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 82 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 1 to July 30, 1943. Topics include New Years activities and parties, day to day life, news pertaining to the war, errand trips to Calgary, cameras and photography, slide making and presentations…
Date Range
1943
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 115
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Private record
in a small hotel opposite the l'alliser . uell. all went well
that evl lng, she spent it wilhrelatives
1.7 cm of textual records (121 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 82 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 1 to July 30, 1943. Topics include New Years activities and parties, day to day life, news pertaining to the war, errand trips to Calgary, cameras and photography, slide making and presentations, winter sports, weather, wildlife, radio programs [including operas, news, sports, and a program called Quiz Kids], visits from friends, cleaning and household chores, painting/sketching, books Catharine and Edith are reading, installing a new permanent staircase in the house [also installed was a door at the bottom of the stairs], painting/sketching, events and people in Concord, various holidays [both Canadian and American], matters pertaining to the store and apartments on Banff Ave, Pete being enlisted as a "skilled tradesman" in the Royal Canadian Air Force in March and then going to Edmonton for training [occasionally Catharine would join him there for weekends], relocating to Vancouver and then getting posted to Patricia Bay (Victoria) in May [Catharine goes at the same time], Catharine going to Concord for a month early June-early July, moving between Victoria and Vancouver as Pete's responsibilities change, Catharine's involvement with the Red Cross, and life/activities in both cities [including visiting parks/beaches, eating out with and without friends, shopping, sketching/painting, watching military training exercises, and going to shows/movies].
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoplesand Japanese people used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are typed and hand-written. 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.
115 - 26 contains a sketch of the top of the new staircase as it is situated in the second-floor studio.
115 - 78 contains a sketch of their apartment at the Hotel Devonshire in Vancouver.
File consists of souvenir menus from various trips on Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian Pacific cruises. Contents pertain to various destinations within Canada, including: Banff Springs Hotel and Banff National Park, Lake Louise, Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria, Vancouver, Connaught and Spiral Tunn…
File consists of souvenir menus from various trips on Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian Pacific cruises. Contents pertain to various destinations within Canada, including: Banff Springs Hotel and Banff National Park, Lake Louise, Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria, Vancouver, Connaught and Spiral Tunnels, Ottawa, Quebec, and St. John [New Brunswick]. Includes a set of 3 menus from 1924 and a set of 3 adult menus and 1 children's menu from 1952 which are stored in original Canadian Pacific paper envelopes.
Notes
Items in file are stored in two file folders, organized chronologically
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…
Date Range
1943
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 116
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Private record
, C.
���������Dea.rest Mother,
Sueee:ic Hotel
Victoria, B.C.
Thureda.v, Aug.19, 195
Once more I can type my letters
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 67 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from February 6 to July 30, 1935. Topics include travelling back to Banff from Montreal on the train, cleaning and household chores, the Winter Carnival, day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, wa…
Date Range
1935
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 97
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Private record
talking
and it was after seven thirty when •e noticed the time. "e got to
the Hotel too l ate for supper
1.7 cm of textual records (89 pages ; 21.5 x 27.8 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 February 6 to July 30, 1935. Topics include travelling back to Banff from Montreal on the train, cleaning and household chores, the Winter Carnival, day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, watching hockey games and curling matches, weather, photography and cameras, events and people in Concord, going to Skoki to ski, going to the movies and seeing friend's homemade films, the birth of Russ and Kitty's first child Gale in late February [Edith's first grandchild], watching ski races at Norquay, converting an outbuilding from a garage/one bedroom into a garage/darkroom, dinner and tea parties [both at home and around town], sketching/painting, discussions of operas Edith has seen, Pete going to Vancouver for a few days in mid-April to help his parents [Dave was advised to go to sea level by doctors to help with ailments he'd been having], wildlife, developing photos and print-making, various holidays [both Canadian and American], descriptions of meals and various recipes, yardwork and redoing the driveway, Catharine going to Concord for a month [mid-May to mid-June], construction of a new road to Norquay ski camp, Pete constructing a cover for the back of their truck to be used for camping, going to Calgary for the Stampede, Banff Indian Days, and camping trips around Lake Louise and Yoho National Park.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are mostly hand-written, some typed - typed letters often have hand-written post scripts.
