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 consists of 90 colour photographs, 15 x 10 cm and 12.5 x 9 cm. File pertains to photographs taken by Dorothy Wardle of places, events, and scenery around Banff and Canmore. For Banff, file documents winter and fall scenery (mountains like Rundle and Cascade, the Bow River, Banff Avenue), wildl…
90 photographs : col. ; 15 x 10 cm and 12.5 x 9 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of 90 colour photographs, 15 x 10 cm and 12.5 x 9 cm. File pertains to photographs taken by Dorothy Wardle of places, events, and scenery around Banff and Canmore. For Banff, file documents winter and fall scenery (mountains like Rundle and Cascade, the Bow River, Banff Avenue), wildlife (elk and a bear), war memorial, Warren house, Baine house, Louis Trono concert in the park in 1995, and the Old Banff Cemetery. For Canmore, file documents the Highland Games in 1994, winter activities (ice sculptures, dog sled races at the Nordic Centre), St. Michael's Place, and a photograph of the valley. File also documents the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies and the cabins (Bill Peyto, Jack Sinclair, and Mather Family) located on the museum's property.
Notes
Old Banff Cemetery photographs include the headstones of: Wardle family, Stephen family, Mary Schaffer Warren, J. Murray Gibbon, and Peter Whyte and Catharine Robb Whyte.
File consists of 137 colour photograph prints, 21.5 x 26.5 cm or smaller. File pertains to Dorothy (DW) and friends visiting with one another and traveling together. File documents: DW and Glen and Dorie Gordon (appears to be a golf tournament); DW visiting with Anne and David Kelly and family (inc…
137 photographs : col. ; 21.5 x 26.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 137 colour photograph prints, 21.5 x 26.5 cm or smaller. File pertains to Dorothy (DW) and friends visiting with one another and traveling together. File documents: DW and Glen and Dorie Gordon (appears to be a golf tournament); DW visiting with Anne and David Kelly and family (includes handwritten note that was taped to the envelope); Shirley and DW traveling from Sidney to Canmore, 1996; Mary Hay's multiple visits and travels to Emerald Lake, Moraine Lake, Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump, Takkakaw Falls, and Yoho National Park (1994-1995) and Thanksgiving at Mary's (1994); holdiays (Easter) and travels (Salt Spring Island, Chemainus) with Anne Thomas (Includes DW and Sheila visiting Anne photographs with a dog), 1987-1993; Marmie's Ranch (includes photographs of wildflowers), 1993 and 1995; visits and parties (Christmas) with Peg and Bert Millard, 1989-1990); Nancy and Gilbert Nelson's 50th anniversary and day trip to Salt Spring Island, 1988 and 1993; various birthdays with friends in and around Sidney, BC; dinners and visits with Anne and Claude Hudson, 1980, 1990-1995; photographs of Sheila and DW (1984); and miscellaneous photographs and portraits, including a photograph print of a painting of Carl Rungius (1977, 1983, 1988).
Notes
Photographs of Sheila and DW were originally framed but have been removed from frames for storage purposes.
Most folders include original envelopes that the photographs were stored in, which have additional information.
File consists of 100 colour photograph prints, 15 x 10 cm. File pertains to various trips and outings Dorothy took with friends Shirley Charlton, Hilda Mathiesen, and Betty Fonstad over a three year period. File documents trips and outings to Lake Louise, Bow Falls (Banff), Emerald Lake, Field, Gre…
File consists of 100 colour photograph prints, 15 x 10 cm. File pertains to various trips and outings Dorothy took with friends Shirley Charlton, Hilda Mathiesen, and Betty Fonstad over a three year period. File documents trips and outings to Lake Louise, Bow Falls (Banff), Emerald Lake, Field, Great Divide, Spiral Tunnels, Tea Storm Mountain Lodge, Vermillion River, Marble Canyon, Johnston's Canyon, Moraine Lake, Yoho National Park, Takkakaw Falls, and Lake O'Hara. Photographs include wildlife (birds, elk, sheep), wildflowers, mountain scenery, and posed photographs in front of significant landmarks.
