Fonds consists of textual records and photographs by and about Aileen Harmon, as well as collected items. Textual records include: letter from Harmon to the Director of Alberta's provincial parks re addition of Yamnuska area to Bow Valley Provincial Park, 1973; brief, from Harvie Heights and Bow Va…
26.5 cm of textual records. -- 33 photographs (26 prints : b&w and col. ; 20.5 x 30 cm or smaller -- 6 negatives : b&w nitrate negatives ; 12.5 x 10 cm -- 1 transparency : col. slide ; 35 mm)
History / Biographical
Aileen Harmon (1912 - 2015), daughter of Byron Harmon, worked as a government naturalist at Banff, Alberta, Canada and was involved in local natural history groups and activities. Aileen was a founding member, alongside Bruce Gordon, of the Bow Valley Naturalists, and was also on the Board of The Canadian Wildlife Federation and The Society of Alberta Naturalists. Aileen moved to Mill Bay on Vancouver Island, B.C. in 1981 following the end of a lengthy career with Parks Canada. During her retirement years, Aileen travelled extensively, reaching all seven continents. She also authored an autobiographical book, titled "Tales of My Mountain Life", in 2004. Aileen passed away on January 9, 2015 at the age of 102.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual records and photographs by and about Aileen Harmon, as well as collected items. Textual records include: letter from Harmon to the Director of Alberta's provincial parks re addition of Yamnuska area to Bow Valley Provincial Park, 1973; brief, from Harvie Heights and Bow Valley subdivision residents to public hearings on land use and resource development in the eastern slopes, 1973; letter re James Hector, 1979; notes on career, 2003; notes on Catharine Whyte for CBC recording, 2004; Christmas cards and collected articles, ca.1960. Photographs, made by and collected by Aileen Harmon, pertain to Aileen Harmon and friends, skiing, Skoki area, Mount Yamnuska, Banff Indian Days. Includes photographs by Byron Harmon.
Added content from accession 2016.8596 : ca. 25 cm of textual records including personal correspondence, guest book, original writing and notes by Aileen Harmon, personal travel journals from a 1931 packing trip and 1933 ski trip to Skoki, drafts of autobiographical book "Tales of My Mountain Life", articles pertaining to or written by Aileen Harmon, Christmas cards, and letters of condolence to Carole Harmon following Aileen's passing. Also 26 print photographs, 6 negative photographs from a 1937 hiking trip, and one transparency.
Fonds consists of one series :
Series I - Personal records
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.
Source: John B. H. Dunphy
Date: November 21, 1972
Speed: 7 ½
Remarks: “James White Saga by John B.H. Dunphy” was copied for Catharine Whyte (see S15).
Source: Murray & Frances Adaskin
Interviewed by:Maryalice Harvey Stewart
Speed: 7 ½
Remarks: At end of “James White Saga” – excerpt of interview…
Source: John B. H. Dunphy
Date: November 21, 1972
Speed: 7 ½
Remarks: “James White Saga by John B.H. Dunphy” was copied for Catharine Whyte (see S15).
Source: Murray & Frances Adaskin
Interviewed by:Maryalice Harvey Stewart
Speed: 7 ½
Remarks: At end of “James White Saga” – excerpt of interview
Side A: at end of tape – excerpt of interview by Maryalice Harvey Stewart with Murray and Frances Adaskin. Side B: Continuation of interview with Murray Frances Adaskin (see also S1 / 70).
Source: Mrs. David Henderson
Interviewed by: Peter and Catharine Whyte
Speed: 7 ½
“Mrs. David Henderson, 1951, Arlene Voorbies, Jackmore, Maine, Scotch Poem” – Pete and Catharine talking; Mrs. Henderson reciting Scottish poetry.