A few letters written on lodge/hotel 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 or red pencil crayon in the upper margin of the first pages from an unknown project.
97 - 16 contains a sketch of the garage outbuilding and the plans to convert half of it into a darkroom.
File pertains to 116 b&w photographs of O. Kathleen Wilson, her friends and coworkers at the Chateau Lake Louise, celebrities and royalty, hiking, climbing, prisoners of war, and scenery around the Lake Louise and Glacier B.C. areas, including tea houses, hotels, trains, and alpine huts.
O. Kathleen Wilson was employed at the Chateau Lake Louise at Lake Louise, Alberta in the 1920s.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 116 b&w photographs of O. Kathleen Wilson, her friends and coworkers at the Chateau Lake Louise, celebrities and royalty, hiking, climbing, prisoners of war, and scenery around the Lake Louise and Glacier B.C. areas, including tea houses, hotels, trains, and alpine huts.
File consists of one postcard scrapbook containing 325 postcards. Content pertains to various topics including Canadian landscapes, Indigenous peoples from Alberta, British Columbia, and Northwestern Canada [mostly unidentified] including members of Blackfoot, Squamish, Piegan, Cree, Sarcee and Sto…
Photographs produced by W.G. Macfarlane, Montreal Litho. Co. Ltd., John Innes, T.N. Hibben & Co., Thompson's Studio, Warwick Bros. & Rutter Ltd., Bailey Bros. Ltd., an J.W. Vought
Date Range
1903
1904
Physical Description
ca. 325 prints : b&w and col. postcards ; 9 x 14 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of one postcard scrapbook containing 325 postcards. Content pertains to various topics including Canadian landscapes, Indigenous peoples from Alberta, British Columbia, and Northwestern Canada [mostly unidentified] including members of Blackfoot, Squamish, Piegan, Cree, Sarcee and Stoney communities; horses and ranching scenes in Western Canada; cattle and farming; wildlife; hunting and snowshoeing; and hotels and scenic views within the Bow Valley. Named individuals include Piegan Chief Crow Eagle and Winnipeg Jack [Blackfoot], most individuals not identified.
Material Details
Scrapbook contains unidentified white powdery substance between a few pages near middle of album.
File pertains to 80 slides assembled by Lillian Gest in 1977 into a show from slides pertaining to various summertime trips to the Canadian Rockies throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. Topics include mountains [mostly those located around the town of Banff], mountain views, wildflowers, wildlife, …
Selected C R series 3 Reel 1 show Sept 1977. -- [before 1977]
V225 / 23
Date Range
[ca. 1960-1977]
Physical Description
80 photographs : col. slides ; 35 mm
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 80 slides assembled by Lillian Gest in 1977 into a show from slides pertaining to various summertime trips to the Canadian Rockies throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. Topics include mountains [mostly those located around the town of Banff], mountain views, wildflowers, wildlife, Lillian and her friends, lakes, boats, fishing, hiking, and various other scenic views around Banff, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake.
Titles:
