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 68 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from February 3 to June 30, 1960. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, wildlife, travel, camping, construction projects around the house (mostly pertaining to the new …
Date Range
1960
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 146
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Postcard
Private record
��������Dearest Mqther,
Banff,Alberta.
Sat , Feb. 13, 196V
Wonder i f i t is easi er
1.1 cm of textual records (87 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 68 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from February 3 to June 30, 1960. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, wildlife, travel, camping, construction projects around the house (mostly pertaining to the new addition), events and people in Concord, weather, and returning from a trip to Concord in June. Letters are mostly hand-written, some typed. Also includes postcards and a notecard.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
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.
146 - 20 has a small newspaper clipping attached to the letter.
Good : all pages creased throughout from being folded prior to accession, minor rips and tears along the edges of most pages.
146 - 20 : staple removed from insert, replaced with plastic paper clip.
File pertains to 92 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 1 to July 14, 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 [mo…
Date Range
1958
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 142
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Postcard
Private record
Dearest ¥.other,
Banff , Uberta,
l'/ed, Jan 1, 19.58
Just a few lines and the first letter of 19.58
2.7 cm of textual records (135 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 92 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 1 to July 14, 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], errand trips to Calgary [mostly by car], new glasses for Peter, construction of the new Trans-Canada Highway, construction projects pertaining to Buffalo Block [including the installation of a restaurant on the second floor], the Seymour Narrows, B.C., controlled explosion (April 5, 1958), the opening of the new Morley Community Centre in April, a trip to Edmonton, mention of starting a Foundation in order to manage the block they live on [including ideas for an art gallery, library, and museum] and the proposed name Wa-Che-Yo-Cha-Pa supplied by George McLean, and travel around Maine, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia between visits to Concord for the purpose of painting. Letters are mostly typed, some hand-written. Also includes postcards.
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.
142 - 21 is a Valentine's Day card missing the front cover, not addressed to anyone and signed by Mildred.
142 - 44 is a copy of a letter written to Catharine and Peter from Rusty.
142 - 60 is a letter written from Edmonton on Corona Hotel Edmonton letterhead.
142 - 74 is the beginning of letters written on the road between Banff and Yarmouth, N.S., on the way to and after leaving Concord.
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 110 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 1 to August 29, 1959. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs …
Date Range
1959
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 144
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Postcard
Private record
Dearest ¥other,
•
Banff, ltlberta
Thursday
Jan. 1 , 1959
My first letter of · the New Year shall
2.5 cm of textual records (145 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 110 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 1 to August 29, 1959. 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], the 50th anniversary of the first flight in the Brittish Commonwealth in February, the 1959 Winter Carnival, construction on the back of the house, a trip to Concord in June for a friend's wedding, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip's visit in June, trips to Bow Lake during the summer, and the widening of the Icefield Parkway as far as the Saskatchewan River Crossing. Letters are mostly typed, some hand-written. Also includes postcards.
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.
144 - 02 is a letter to Rusty
144 - 07 is a carbon copy of 144 - 06
144 - 31 is a carbon copy of 144 - 30
144 - 56 is a carbon copy of 144 - 55
144 - 62 mostly consists of a story titled "The Story of Penny Warren"
144 - 86 is a carbon copy of the first page of 144 - 85
File pertains to 41 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 2, 1961 to February 15, 1962; Edith passed away February 18, 1962. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, wildlife, travel, hockey and football games, the C…
Date Range
1961-1962
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 148
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Postcard
Private record
-- \
��Dearest Mother,
Banff,Alberta.
Hon.Jan, 9, 1961
Such a lot of lettes s to be written, busimess
2.6 cm of textual records (ca. 185 pages ; 21.9 x 27.8 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 41 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 2, 1961 to February 15, 1962; Edith passed away February 18, 1962. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, wildlife, travel, hockey and football games, the Calgary Stampede, weather, and the 1962 space launch. Letters are mostly hand-written, some typed. Also includes postcards and notecards.
M36 / 148 - 114 to 120 are not fully dated - unsure of order within other 1961 letters. All are postcards.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
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.
M36 / 148 - 29 is missing its second half, indicated by Catharine to be a picture of Bow Lake.
File pertains to 43 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from July 2 to December 27, 1955. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs [m…
Date Range
1955
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 137
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Postcard
Private record
D
§arest ..!other,
Banff,Alberta .
Sat. July 2,1955.
I know that you and Hanne Will want to know
fi
1 cm of textual records (71 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 43 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from July 2 to December 27, 1955. 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], errand trips to Calgary, Catharine's nephew Rusty arriving [he worked at Bow Lake helping with hunting parties in July], trips to Bow Lake, Banff Indian Days, a climbing tragedy on Mt. Temple in July wherein several young boys died, visits to the Campbell's ranch in Cowley, attending a Sun Dance ceremony near Fort Macleod, camping and sketching trips around Banff National Park, the Alberta Jubilee celebrations, a trip to Concord in October [they took the train down and drove back in a newly purchased Jeep], construction of the new Trans-Canada Highway through Banff, working on the annual Christmas card, and various Christmas parties. Also includes postcards and notecards.
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.
Some letters written on Num-Ti-Jaw Lodge letterhead, one written on Banff Shell Station letterhead.
File pertains to 74 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from July 2 to December 30, 1960. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, wildlife, travel, camping, construction of the new kitchen & workroom (including the removal of …
1.7 cm of textual records (107 pages ; 21.9 x 27.8 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 74 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from July 2 to December 30, 1960. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, wildlife, travel, camping, construction of the new kitchen & workroom (including the removal of the original stone chimney in the kitchen), the Calgary Stampede, the death of George Paris, Walter Phillips going blind, the United Nations summit in September, weather, and a visit Catharine made to Concord in December. Letters are mostly hand-written, some typed. Also includes postcards, a telegram, and a notecard.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
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.
M36 / 147 - 28 appears to be missing page 2, but could be misnumbered.
File pertains to 71 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 3 to July 30, 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 [mo…
Date Range
1957
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 140
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Postcard
Private record
•
Concord, M,u,snchu•ett•
���Dearest Mot her,
Banff, ~1ta .
Sun.Jan 7, 1857
Beas we are back safe
1.6 cm of textual records (97 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 71 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 3 to July 30, 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], errand trips to Calgary, travelling back from a visit to Concord in early January, the Winter Carnival, the death of Walter Painter [February], trips to Concord in late April-early May and mid-June, and road trips to Cowley and Fort Macleod in July. Some letters are typed and some hand-written. Also includes one notecard.
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 41 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from September 3 to December 14, 1959. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, seeing the m…
Date Range
1959
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 145
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Postcard
Private record
· Banff ,Alberta.
Thursday,4ept. 3, l959
Dearest" Mother,
Back in Banff again and this afternoon
1 cm of textual records (58 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 41 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from September 3 to December 14, 1959. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, seeing the musical My Fair Lady at the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary (Sept. 21), driving out to the Panther Valley with Warden Peter Tasker (Oct. 16), Carl Rungius' death (October), a trip to Concord in early November [just Catharine], construction on the back of the house, a second trip to Concord for Christmas and New Years followed immediately by a two-month trip to the West Indies [Catharine and Peter]. Letters are mostly typed, some hand-written. Also includes two postcards making up one letter.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
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.