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 Canadian Pacific Railway negative photographs pertaining to trail riders, camp staff, guides and outfitters, trail rides, fishing, camps, ceremonies, scenic views of Yoho, Jasper, and Banff National Parks, Canmore and surrounding area, and Banff's townsite. Trail riders in photogr…
129 photographs : b&w nitrate negatives ; 12 x 9.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of Canadian Pacific Railway negative photographs pertaining to trail riders, camp staff, guides and outfitters, trail rides, fishing, camps, ceremonies, scenic views of Yoho, Jasper, and Banff National Parks, Canmore and surrounding area, and Banff's townsite. Trail riders in photographs include John Murray Gibbon, Carl Rungius and Charlie Beil.
Notes
Original order retained, appears to be chronological.
Most negative envelopes individually titled and dated, majority from 1943 and 1944. Mostly nitrate photographs.
Original CPR negative envelopes retained in document file.
File consists of 11.5 cm of textual records, 32 x 42 cm or smaller. Records include: Book of Common Prayer (1872); The Pocket Cook Book by Elizabeth Woody (1942); Guide to Marks of Origin on British and Irish Silver Plate from mid-16th Century to the Year 1943 and Old Sheffield Plate Makers' Marks,…
11.5 cm of textual records (32 x 42 cm or smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of 11.5 cm of textual records, 32 x 42 cm or smaller. Records include: Book of Common Prayer (1872); The Pocket Cook Book by Elizabeth Woody (1942); Guide to Marks of Origin on British and Irish Silver Plate from mid-16th Century to the Year 1943 and Old Sheffield Plate Makers' Marks, 1743-1860 (1943); four booklets related to the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies (1934-1950); a booklet titled "Sir George Simpson Centennial Celebration" (1928); an assortment of recipes; "The Margaret P. Hess Collection" booklet published by the University of Calgary (1977) and a related Calgary Herald newspaper clipping (1986); one Carl Rungius postcard; and six miscellaneous postcards depicting a former school teacher of Leette Wardle (1911), James Wardle at the Cave and Basin (1920), the Wardles in San Francisco (n.d.), two unidentified men (n.d.), and visitors to the Banff Springs Hotel (n.d.).
Notes
Book of Common Prayer inscribed with: “Martha Morey, November 4, 1872. New Westminster, BC. From her mother.” It belonged to James Wardle's mother.
The Pocket Cook Book contains annotations and written notes tucked in among the pages of the book.
Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies booklets kept because the Wardles participated in trail rides and there are photos/mentions of James and Dorothy, and possibly Leette.
The "Sir George Simpson Centennial Celebration" booklet contains a photograph print between pages 32 and 33.
Some of the postcards are annotated on the back, specifically the postcard depicting the Banff Springs Hotel which is addressed to Dorothy.
File consists of 82 colour photograph negatives, 35 mm. File pertains to miscellaneous events/outings, friends, and objects related to Dorothy Wardle. File documents the animal paintings from the Mount Royal Hotel (Banff); gravestones at the Old Banff Cemetery (1993-1999); miscellaneous photographs…
File consists of 82 colour photograph negatives, 35 mm. File pertains to miscellaneous events/outings, friends, and objects related to Dorothy Wardle. File documents the animal paintings from the Mount Royal Hotel (Banff); gravestones at the Old Banff Cemetery (1993-1999); miscellaneous photographs in and around Banff, including the cabins on the grounds of the Whyte Museum (1993-1999); Savary Island with Joy (1996); the waterfront at Sidney, British Columbia (1997); Yellow Point Lodge with Anne Hudson (August 3-6, 1997); Anne Hudson's home and property (August 12, 2001); and miscellaneous images of artwork by Carl Rungius.
Notes
Images of Carl Rungius' artwork were originally filed with M521 / I / B / 27
File consists of 13 black and white negatives, 16 x 9 cm or smaller. File pertains the Wardle family's travels and trail rides with various friends and family members. File documents James Wardle posing in front of the Simpson Monument during the Waterton Ride (1929), the Wardles and friends posing…
13 photographs : b&w negatives ; 16 x 9 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 13 black and white negatives, 16 x 9 cm or smaller. File pertains the Wardle family's travels and trail rides with various friends and family members. File documents James Wardle posing in front of the Simpson Monument during the Waterton Ride (1929), the Wardles and friends posing in front of a car during their Big Bend motor trip (1930), travels with Carl Rungius, James and Dorothy Wardle at the Yoho Valley Camp over Burgess Pass to Field (1938), and an undated photograph of Leette Wardle.
Notes
Original envelopes are located with corresponding prints (see related material).