Fonds consists of papers, photographs and sound recordings of Peter and Catharine Whyte and the papers and photographs of their respective families. Consists of three sous-fonds: V683, S37 and M36. M36 and S37 consists of three series. Series I: Peter and Catharine Whyte, Series II: Robb and Morse …
25 m of textual records. -- ca.46,000 photographs : prints, albums, postcards, cased photographs, transparencies, negatives. -- 178 sound recordings : audio tape reels, audio tape cassettes. -- 6 motion pictures (and film strips)
History / Biographical
Peter and Catharine Whyte were artists, photographers, outdoor enthusiasts, travelers, philanthropists and cultural workers at Banff, Alberta, Canada. Peter Whyte, 1905-1966, was born at Banff in 1905 to pioneer merchant Dave White and Annie (Curren) White. He was an accomplished skier and ski jumper and one of the region's first native-born painters with an intimate knowledge of the mountains and was an active photographer from ca.1920 until the 1950s. Peter Whyte studied art at the Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles, 1923-1924, and at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Boston, 1925, where he met Catharine Robb. Catharine Robb Whyte, 1906-1979, was born in 1906 at Concord, Massachusetts and grew up amongst the wealth and creativity of the Robb and Morse families. She studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Boston, 1925-1929.
Following their marriage in 1930, the Whytes pursued a life of painting, photography, hiking, skiing and travelling. Their log home and studio in Banff became a focal point for their artist friends, Stoney Indians and local pioneers. Catharine shared Pete's involvement in skiing and hiking organizations and together they managed Skoki Lodge from 1932-1934. In following years, the Whytes travelled extensively. During the Second World War, Peter served in the reserve army, with the Royal Canadian Air Force as a photographer and, briefly, as an official war artist. Catharine continued to paint and maintain their home and, when possible, accompanied Pete to his military postings. In civilian life, Pete resumed his art career, explored new photographic techniques and sculpted.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the Whytes formulated plans for a foundation to preserve the art and history of the Canadian Rockies. Plans for a building to house an archives, public library and gallery were in preparation when Pete died in 1966. The Peter Whyte Foundation was named in his honour. Catharine immersed herself in the development of what is now the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, in the cultural community, painting, outdoor activity, travel and work with the Stoney First Nations. She became a more active photographer, recording her travels and outdoor pursuits. She served in an official capacity with numerous cultural and charitable organizations, was a patron to individuals studying art and music, and supported numerous causes relating to the Stoney First Nations. Catharine also supported causes related to multiculturalism, regional culture and recreation, and cancer research. Despite her modesty and often anonymous patronage of causes, Catharine was recognized with numerous awards and honours, including the Order of Canada in 1978. She died in Banff in 1979.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of papers, photographs and sound recordings of Peter and Catharine Whyte and the papers and photographs of their respective families. Consists of three sous-fonds: V683, S37 and M36. M36 and S37 consists of three series. Series I: Peter and Catharine Whyte, Series II: Robb and Morse families, Series III: White and Curren families. Within Series I, there are four Sub-series: Series: A. Catharine Robb Whyte papers; B. Peter Whyte papers; C. Peter and Catharine Whyte papers accessioned after 2017; D. Peter and Catharine Whyte sound recordings.
File consists of 14 colour and b&w oversized promotional posters and information boards for Banff Indian Days celebrations, promoted by Canadian Pacific. Posters largely feature identified and unidentified Indigenous people, notably Chief Spotted Eagle and Blind Eagle. Art medium includes oil pain…
Published and artwork attributed to Ernie Kehr, W.L. Kihn, G.H.W. Ashley, Crag & Canyon Press, Palenske, Canadian Pacific and Multi Color Poster
Date Range
[ca. 1930-1950]
1936
1937
1949
Physical Description
14 posters : colour and b&w ; 35 x 56 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 14 colour and b&w oversized promotional posters and information boards for Banff Indian Days celebrations, promoted by Canadian Pacific. Posters largely feature identified and unidentified Indigenous people, notably Chief Spotted Eagle and Blind Eagle. Art medium includes oil paint process mounted on cardboard made in Canada and distributed by Exhibits Branch Canadian Pacific, lithographic prints, and a mounted drawing attributed to Palenske. Some have annotations or stamps on the back.
