Fonds consists of two sous-fonds: M521 and V75.
M521 consists of four series, 154 cm, ca.1870-2002. Series I: Dorothy Wardle Personal Papers, 69.5 cm, ca.1870-2002 (includes Dorothy's written work and research and notes related to Banff). Series II: Wardle Family, 32.5 cm, 1872-1998 (including cor…
154 cm of textual records. -- 1304 photographs (1190 prints, 95 negatives, 19 transparencies). -- 6 photograph albums.
History / Biographical
The Wardle family was comprised of husband and wife, James Morey Wardle (June 26,1888 - May 18,1971) and Maud Leette (Roney) Wardle (May 24,1889 - December 1,1969), and their one child, Dorothy Hope Wardle (May 23,1919 - July 20,2003).
James Wardle, born in Chiliwack, British Columbia, was a civil engineer and public servant. He was the Superintendent of Banff National Park from 1918-1921, Chief Engineer for Parks Canada from 1921-1935, and Deputy Minister of the Interior from 1935-1936. He is primarily known as a highway design engineer, particularly for building the Banff-Windermere, Banff-Lake Louise, and Banff-Jasper highways. He was a councillor for the Municipality of Rockcliffe Park in Ontario and he was the President of the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies in Banff from 1925-1929. Mount Wardle in Vermillion was named after him in 1921. James married Leette on November 4, 1913, with whom he had one child, Dorothy.
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Dorothy (also known as Dot and Dorie) grew up in Banff, Alberta and Ottawa, Ontario, due to her father's position with the federal government. She was educated at the Mountain School in Banff and at the Elmwood School in Ottawa. All three family members were graduates of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. James graduated in 1912 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Leette graduated with a Bachelor's degree, and in 1942, Dorothy also earned a Bachelor's degree. Dorothy was prominent in student life and active in athletics. In 1941, Dorothy became the first woman elected as President of the Alma Mater Society and during her academic career, Dorothy was a member of the Levana Intercollegiate Debative, University Centenary Committee, and Queen’s War Aid Commission.
Dorothy spent her career as a freelance writer however, upon graduation she served as the first Secretary-In-Charge of Records at Carleton College (now Carleton University) from 1942-1944 in Ottawa and in the mid-1950s worked as a secretary for the Glenbow Foundation in Calgary. Dorothy pursued a lifelong interest in traveling, art, and antiques. Although she was fiercely proud and protective of Banff and the Park, and remained a volunteer and patron of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Dorothy eventually settled in Sidney, British Columbia and shared an apartment with Sheila Iris Ritchie, with whom Dorothy travelled extensively. After her death in 2003, Dorothy, "Dorie," was laid to rest alongside her parents in the Old Banff Cemetery.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of two sous-fonds: M521 and V75.
M521 consists of four series, 154 cm, ca.1870-2002. Series I: Dorothy Wardle Personal Papers, 69.5 cm, ca.1870-2002 (includes Dorothy's written work and research and notes related to Banff). Series II: Wardle Family, 32.5 cm, 1872-1998 (including correspondence with Carl Rungius and Mrs. Helen Brett, and Christmas and other greeting cards from Peter and Catharine Whyte). Series III: Queen's University, 7.5 cm, 1911-1980 (including graduation certificates for each family member and records pertaining to Dorothy's participation on the Alma Mater Society). Series IV: Travel, 44.5 cm, ca.1950-1988 (includes hand-written notebooks meticulously detailing their travels).
V75 consists of two series, 79.5 cm, ca. 1912-2001. Series I: Wardle Family, ca. 1912-1971, 6 albums, 31 cm of photograph prints and negatives (including family trips, trail rides in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and family gatherings). Series II: Dorothy Wardle, 1972-2001, 34 cm of photograph prints, negatives, and transparencies (including Dorothy's travels in Alberta and British Columbia, overseas, and various outings with friends).