Source: CBC radio broadcast
Date: May 31, 1953
Taped by: Catharine Whyte
Speed: 3 ¾
Remarks: Program “Just Mary”
“Campbells, Just Mary ‘53”
“The 3 Campbells” story told by Just Mary – Dane, Timmy and Ian Campbell; riding to town; meets Mr. MacGregor of general store; Dane wants to enter calf-roping event in rodeo to win money to buy 2 horses. Very small bit of opera music at the very end of Side B – otherwise Side B is blank.
CBC broadcast "Church of the Air" from Rundle Memorial United Church; Rev. Tom Lonsdale.
Content Details
Source: CBC radio broadcast
Place: Rundle Memorial United Church, Banff
Date: 1953
Taped by: Peter and Catharine Whyte
Speed: 1 7/8
Remarks: See also S37 / 102 – similar recording
“United Church, 1953” – “Church of the Air” CBC program featuring Rev. Tom Lonsdale of the Rundle Memorial Church.
Source: CBC Radio broadcast
Place: Whyte House
Date: 1953
Taped by: Peter and Catharine Whyte (with Jon Whyte’s help)
Speed: 7 ½
Remarks: Tape similar to S37 / 101.
“Church of the Air” CBC program.
Jon Whyte tells story of how his grandmother, Annie White, had let loose a bag of scotch mints in the choir loft, 3 weeks before the taping of program for “Church of the Air” and how Peter, Catharine and Jon recreated this event by dropping mints down the stairs of the Whyte House and taping it over the broadcast and later playing it back for old Mrs. White.
This material is presented as originally created; it may contain outdated cultural descriptions and
potentially offensive content.
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Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Geoffrey Fisher speaking on Church Unity, Oct. 10, 1954; parachute rescue work at Jasper, survival food & actual jump. -- 1954
Source: Sir Geoffrey Fisher; Joe Weiss
Date: October 10, 1954
Taped by: Catharine Whyte
Speed: 1 7/8
Remarks: CBC radio broadcast.
“Archbishop Canterbury, Parachute Rescue, Jasper”
Side A: “Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Geoffrey Fisher, speaking on church unity” 10 min. Joe Weiss. Side B: CBC radio broadcast – “Parachute rescue work at Jasper, survival food and actual jump.” Discussion on edible berries, Labrador tea, edible barks. Rescue exercise. Recording of an actual jump using two tape recorders.
CBC broadcast of 4th annual carrier driver competition; CFAC radio broadcast of Don White's service station opening, Calgary. -- Reference copy available.
CBC broadcast of 4th annual carrier driver competition; CFAC radio broadcast of Don White's service station opening, Calgary. -- Reference copy available.
Content Details
Source: CBC radio broadcast
Taped by: Catharine Whyte
Speed: 7 ½
Fourth annual Carrier driver competition – men from lumber mills all over coastal B.C. enter this competition.
Source: CFAC radio broadcast
Place: Calgary
Date: September, 1955
Taped by: Catharine Whyte
Speed: 7 ½
“Don’s [Don White] Service Station Opening, Sept. ‘55” – Shell Service Station in Calgary - broadcast on location.
Source: Radio Broadcast
Date: August 8, 1966
Interviewed by: Lyle Brown
Speed: 3 ¾
Remarks: See also s37 / 106
“In The Shadow of The Mountains” Venture 66 program.
Host Lyle Brown interviews: Jimmy Simpson, Edward Feuz, Jim Boyce, Andy Russell, Bruno Engler, Senator Donald Cameron. Jimmy Simpson – 89 years old. Jimmy tells story of time he took trip to Washington when he had taken Mary de la Beach – Nichol on a butterfly collecting trip and met Billy Grul (sp?) who was caught along with Bill Miner for robbing a train, Jim tells story of travelling 75 miles to Tom Wilson’s place at Kootenay Plains. Jim Boyce – in 1912, he hired Jim Simpson as cook and got some horses to start packing outfit; Mrs. Thomas Edison and her son went out on a pack trip; for sixteen years, took the same 15 people out for 6 weeks. Edward Feuz was with Col. Amery on his first ascent on Mount Amery; Edward has made more than 50 First Ascents in the Rockies and has just made c limb up Mount Temple even though he’s almost 81 years old. Bruno Engler came to Canada in 1939. In 1957 – one of team of avalanche research – party caught in white-out on avalanche slope was buried in avalanche. Andy Russell was hunting guide for 20 years; “true hunter goes out with a bow and arrow.” George McLean (Chief Walking Buffalo) – 96 years old. Senator Donald Cameron – 35 years in the mountains; people respond to mountains, relaxing effect.