Notes
Possibly unassociated shipping packing material addressed to Norman Luxton at the Trading Post from E.A. Kehr found in box - this has not been assigned a number.
D3-10, a lithographic promotional material from 1936 has an identical design to LUX / II / F1 / 47, an Indian Days poster from 1928
Items LUX / I / D3 / 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 were originally associated with LUX / I / D3a / 6, which contains brochures and a flyer from Banff Indian Days
LUX / I / D3 / 8, Palenske may have potentionally used photograph LUX / I / D3a / PA-26 as reference
Material Details
Some posters have foldable cardboard stand at back to place upright on surface, adhesives, and perhaps mounting additives.
File consists of 6 coloured illustrations depicting wildflowers. Two items are annotated on reverse sides; one reads "Bell wood" and other is signed "Hugh"[?].
6 drawings : illustration, pencil and paint ; 16 x 22.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 6 coloured illustrations depicting wildflowers. Two items are annotated on reverse sides; one reads "Bell wood" and other is signed "Hugh"[?].
Notes
Artist(s) and date(s) of materials unknown; date range provided is estimate by Processing Archivist
Material Details
Illustrations traced in pencil and filled in with watercolour paints.
File consists of one album containing 28 colorized postcard print images, 227 black and white prints and one annotated hand-drawn diagram on paper. Content pertains to a boat cruise attended by Eleanor Luxton to Hawaii, Japan and China [1937]. Includes images of the interior and exterior of the cru…
1 album (255 b&w and col. prints ; 13.5 x 19.5 cm or smaller -- 1 diagram ; 6 x 4 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of one album containing 28 colorized postcard print images, 227 black and white prints and one annotated hand-drawn diagram on paper. Content pertains to a boat cruise attended by Eleanor Luxton to Hawaii, Japan and China [1937]. Includes images of the interior and exterior of the cruise ship, as well as cruise staff members and on-board entertainment; landscapes, monuments and buildings; surfing; historic sites; dockyard scenes with unidentified workers; local individuals and families; and fishing and harvesting. Album also includes small tissue-like paper sheet with hand-drawn diagram of mechanical parts and measurements with annotations [possibly belonging to Eleanor Luxton, n.d.]
Notes
Most photographs are annotated on the lower front in white text with contextual information - location, name of landmark, etc.
Date provided is based on dating of similar items pertaining to cruise to Hawaii, Japan and China collected by Eleanor Luxton. Photographs are likely from the same trip, but not confirmed.
File consists of one signed copy of a portrait of an unidentified Indigenous man by artist W. Langdon Kihn. Portrait was gifted to Norman Luxton by Kihn in 1922.
1 drawing : portrait, pencil and ink ; 29 x 37.5 cm
History / Biographical
Wilfred Langdon Kihn (1898-1957) was an American artist born in Brooklyn, New York. Kihn was best known for his illustrated portraits of American and Canadian Indigenous people, including members of the Blackfoot, Navajo, Pueblo and Tsimshian communities. The individuals in Kihn's portraits were most often depicted wearing traditional and ceremonial clothing rather than their typical clothes.
Kihn's art career began in 1919 when he travelled to Montana and created some of his earliest portraits while visiting the Blackfeet Reservation. Throughout the 1920s, Kihn travelled extensively in Canada and the United States, creating portraits of individuals from a diverse range of Indigenous communities. Many of these portraits were put on display as part of a travelling exhibition organized by the Brooklyn Museum. In 1935, Kihn was commissioned by National Geographic to produce Indigenous portraits for publications; this ultimately led to a two-decade career with National Geographic.
Scope & Content
File consists of one signed copy of a portrait of an unidentified Indigenous man by artist W. Langdon Kihn. Portrait was gifted to Norman Luxton by Kihn in 1922.
