Fonds consists of personal and professional correspondence, 1954-1971; personal papers, 1919-1972; professional papers, 1930-1971; newsclippings and ephemera, n.d. 1952-1972; photographs and motion pictures, ca.1930-ca.1975. Photographs were created and collected by Walter Ashdown and pertain to As…
26 cm of textual records. -- 54 photographs : prints. -- 2 photograph albums (309 prints). -- 13 motion pictures
History / Biographical
Walter Ashdown, 1890-1975, was a chauffeur at Banff, Alberta, Canada. Ashdown emigrated to Canada in 1904 and farmed for several years before becoming a private chauffeur, ca.1913, to prominent Calgarians prior to the First World War. He served as a dispatch rider and driver in France, returning to Canada in 1919. The following year he commenced employment with Brewster Transport Co., retiring ca.1970. During his long career, Ashdown was Brewster's chauffeur to celebrities, including royalty, politicians and actors. His 1930 drive of 81 miles in 82 minutes to deliver life-saving equipment to the Monarch Mine near Field, B.C. was widely publicized. In 1970, Ashdown received an award for one million accident-free miles.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of personal and professional correspondence, 1954-1971; personal papers, 1919-1972; professional papers, 1930-1971; newsclippings and ephemera, n.d. 1952-1972; photographs and motion pictures, ca.1930-ca.1975. Photographs were created and collected by Walter Ashdown and pertain to Ashdown, family, friends and associates; travels and activities; Brewster Transport Company; buses and touring cars; Banff people, places and events. Motion pictures, ca.1959-ca.1970, n.d., are home movies with several subjects on each reel, including Walter Ashdown, family and friends, activities, mountain views and wildlife.
File consists of brochure for Simpson's Num-Ti-Jah Lodge; Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies, bulletin No.83, re Jim Brewster; The Skyline Trail bulletin No.41; Packards, winter 1969, articles p.13-19, re Murray Gammon and the use of Packards on Banff, p.31 & 39 re Walter Ashdown's 'race with dea…
File consists of brochure for Simpson's Num-Ti-Jah Lodge; Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies, bulletin No.83, re Jim Brewster; The Skyline Trail bulletin No.41; Packards, winter 1969, articles p.13-19, re Murray Gammon and the use of Packards on Banff, p.31 & 39 re Walter Ashdown's 'race with death'; supplement to National Geographic, Sept. 1973, re astronauts; Colorful Hawaii [brochure]
File consists of letters, from B. L. Hinman to W. Ashdown, May 7 and June 11, 1970 re million mile award, 2 items; letter, from J. Hayes to B. L. Hinman, May 12, 1970, re W. Ashdown's application for a million mile award; envelope, from Government of Alberta to W. Ashdown; letter, from W. Ashdown t…
File consists of letters, from B. L. Hinman to W. Ashdown, May 7 and June 11, 1970 re million mile award, 2 items; letter, from J. Hayes to B. L. Hinman, May 12, 1970, re W. Ashdown's application for a million mile award; envelope, from Government of Alberta to W. Ashdown; letter, from W. Ashdown to Whom It May Concern, April 2, 1970 re list of parties driven from 1912 to present
Title Source
Title based on contents of file
Content Details
Certificate: Million Mile Award to Walter Ashdown. Held in Oversize storage "B"
File consists of manuscript on the life of Walter Ashdown, typescript and carbon copy; and letter, to W. Ashdown from H. B. Hinman, July 20, 1970 re million mile award
File consists of manuscript on the life of Walter Ashdown, typescript and carbon copy; and letter, to W. Ashdown from H. B. Hinman, July 20, 1970 re million mile award
Series consists of amateur motion picture made by Walter Ashdown pertaining to his family, friends, activities and daily life
Title Source
Title based on contents of series
Content Details
LIST OF FILMS (V28/NF):
1 1964 : [motion picture]. -- 1964. -- Views include mountain scenery; at Num-Ti-Jah Lodge with Jimmy Simpson Sr., Billie Simpson with guests; Banff Indian Days parade, Chief Walking Buffalo. Also scenes of animals - black bears, bighorn sheep (some mock-fighting), elk, deer, moose; snowmobiles on glaciers (Columbia Icefield?). -- Title from film canister
2 Goat : [motion picture]. -- [ca.1959]. -- Views include buffalo grazing; buildings around Banff; herds of elk, deer; groups of people by Brewster? bus; men driving an antique convertible car with "BMA" sign on bumper (dated 1959); at Num-Ti-Jah Lodge with Jimmy Simpson Sr., Billie Simpson with Alfred and Linda Castle. -- Title from film canister