1. B32-15 Garden & Main St. Banff
2. B162-3 Boat House & reflections
3. R160-31 Banff Springs Hotel
4. R160-38 [Banff Springs Hotel] fr. Spray R. & flag
5. R159-4 Pool, lawn & Bow V.
6. R202-18 Conservatory
7. R202-19 [Conservatory]
8. R261-34 Fr. [Conservatory] & flowers
9. R161-33 Fr. [Conservatory] & Louize[?]
10. R202-22 [Fr. Conservatory & Louize[?]]
11. R161-8 Terrace & pool fr. fire escape
12. R160-35 Swim Pool
13. R160-5 Diving Board
14. R162-17 Bow Falls
15. R202-14 [Bow Falls]
16. R202-15 [Bow Falls]
17. R162-26 Boys fishing across river
18. B14-4 Boom Lake
19. R162-7 On Rundle saddle L.G
20. R167-33 Mt Louis & snow
21. B11-13 Old L.L. Rd. fr. Trans Canada
22. R158-6 Train approaches Canmore
23. R168-8 Norquay Ski Lift
24. R168-12 Nick[?] on Ski Lift
25. R168-10 Eliz Brett on Lift
26. R189-24 Ted Goodall
27. C.H. 49 Middle Section Two Jack Lake
28. C.H. 56 Lake Minnewanka fr. shoulder Cascade
29. R162-9 L.G on Little Rundle
30. 0 Banff fr. Tunnel
31. B52-11 View fr. Sulphur Mt.
32. B75-5 View of valley fr. Sulphur Mt.
33. R161-2 Pool & Rundle
34. B48-6 To Grassis Lookout
35. R160-29 The Pool
36. R160-27 Gardens
37. B29-4 Bldgs on Sulphur
38. B29-7 On Sulphur Mt.
39. B29-8 [On Sulphur Mt.]
40. B27-23 Canadian on curve
41. B27-26 Canadian on curve
42. R195-32 Stampede
43. R196-33 BSH India
44. B30-17 Indigenous
45. B10-23 Indigenous person on horse in front of tepee
46. R159-10 Lake Louise (tree to left)
47. R159-30 Chateau & boat fr. east shore
48. R169-5 Abbot Pass
49. R207-27 [Abbot Pass] Hut
50. Reel 94-14 Goodsirs across Wenchemna Pass
51. C.H. 6/70 Ten Peaks
52. A14-8 4 Peaks & Moraine L.
53. R141-4? Moraine L. Reflections Polly
54. R183-21 Shore Moraine Lake
55. R141-3 Moraine Lake Reflections Polly
56. R207-7 H.G. Edw. & PKs4-7
57. B2-27 L.C at Moraine Lake sitting
58. B2-26 [L.C at Moraine Lake] standing
59. B2-28 Moraine L. & far pt of Moraine
60. R207-4 H.G at Moraine
61. B1-32 Moraine & Mt. Little & 3
62. R207-5 H.G at Moraine
63. B28-31 Harry West & friend at Moraine L.
64. B22-15 L.G Moraine L
65. B22-14 Eleanor Hammilton, Moraine L.
66. R94-3 Glaciers on Moraine Peaks
67. B22-11 Quadra & Babek fr, road
68. B22-17 Trail to Consolation L.
69. B28-13 At Consolation Lake
70. B28-34 Stream fr. [Consolation Lake]
71. B15-20 Marmot [Consolation Lake]
72. R95-7 On trail - Mt Fay in b.g.
73. R141-6 L.G. Larch V.
74. R141-5 3 girls [Larch V.]
75. R141-8 Lefroy fr. Sentinel Pass
76. R141-30 Polly on [Sentinel Pass]
77. A10-13 Moose Larch V.
78. B12-32 Deer
79. R202-30 Deer
80. R178-30 Aileen 0 Mt. Averdeen in b.g
Notes
Please note: Language used pertaining to First Nations people is outdated and offensive
Please note: Behavior towards wildlife, primarily human proximity and feeding, is outdated and no longer tolerated throughout all National Parks - do not feed or approach wildlife.
Slides originally in Kodak Carousel 80 slide tray.
File pertains to 40 slides assembled by Lillian Gest in 1977 into a show from slides pertaining to various summertime trips to the Canadian Rockies throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. Topics include mountains [mostly those located around the town of Banff], mountain views, wildflowers, wildlife, …
Selected slides series III Can R reel II show Fall 1977. -- [before 1977]
V225 / 24
Date Range
[ca. 1960-1977]
Physical Description
40 photographs : col. slides ; 35 mm
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 40 slides assembled by Lillian Gest in 1977 into a show from slides pertaining to various summertime trips to the Canadian Rockies throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. Topics include mountains [mostly those located around the town of Banff], mountain views, wildflowers, wildlife, Lillian and her friends, lakes, boats, fishing, hiking, and various other scenic views around Banff, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake.