Notes
Portrait is signed in the bottom left corner: "To "Norm" Luxton From his friend W. Langdon Kihn. 1922"
File consists of hand-drawn sample illustrations produced as potential advertising material or signage for the LUX Theatre in Banff, ca. 1916. Illustrations depict animal and human figures posed in various ways to spell "LUX".
7 drawings : illustration, ink ; 39.5 x 19.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of hand-drawn sample illustrations produced as potential advertising material or signage for the LUX Theatre in Banff, ca. 1916. Illustrations depict animal and human figures posed in various ways to spell "LUX".
Notes
4 and 6 have ink lines on the back, in addition to a pencil sketch on 6
File consists of one large booklet/portfolio containing biographical information, illustrations, and 10 copies of painted colour portraits all pertaining to Indigenous chiefs. Individuals depicted are: Crowfoot [Southern Blackfoot], Old Sun [Northern Blackfoot], Red Crow [Southern Blood tribe], Bul…
File consists of one large booklet/portfolio containing biographical information, illustrations, and 10 copies of painted colour portraits all pertaining to Indigenous chiefs. Individuals depicted are: Crowfoot [Southern Blackfoot], Old Sun [Northern Blackfoot], Red Crow [Southern Blood tribe], Bull Head [Sarcee], Eagle Tail [North Piegans], Poundmaker [Cree], Medicine Calf [Southern Blood tribe], Big Bear [Cree], Big Plume [Sarcee], and Pakan [Wood Cree]. Collection also includes historical information pertaining to Indigenous history in Western Canada written by Dr. James G. MacGregor, and a map depicting Indigenous treaty boundaries in and around the Rocky Mountains.
Notes
Date range provided is estimate by Processing Archivist
File consists of one untitled caricature of a politician, possibly George Ross, signed by artist C. Stafford. Drawing depicts a man with an oversized head raising his fist in the air, standing next to a table holding a scroll which reads "In the interest of the people of Calgary I will fight to a[s…
File consists of one untitled caricature of a politician, possibly George Ross, signed by artist C. Stafford. Drawing depicts a man with an oversized head raising his fist in the air, standing next to a table holding a scroll which reads "In the interest of the people of Calgary I will fight to a[sic] finish special exemptions".
Notes
Drawing not dated, individual represented in drawing not specified
File consists of 1 b&w sketch of Bruno Engler, titled: Bruno Engler Mountain Legend 1975, signed by Carol Bortenlanger 1 b&w photograph of Bruno Engler
File consists of 1 8 x 10 photograph (print) and 1 photocopy (ca. 1923) pertaining to Vancouver Amazon women's hockey team. The photograph depicts the team with filming crew.
File consists of 1 8 x 10 photograph (print) and 1 photocopy (ca. 1923) pertaining to Vancouver Amazon women's hockey team. The photograph depicts the team with filming crew.
File consists of study notes and research material related to the fields of Haematology and Urinology, Mechanical Engineering, Commerce and English. File includes a letter responding to a repair request for a microscope sent by Eleanor Luxton in 1953, hand-drawn illustrations and diagrams, molecula…
File consists of study notes and research material related to the fields of Haematology and Urinology, Mechanical Engineering, Commerce and English. File includes a letter responding to a repair request for a microscope sent by Eleanor Luxton in 1953, hand-drawn illustrations and diagrams, molecular science notes, and an information package for first year English students at McGill University [1953-1954].
Notes
Notes and research material likely belonged to Eleanor Luxton during her studies at McGill University in Montreal, and Ottawa; some materials are from Sir George Williams College at Concordia University.
File consists of 1 8 x 10 photograph (print) and 1 photocopy (ca. 1923) pertaining to Vancouver Amazon women's hockey team. The photograph depicts the team with filming crew.
File consists of 1 8 x 10 photograph (print) and 1 photocopy (ca. 1923) pertaining to Vancouver Amazon women's hockey team. The photograph depicts the team with filming crew.