3 Sheep : [motion picture]. -- [ca.1960]. -- Views include mountain goats; snowmobiles on glacier; at Yoho National Park; views of gondolas and view from gondolas (at Whitehorn?); Rocky Mountain Sheep; elk; boy with squirrel climbing all over him; group by Edith Cavell? Chalet; Banff Indian Days parade and Indigenous people at the Banff Springs Hotel. -- Title from film canister
4 Queen : [motion picture]. -- [ca.1960]. -- Views include Gil and Mary Fry; wildlife (mountain goats, buffalo, bighorn sheep, deer); icefall; at Chateau Lake Louise; tour boat at Lake Minnewanka. -- Title from film canister
5 June & Banff : [motion picture]. --[ca.1960]. -- Views include groups of people; Banff Indian Days; at Lake Louise; wildlife (elk, black bear mother and cubs, bighorn sheep, moose, deer, elk, cat); tour boat at Lake Minnewanka?; Walter Ashdown, Jimmy Simpson Sr., Billie Simpson with friends; Catharine Robb Whyte with friends outside Whyte House; mountain scenery (includes views of mountains in clouds, with rainbows). -- Title from film canister
6 Kerry wedding : [motion picture]. -- [ca.1970]. -- Views include Walter Ashdown receiving his Million Mile Safe Driving award from Gordon Taylor and Jack Hayes; scenes from Hawaii; Shriners parade down Banff Avenue; Rudy and Kerry Kucy's wedding at St. Mary's Church; tour boat on Lake Minnewanka, Banff Indian Days parade. -- Title from film canister
7 Motion picture. -- [ca.1960]. -- Views include ground squirrel's antics; Bow Falls and view down Bow River; cadets on parade at Cadet Camp, Banff. -- Title based on item
8 Ashdown : [motion picture]. -- [ca.1960]. -- Views include Num-Ti-Jah Lodge with Jimmy Simpson Sr., Billie Simpson and friend; group of people watching race at finish line; family (film broken after this scene); woman feeding bighorn sheep and deer; C.P.R. passenger train coming around curve; rail crew trying to clear a train derailment. -- Title from film canister. -- Film is broken about halfway through
9 Doris & Deer 1963 Van Dam's, Jasper : [motion picture]. -- 1963. -- Views include Catharine Robb Whyte with Alfred and Linda Castle by the Whyte House; at Chateau Lake Louise; Walter Ashdown, RCMP officers standing guard?; gondolas at Whitehorn?; bears; dog in costume doing tricks; snowmobile and chalet at glacier (Columbia Icefield?). -- Title from film canister
10 Hawaii with Castles April 1970 : [motion picture]. -- 1970. -- Views include Walter Ashdown; moose; Banff Indian Days parade; Hawaii with Alfred and Linda Castle. -- Title from film canister
11 Doris & deer : [motion picture]. -- [ca.1960]. -- Views include mountain scenery from Banff National Park; people playing with dog; Banff Winter Carnival events; at Chateau Lake Louise; woman (Doris?) feeding deer. -- Title from film canister
12 Flen [?] Bears : [motion picture]. -- [ca.1960]. -- Views include man operating chairlift; group of people; wildlife (black bear, deer, bighorn sheep); man with ground squirrel eating out of his hand; group of people getting ready to go for horseback ride; at Num-Ti-Jah Lodge with Billie Simpson; Columbia Icefield?; mountain scenery. -- Title from film canister
13 Motion picture. -- [ca.1960]. -- Views include bride (wearing fur) arriving at church; Remembrance Day parade, includes view of Banff High School; children playing: Ross Connors, Laurie-Ann Connors and their mother, Walter's daughter, Lorena; wildlife (black bear, bighorn sheep, elk, buffalo); gondolas; mountain scenery from Banff National Park including Bow Falls (frozen); Alfred and Linda Castle; panoramic views from Hawaii; Walter's son, Fred, B. J. Ashdown (Fred's wife) and children, Scott and Suzie. -- Title based on item
File consists of newsclippings re Aashdown's 1930 drive of 81 miles in 82 minutes to deliver life-saving equipment to the Monarch Mine near Field, B. C.
File consists of newsclippings re Aashdown's 1930 drive of 81 miles in 82 minutes to deliver life-saving equipment to the Monarch Mine near Field, B. C.
File includes newsclippings re Princess Margaret's Royal Visit, 1968, 3 items; and newsphotographs re Robert Kennedy visit and assassination, 6 items; re Gene Autry, 1952; Governor-General Vanier's visit; accident on Mount Alberta, 1968; Alfred Castle; Brewster Transport retirements of Reg Knight, …
File includes newsclippings re Princess Margaret's Royal Visit, 1968, 3 items; and newsphotographs re Robert Kennedy visit and assassination, 6 items; re Gene Autry, 1952; Governor-General Vanier's visit; accident on Mount Alberta, 1968; Alfred Castle; Brewster Transport retirements of Reg Knight, Hattie Thomas and Walter Ashdown, 1965; Norman M. Campbell; Banff residents in Hawaii; flag raising to open Chateau Lake Louise; presentation to Mrs. Fred Ashdown; Brewster family reunion, 1964; wildlife sanctuary; the Swiss Guides; new C.P.R. hotel managers, E. C. Fitt, D. A. Williams and L. C. Parkinson; other