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 46 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 7 to December 29, 1938. Topics include returning from a trip to Concord and details about the route taken, cleaning and household chores, visits from friends and visitors, weather, a…
2.5 cm of textual records (97 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 46 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 7 to December 29, 1938. Topics include returning from a trip to Concord and details about the route taken, cleaning and household chores, visits from friends and visitors, weather, a day trip on the new stretch of road between Bow Lake and the Saskatchewan River Crossing, trips to Lake O'Hara to paint and hike [also includes hiking the new trail Tom Link and Jimmy Simpson blazed to Linda Lake, named for Linda Castle of Honolulu], events and people in Concord, photography and cameras, day to day life, maintenance and upkeep of the house and property [mostly landscaping], descriptions of meals, painting/sketching, day trips to Lake Louise [mostly in September to paint], mentions of the threat of war in Europe, radio programs [mostly operas and the news, but also plays], slide-making, the start of construction on the Mount Temple Chalet, films and film making, Jack and Barbara starting construction on their new house, various holidays [both Canadian and American], errand trips to Calgary, wildlife [often in the yard], going to Victoria in early November to see Annie and Dave, day trips with Cliff to see the progress on Mount Temple Chalet, Christmas, and various other holiday-related activities, parties, and gifts.
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.
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 61 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 2 to December 27, 1943. Topics include Catharine's activities while Pete is posted in Vancouver, day to day life, news pertaining to the war, Pete's work as part of the RCAF, weather, military pa…
1.9 cm of textual records (102 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 61 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 2 to December 27, 1943. Topics include Catharine's activities while Pete is posted in Vancouver, day to day life, news pertaining to the war, Pete's work as part of the RCAF, weather, military parades and concerts, going to the movies and live shows [mostly operas and the ballet], radio programs [including operas, news, sports, and a program called Quiz Kids], visits from friends, cleaning and household chores, moving back to Victoria in mid-August, painting/sketching, visiting various parks around Victoria, events and people in Concord, various holidays [both Canadian and American], Pete getting posted to Tofino in late August, details pertaining to the various modes of travel around Vancouver Island [5 hours by sailboat from Vancouver to Victoria; 2 days by train and boat from Victoria to Tofino], details on the different kinds of rations, Catharine spending September in Banff while Pete looks for a house in Tofino [time in Banff includes upkeep on the house, visiting Mount Temple Chalet, sketching, visits with friends, and Pete arriving for his 2-week leave], wildlife, moving to Tofino and getting settled [Pete worked at an Air Force base outside of town, but spent his nights at home with Catharine], walks on the beaches near town, new routines and friends, Christmas in Tofino, and travelleing to Banff for New Years Eve.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Japanese people used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are mostly hand-written, some typed. Many typed letters have hand-written notes and post scripts added throughout. Some letters written on hotel 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.
A few letters have red numbers written at the top of the page from an unknown project.
116-40 includes a sketch of the Tofino apartment floorplan.
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 69 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from December 26, 1936, to June 9, 1937. Topics include Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations and activities, gifts given and received, day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, Ame…
2.5 cm of textual records (98 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 69 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from December 26, 1936, to June 9, 1937. Topics include Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations and activities, gifts given and received, day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, American newspapers Catharine is interested in, radio programs [mostly news and operas], weather, cleaning and household chores, maintenance and upkeep of the house and property [including the construction of a screened-in porch at the back of the house, remodelling the stairs, building a darkroom on the second floor, and building a new garage], events and people in Concord, the opening of the new Administration building on the south side of the river [the Post Office is relocated here], painting/sketching, watching hockey games, skiing, descriptions of meals, the Winter Carnival, going to the movies [and Edith going to various plays], the Dominion Ski Championship being held at Norquay in March, photography and cameras, responsibilities and activities pertaining to the Ski Club, Edith's trip to Florida in March, books Catharine and Edith are reading, various holidays [both Canadian and American], trips to Skoki Lodge to ski and paint [also includes details of people who were also there, meals, and conversations], the coronation of King George VI and Queen Mary in May, the death of Catharine's Aunt Jane [Edith's sister?], day trips around the National Park to paint/sketch and have picnics with family, dinner and tea parties, print-making, frame making, and various other community events.
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.
101 - 31 contains a sketch of the newly remodelled stairs in the Whyte home.
101 - 43 insert may or may not belong to this specific letter - no identifying marks can be found on it.
101 - 59 is a brochure advertising Lake Minnewaska Mountain Houses, New York, and does not appear to be associated to a specific letter and so has been scanned as it's own entry.
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.