people in Concord, camping trips, maintenance and upkeep of the house and property, painting/sketching, various holidays [both Canadian and American], the Calgary Stampede, Banff Indian days, the annual Skyline Trail Hikers trip [based out of Lake O'Hara] in early August, matters pertaining to the store, Edith purchasing a painting of two moose from Carl Rungius, developing photographs, a two-week trip to Lake O'Hara in late August/early September to paint and hike [also includes details of other people there, day to day activies, and the subjects painted/sketched], day trips around the national park to take photographs and hike [mostly in the Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Bow Lake areas], and preparing for a trip out to Concord at the end of October.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Some letters are written on hotel/lodge letterhead.
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.
The first 10 or so letters have been numbered in pencil in the upper margin of the page as part of an unknown project.
File pertains to 58 handwritten and typewritten letters by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb between April 1933 and September 1933. Topics include news from Concord, daily life in Banff, the fire at Bretton Hall, Peter out painting and sketching, Sam Ward continuously adding cab…
1.3 cm of textual records (173 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to 58 handwritten and typewritten letters by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb between April 1933 and September 1933. Topics include news from Concord, daily life in Banff, the fire at Bretton Hall, Peter out painting and sketching, Sam Ward continuously adding cabinets and cupboards to the Whyte Home, Catharine practicing typewriting and the beginning of some typewritten letters to her mother, the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. John Walker, moving a cabin on the property for their Stoney friends to stay in while they paint portraits, selling two sketches, various baking recipes from Edith, Peter painting Mark Poucette, a visit from children from the Mountain School, Peter and Catharine visiting the west coast [via Bonners Ferry and Spokane] and seeing Fern Brewster in Vancouver, writing Mrs. Paley, attending the Calgary Stampede, painting J.D. Curren, painting David Bearspaw, hiking at Lake O'Hara with Skyline Trail Hikers [with participant names], a visit with Mary Vaux in Banff, a Pacific Relations Conference at the Banff Springs Hotel and cleaning the house expecting visits from participants, Catharine discussing Adolf Hitler with a Swiss man visiting the house, a boat trip with the White Family and Allen Mather to Lake Minnewanka, meeting Mr. Anasaki from the Conference [an old friend of Edward Morse] and looking at Catharine's Japanese collection with Mr. Miyoaka and Mr. Takaki, Peter taking photographs at the Indigenous Camp during Banff Indian Days, Peter receiving a beaded coat from Mrs. Jonie, buying some items from the Indigenous Camp that belonged to Old Hector [Crawler?], Jackie heading east to meet Barbara before the birth of their child, and Peter and Catharine heading east via the United States to attend the World Fair and visit Edith Morse Robb and then family in Gorham, Maine.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples, people of colour, and those of the Jewish faith used throughout is outdated and offensive.
Letters are all handwritten and typewritten and include some hotel, business and camp letterheads. 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. Some letters also have numbers written in pencil crayon, believed to be from when originally processed.
File pertains to 56 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 1 to December 30, 1939. Topics include going on the annual Skyline Trail Hike to the Ptarmigan Valley in early August, day to day life, weather, painting/sketching [a mix of personal projects and…
1.7 cm of textual records (93 pages ; 20 x 24.9 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 56 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 1 to December 30, 1939. Topics include going on the annual Skyline Trail Hike to the Ptarmigan Valley in early August, day to day life, weather, painting/sketching [a mix of personal projects and commissions done both at home and out in the Park], visits from friends and visitors, slide making, photography and cameras [including colour photography], events and people in Concord, minor repairs/projects to the house and property [including installing a new water heater on the second floor], updates on Dave White's health, radio programs [mostly operas and the news], the declaration of war on Germany in early September [as well as details pertaining to local recruitment efforts and general preparations], day trips to Lake Louise, wildlife, descriptions of meals, Edith going to the 1939 World's Fair in New York City [September], construction on the new addition to the house throughout October [including a new furnace room, bathroom, and dark room on the ground floor, extending the studio on the second floor, and facing the side of the house in stone], cleaning and household chores, errand trips to Calgary, books Catharine and Edith are reading, a large blizzard at the end of October, birthdays, various holidays [both Canadian and American], attending first aid classes at the school, putting together the annual Christmas card, and various other Christmas activities and parties.
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. All 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.
107-19 contains a sketch of a mushroom on the back of the first page.
107-36 contains a sketch of the Whyte compound and details of the new extention to Pete and Catharine's house.
File pertains to 45 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from June 11 to October 3, 1937. Topics include day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, world news [often pertaining to politics and the British Royal family], maintenance and upkeep …
1.7 cm of textual records (108 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 45 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from June 11 to October 3, 1937. Topics include day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, world news [often pertaining to politics and the British Royal family], maintenance and upkeep of the house and property [mostly landscaping], cleaning and household chores, weather, gifting a stove to the Simpsons for use at Bow Lake [currently a camp], events and people in Concord, various holidays [both Canadian and American], day trips around the National Park [mostly to Lake Louise, Bow Lake and Moraine Lake], making frames and prepping canvas for painting, books Catharine and Edit are reading, dinner parties, rearranging the kitchen [including getting a new refrigerator and a new table with two bench seats], trips to Bow Lake to paint throughout the summer, hiking, wildlife [often in the yard], updates on the new trail being built from Moraine Lake to Taylor Lake, Banff Indian Days, photography and cameras, print-making, descriptions of meals, the birth of Russ and Kitty's first son in July [Russle Jr. aka Rusty], the annual Sky Line Trail Hikers trip in early August [Pete' s last year as President], trips to Lake O'Hara and Assiniboine to paint and hike throughout August and September [the trip to and from Assiniboine was carried out on horseback], painting/sketching, activities and people at various camps, descriptions of the weather and conditions riding in and out of Assiniboine, developing and colouring photographs, working on a portrait of Mark Poucette, and news of Margaret and Mary Simpson going to Boston to skate.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Some letters are written on hotel/lodge letterhead.
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.
102 - 07 contains a sketch of the main floor of the Whyte home illustrating the placement of the new dining table.
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.