Notes
Most photographs are annotated on the back identifying who is in the photograph, where it was taken, and when. Some anecdotes are also added by Dorothy on the backside of some of the photographs.
File consists of 82 black and white photographs, 18 x 13 cm or smaller. File documents the Wardle family and friends in the community, at different events and various travels, including: baby photographs of Dorothy in Banff (1919-1926); Banff early days with James and Leette Wardle, particularly at…
File consists of 82 black and white photographs, 18 x 13 cm or smaller. File documents the Wardle family and friends in the community, at different events and various travels, including: baby photographs of Dorothy in Banff (1919-1926); Banff early days with James and Leette Wardle, particularly at the snowshoe tramp for the Banff Winter Carnival (1919-1920); snapshots from a trip to Big Bend (1930); Norman Sanson's 1000th ascent of Sulphur Mountain in 1931; class photographs from the Mountain School (1932, 1935); various trips with Carl Rungius, including Lake McArthur and Lake O'Hara (1933), Ottawa (1945), and the Laurentians (1949); a trip to the Panama Canal (1933); miscellaneous photographs of school events (including the Alma Mater Society election that resulted in Dorothy being the first female president) of Dorothy and friends at Queen's University (1938-1941); the Swedish Legation in Ottawa (1946-1950); and photographs of Frank Kaquitts and his artwork (1963).
Notes
Most photographs are annotated on the backside of the print.
V75 / I / PA -193 : Includes an accompanying list identifying everyone in the class photograph (Dorothy attended the Mountain School as a young child).
V75 / I / PA -239 to 247 : includes handwritten notes regarding Frank Kaquitts. Dorothy originally filed these images with M521 / I / A / 10 ([Indigenous] Story Material).
File consists of 23 colour photographs, 15 x 10 cm. File pertains to Dorothy's multiple properties in Sidney (British Columbia) and Canmore (Alberta). File documents interior images of 115 Sandpebble (Sidney, BC), #2 St. Michael's (Canmore, AB), and #30 Mountain Shadows Village (Canmore, AB). File …
File consists of 23 colour photographs, 15 x 10 cm. File pertains to Dorothy's multiple properties in Sidney (British Columbia) and Canmore (Alberta). File documents interior images of 115 Sandpebble (Sidney, BC), #2 St. Michael's (Canmore, AB), and #30 Mountain Shadows Village (Canmore, AB). File also includes images of different china objects that Dorothy collected (cups, decor, etc).
File consists of 109 black and white and colour photograph prints, 23.5 x 17 cm or smaller. File documents various unidentified family members and friends, travels and outings, special events (e.g. weddings, graduations), holidays (e.g. Easter), official portraits (including a National Film Board o…
109 photographs : b&w and col. ; 23.5 x 17 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 109 black and white and colour photograph prints, 23.5 x 17 cm or smaller. File documents various unidentified family members and friends, travels and outings, special events (e.g. weddings, graduations), holidays (e.g. Easter), official portraits (including a National Film Board of Canada portrait of James Wardle), and sports and leisure (e.g. canoeing, golf). File also includes photographs of Carl Rungius (on his birthday in 1954), Betty Ormond in Peru (with a message addressed to "Dorrie" written on the back of the print), graduation photograph of James Wardle from Queen's (c.1912), and travel photographs from the United States in 1948 (New York, Washington, Philadelphia, and Atlantic City) and Amsterdam, Netherlands (1952). Notable places the photographs depict include Banff (including Banff Train Station), the Great Divide, St. Lawrence River (the Wardle family had a cottage here), Sunshine trail, Mt. Athabasca, Columbia Icefields, Lake O'Hara, Montreal, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Paris (France), Ghost River, Ottawa, Peru, Lake Minnewanka, Elk Island, and Maligne Lake.
Notes
Most (but not all) photographs are annotated on the back identifying who is in the photograph, when it was taken, and where.