Venture radio program, Lyle Brown, host; narrator Bill McNeil, Irving Berlin and his music. -- Reference copy available.
Content Details
Source: Radio Broadcast
Date: August 8, 1966
Interviewed by: Lyle Brown
Speed: 3 ¾
Remarks: See S37 / 105 for outline of tape contents.
Side A: “In the Shadow of the Mountains, Venture 66” – see S37 / 105 summary.
Side B: “Venture” radio program with narrator Bill McNeil. Irving Berlin and his music – very good program.
CBC broadcast "A parting glance" by Lyle Brown - interviews with oldtimers at old folks home. -- Reference copy available. Summary available.
Content Details
Source: CBC radio broadcast
Date: March 3, 1967
Interviewed by:Lyle Brown
Speed: 7 ½
Remarks: CBC program “A parting glance by Lyle Brown.” See also S37 / 105 and S37 / 106 for some similar stories.
“George Mclean, Mar. 3, 1967”; “A parting glance by Lyle Brown”
Side A: Interviews with various people at an old folks home in North Battleford, Sask. – Mrs. DeGeer (sp?), 90 years old, remembers 1885 when they brought in survivors from Frog Lake Massacre. George Shepherd (sp?) homestead in 1908 . . .; describes building house out of sod. Peter Sparrick (sp?) homestead near Vegreville. Mike and Joe Hashi (sp?) came to southern Alberta 25 years ago (1942) – during expulsion of all Japanese from B.C. coast. Indians – hovels where Indians lived; Harry Bigthroat, Jim White bull, Gerald Tailfeather, Jean Cuthand, Chief Walking Buffalo, Jimmy Simpson tells story of how he had taken a lady (Mary de la Beach-Nicol) on a butterfly collecting trip in the Washington area and met Billy Grul (sp?) who was later caught along with Bill Miner for robbing a train. Andy Russell tales story of grizzly bears and construction of Rogers Pass – grizzlies tore out seats of caterpillar tractors and ate dynamite. Mountain guides – Bruno Engler and others. Cowboys and hardship on prairies. Barren lands of the north – interview with bush pilots Tom Lamb and 6 flying sons.
Side B: Continuation of side A – Beauty of the North; excerpts from space travel recording and Ernest C. Manning’s program “Back to the bible; Father Murray – founder of Norte Dame College.
Source: Catharine Whyte; Charlie Beil
Date: 1968
Taped by: Catharine Whyte
Speed: Side A: 3 ¾; Side B: 3 ¾ and 7 ½
CBC broadcast from Winnipeg; Catharine Whyte and others telling stories. Side B: speed changes from 3 ¾ to 7 ½ during news.
“Winter, Winnipeg, CBC, Charlie Beil and CRW and others”
Side A: A look at winter – Catharine Whyte, Charlie Beil and others. Catharine talking about trip to Skoki and ended up in the pipestone area. Charlie Beil telling story of the goose and hummingbird. Joys and hazards of winter. Chinooks – foothills are warmer because of Chinook winds. Winnipeg’s horrendous winters – long and cold.
Side B: Continuation f program on winter (ending). List of contributors to program; CBC News – speed changes to 7 ½ during it – Harry Storm elected new Social Credit Party Leader.
Feature on "Microscope" program. -- Reference copy available. Summary available.
Content Details
Source: Charlie Bell, Jimmy Simpson, Maryalice Stewart and others
Place: Archives of the Canadian Rockies
Date: June 16, 1968
Interviewed by: Fred Diehl
Speed: 3 ¾
Remarks: Fred Diehl, host of the “Microscope” – special feature on the opening of the Archives of the Canadian Rockies. See also S7 / 5, same program.