Titles:
1. R178-7 L.G at Crowfoot GLacier
2. B28-29 Mt Aberdeen - girls on rocks
3. B28-30 Rainbow at L.L.
4. B74-23 Abbots Pass
5. B73-38 Horses at Mirror Lake
6. CH '49 Birds nest, portrait lens 13in
7. CH Ducks nest
8. CH '51 Birds nest
9. CH '51 Chalice cup
10. R171-8 Calice cup
11. CH White vetch
12. CH '51 Turks cap lily Toby Creek
13. CH Vetch
14. CH Black Hornets
15. CH Nest of Black Hornets
16. CH Moth on pink flower
17. CH '58 Butterfly blue green & black border
18. CH '58 [Butterfly] yellow w. [black] spots
19. CH '58 [Butterfly] black & white
20. CH Pink heather
21. CH Calypso - Rungius
22. CH Purple Hedysarum
23. CH '51 Purple Hedysarum
24. R169-23Avalanche lily
25. CH '56 Flower gardens on island Palliser Pass
26. CH '55 Corral Creek
27. B31 19 Ski meet - View towards L.L.
28. B31 20 [Ski meet] Trail until flower
29. B31 21 [Ski meet] Horse on glacier
30. B31 22 Ski meet - crowd on rock 1960
31. B31 23 Skiers on snow
32. B31 24 Ski meet
33. B31 25 [Ski meet] & slopes Abbot Pass in b.g
34. B31 26 [Ski meet]
35. B31 27 Slalom poles & skiers
36. B31 28 [Slalom poles & skiers]
37. B31 29 [Slalom] slope
38. B31 30 [illegible] 6 people
39. B31 15 Flowers - stone crop
40. B31 32 Watyeks 8 people
41. B31 33 Teepees in meadow
42. B31 38 MacArthur & reflections
43. Reel 99-17 [Blank]
44. B73 29 Mary at Lake
45. B72 38 Icefield Chalet
46. B1 36 Tourists at Peyto Lookout
47. B2-10 Canyon at Bow Lakes
48. R179-3 Murray [illegible] fishing chephroe[?]
49. R175 5 Mt Shaeffer from Moose Lake
50. B2-17 MSC & Polly at Mary Lake
51. B2-21 Pool near Mary Lake
52. B2-15 [Pool near Mary Lake]
53. B2-8 Coveney on Trail Bow L.
54. R178-14 Bow Lake
55. R106-9 [Bow Lake]
56. R178-8 [Bow Lake]
57. B9-11 Numtijah Lodge
58. B9-10 Bow Lakes
59. B73-16 Mitchell Hut
60. B73-14 Skyline Camp
61. B30-38 Edw & Martha
62. B23-14 2 on rock
63. B23 23 Party on Opabin
64. B23-1 O'Hara & cabins
65. B23-25 Frozen L. Opabin
66. B23-24 Two & lake frozen
67. B23-27 L.G - opabin
68. B23-32 Fr Goat Cabin I
69. B24-11 Crowd oesa
70. B24-12 Vallances oesa
71. B24-14 Oesa frozen & L.G
72. B24-16 [illegible] on Oesa Ledges
73. B24-18 Falls near Oesa
74. B24-9 Enroute to oesa
75. B24-22 A at oesa frozen
76. B269-13 Party at Schafer cairn
77. B24-26 Party & Ringrose
78. B24-31 Water Lake & fishermen
79. B25-6 O'Hara fr. odaray
80. B24-30 Aileen, lake & odaray
Notes
Please note: Behavior towards wildlife, primarily human proximity and feeding, is outdated and no longer tolerated throughout all National Parks - do not feed or approach wildlife.
Slides originally in Kodak Carousel 80 slide tray.
File consists of commercial postcards with images pertaining to landscapes, tourist attractions, Stoney Nakoda community members [including Leah Rider Hunter], winter sports, wildlife and other related themes within Canada. Images primarily depict scenes in Banff National Park and the Canadian Rock…
Most images in file produced by photographer Byron Harmon; some materials produced by photographers George Noble, G. & W. Fear, Rumsey & Co. Ltd, and J.C. Walker
Date Range
[1910-1930]
Physical Description
63 b&w postcards ; 9 x 14 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of commercial postcards with images pertaining to landscapes, tourist attractions, Stoney Nakoda community members [including Leah Rider Hunter], winter sports, wildlife and other related themes within Canada. Images primarily depict scenes in Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies, and also include content from Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
Notes
Date range for materials in file is estimate provided by Processing Archivist
Some items are annotated with information pertaining to images on postcards [names of individuals, locations, etc.]