File consists of 146 colour photographs, 15 x 10 cm or smaller. File pertains to a collection of miscellaneous photographs of Dorothy and her friends throughout a 30 year period. File documents a multitude of day trips, visits with friends, holidays (birthdays, anniversaries), road trips, picnics, …
File consists of 146 colour photographs, 15 x 10 cm or smaller. File pertains to a collection of miscellaneous photographs of Dorothy and her friends throughout a 30 year period. File documents a multitude of day trips, visits with friends, holidays (birthdays, anniversaries), road trips, picnics, Resthaven-by-the-Sea, Pender Island, Okanagan, Sidney harbour, Wardle Creek, Horseshoe Bay, Powell River, the Hoodoos in Banff and Tunnel Mountain, and Salt Spring Island. File also includes two passport photograph prints of Dorothy from 1991.
Notes
V75 / II / PA - 788 to 866: Includes the original envelope that the photographs were stored in and include detailed notes of dates, people, and places.
V75 / II / PA - 867 to 896: Includes 3 hand written notes (on an envelope, a letter addressed to Dorothy and Sheila dated 1987, and a Christmas card) and a newspaper clipping of the obituary for Anne Nelson (Dorothy’s friend). Each textual record remains where Dorothy put them.
File consists of 17 cm of textual records, 34 x 44 cm or smaller. File pertains to an assortment of personal recordkeeping records and contains textual records, correspondence, photograph prints, and newspaper clippings. File documents various purchases and sales (Canmore, Alberta and Sidney, Briti…
File consists of 17 cm of textual records, 34 x 44 cm or smaller. File pertains to an assortment of personal recordkeeping records and contains textual records, correspondence, photograph prints, and newspaper clippings. File documents various purchases and sales (Canmore, Alberta and Sidney, British Columbia, mainly 1985-1986 and 1991-1995), property sales (Banff and Calgary, Alberta, 1972, and a photocopy of the original lease for the Wardle's property in Banff on Muskrat Street, 1921), Dorothy's work and membership with the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (1991-2001), art sales and appraisals (mainly Carl Rungius, 1977-2001), health and dental records detailing Dorothy's medical history (mainly 1994-2001, but goes back to 1934), a trip to Canmore (Banff Right to Reside (1984), subscriptions and miscellaneous records (including Dorothy's address book; poetry by her father, James Morey Wardle; Dorothy's passport from 1991-1996; various art collector catalogues such as Sotheby's; and commemorative coins), and Sheila Iris (S.I.) Ritchie's personal records (includes birth record from 1927 and death record from 1990).
Notes
Poetry by James Morey (J.M.) Wardle can be found in folder 34 under "miscellaneous."
Sheila Iris Ritchie was Dorothy's long-term housemate and close friend. Dorothy served as the executor of Sheila's will.
Dorothy's SIN card was originally included but has since been discarded for privacy concerns.
Photocopies of the original lease for the property on Muskrat Street were taken from Parks Canada microfiche records in 1993.
File consists of 91 colour photographs, 15 x 10 cm or smaller. File pertains to Dorothy and Sheila's travels to Scotland and England to visit the Aulds family, and the Aulds family's travels to Canada to visit Dorothy and Sheila. File documents various travels from 1974-1979 (including British Colu…
File consists of 91 colour photographs, 15 x 10 cm or smaller. File pertains to Dorothy and Sheila's travels to Scotland and England to visit the Aulds family, and the Aulds family's travels to Canada to visit Dorothy and Sheila. File documents various travels from 1974-1979 (including British Columbia and Banff, Alberta), Sheila and Dorothy's visit to Scotland in 1987 and in 1988, and the Aulds Family trip to Canada to visit Dorothy in 1990 following the death of Sheila (Dorothy took them on a motor trip across British Columbia and Alberta). Places visited include Loch Lomond, Kingsknowe (a suburb of Edinburgh), Girvan, Duke of Hamilton Hunting Lodge, the docks at New Galloway, and various places in Canada, including: Lake Louise (Bow River), Jasper National Park (Mt. Robson, Maligne Lake, Athabasca Falls), Columbia Icefield, Banff National Park, and the Okanagan region.
Notes
Sheila (Ritchie) was a life long friend and housemate of Dorothy. The Aulds family were Sheila's relatives in Scotland (Doreen Aulds was Sheila's cousin).
Duke of Hamilton Hunting Lodge is known today as the Chatelherault Country Park.