“Library opening and Archives of the Canadian Rockies, June 16, 1968.”
A gift from the Wa-Che-Yo-Cha-Pa Foundation. Opening speeches from Charlie Beil and Jimmy Simpson. Jimmy Simpson cuts the buckskin ribbon, officially opening the building, Catharine Whyte is interviewed. Maryalice Stewart gives tour of the building. Archives has Chief Walking Buffalo’s collection – gift of the McLean family. Comments from the crowd.
Source: Tom Kavanaugh; Mr. Neilson
Date: September 26, 1950
Interviewed by: Peter and Catharine Whyte
Speed: 7 ½
“Tom Javanaugh [Kavanaugh] to #5, Mr. Neilson, Sept. 26, 1950 – 86 years old”
Side A: Tom has travelled around Australia, Cape Horn, Alaska, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. 1901 – worked for the Eau Claire Lumber Company. Used to drive tourists around town in car. Not going back to Sweden anymore – too old. Worked on sailing ships. Pete asked Tom about “Coyote” Ben Holbrow [?]. Catharine talking to Mr. Neilson – food and water scarce on sailing ships; also knew Dave White.
Side B: Pete and Catharine talking to Mr. Neilson and Tom Kavanaugh Mr. Neilson speaks in Norwegian. Tom Kavanaugh came from Norway in 1903 to Wetaskawin and have always been on farm since 1912. He had worked for Dave White – was delivery man (1904) and also worked at Bankhead. Pete was born above the store (White’s) and moved to the house when Pete was a year old. Tom Kavanaugh has four grandchildren, grandson named Tommy. Tom asked Catharine about her adopted girl [?] Tape ends abruptly.
Source: CFCN radio broadcast
Place: Calgary
Taped by: Catharine Whyte
Speed: 7 ½
Remarks: Radio broadcast of rodeo event by Henry Viney.
Side A: Calgary Stampede rodeo event; Chuckwagon trophy designed by Charlie Beil. Side B: Continuation of broadcast from the Calgary Stampede – chuckwagon races; Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, new Prime Minister, says few words of appreciation of hospitality received here.
Source: Radio broadcast
Taped by: Catharine Whyte
Speed: 7 ½
Remarks: Biographical information on the Whyte’s.
Taped by: Catharine Whyte
Speed: 7 ½
Remarks: Biographical information on the Whyte’s.
Jon Whyte, works at CKUA (as an announcer), when not in university. Peter Whyte, painter, born in Banff in 1905. Peter’s father came in the first train to Banff in1886. His mother came to Anthracite in 1889. Peter’s father held large lots of real estate – second to the Brewster’s. Peter Whyte always showed artistic abilities – made his own high school diploma; went into real estate with his father, then sailing and then into the Boston University and art school where he met Catharine Robb. When World War II occurred, he joined but was never sent overseas so he joined the air force as a photographer and was shipped east but only to be told to go west. Peter has painted Fort McLeod Police Barracks; painted Canada; Stoney Indians; Peter’s painting of Mount Eisenhower went to the States – only sight General Eisenhower has seen of the mountain. Pete insists on calling it Castle Mountain. Pete helped his brother clear Mount Norquay and was first to go into Sunshine – named it Sunshine because they were in there for four days and never one saw the sun. Both Peter and Catharine were good friends with the Stoney Indians and recorded many of the Dialects spoken.
CBC broadcast - Banff Indian Days; Pearl Moore. -- Reference copy available.
Title Source
Title based on contents of file
Content Details
Source: Pearl Moore
Place: Banff
Taped by: Catharine Whyte
Speed: 3 ¾
Remarks: CBC radio broadcast commentary during Banff Indian Days parade.
Banff Indian Days parade; interview with Pearl Moore – one of the judges of regalia; Banff Indian Days Rodeo.