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.
Annora Brown was an artist from Fort Macleod, Alta. & moved to Sidney, B.C. in 1965. Note on original file: "Mother was a Cody."
Addition of 2 letters in 2018: M36/219/45 and M36/219/46
Annora Brown was an artist from Fort Macleod, Alta. & moved to Sidney, B.C. in 1965. Note on original file: "Mother was a Cody."
Addition of 2 letters in 2018: M36/219/45 and M36/219/46
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 …
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 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…
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 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 consists of building plans of the White Block renovations 1965, posters, original and reproductions of art, aluminium press plates from printing cards and letters, blank Banff School District Diploma's, preliminary plans for renovation of Peter and Catharine Whyte's home March 3, 1969.
File consists of building plans of the White Block renovations 1965, posters, original and reproductions of art, aluminium press plates from printing cards and letters, blank Banff School District Diploma's, preliminary plans for renovation of Peter and Catharine Whyte's home March 3, 1969.
File consists of blank cards and postcards; two doilies; printed copies of images from the Hispanic Society of America; newspaper clippings; Geographic Maps.
File consists of blank cards and postcards; two doilies; printed copies of images from the Hispanic Society of America; newspaper clippings; Geographic Maps.