Fonds constitutes the principal resource for the study of the history of Canadian mountaineering. It provides a wealth of information on individual alpinists, expeditions, mountains, national parks, conservation, climbing, alpine organizations, publications, guiding, scientific study and the Alpin…
ca.42 m of textual records. -- ca.12,500 photographs: prints, stereographic prints, transparencies, slides, negatives, postcards. -- 85 photograph albums. -- 8 motion pictures: films, video recordings. -- 3 sound recordings
History / Biographical
The Alpine Club of Canada, the national mountaineering club, was co-founded in 1906 by A. O. Wheeler and Elizabeth Parker, and other like-minded climbers. The club espoused scientific study and exploration, cultivation of art, public education, acquisition of climbing skills, and preservation of natural areas within the mountainous regions of Canada. Through a national executive, local sections and volunteer committees, the club provided climbing camps, clubhouse, huts, and publications, including the Canadian Alpine Journal. ACC expeditions and projects resulted in pioneer exploration, first ascents, and included mountain warfare training during the Second World War. In recent years, the club's membership has increased dramatically with the popularity of climbing and its programs have evolved to serve the needs of unguided climbers using sophisticated technical aids.
Scope & Content
Fonds constitutes the principal resource for the study of the history of Canadian mountaineering. It provides a wealth of information on individual alpinists, expeditions, mountains, national parks, conservation, climbing, alpine organizations, publications, guiding, scientific study and the Alpine Club itself.
The fonds consists of four Sous-fonds: I. Alpine Club of Canada records; II. Mount Everest Expedition (1982) records; III. Personal papers and photographs; IV. Other material. Club administration records (series I.A.) pertain to executive positions; head office; finance; camps, climbing and treks; expeditions; huts and properties; clubhouses; library; publications; photography; other committees; other activities; and other. Other club records include section records (series I.B.), hut registers and summit records (series I.C.).
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.
Item consists of 1 photograph album compiled by Frank W. Freeborn of New York City for the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to various ACC camp trips from 1906 to 1913 throughout the Rocky Mountains, including the Lake O'Hara, Yoho Valley, Moraine Lake, and Banff town areas, and includes b…
1 album (325 photographs : b&w and col. ; 28.6 x 18.5 cm)
Scope & Content
Item consists of 1 photograph album compiled by Frank W. Freeborn of New York City for the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to various ACC camp trips from 1906 to 1913 throughout the Rocky Mountains, including the Lake O'Hara, Yoho Valley, Moraine Lake, and Banff town areas, and includes black and white photographs, all of which are numbered and annotated. A black leather album, it has "PHOTOGRAPHS" embossed in gold in the top left corner of the front cover.
Notes
Page 90 not scanned - blank page; the pages between 23-34 and between 52-64 have been rebound out of order prior to accessioning.
Item consists of 1 photograph album compiled by Frank W. Freeborn of New York City for the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to a 1905 ACC trip in and around the Banff & Lake Louise areas and includes black and white photographs and colourized postcards, all of which are annotated in white …
1 album (112 photographs : b&w and col. ; 25.7 x 20.3 cm)
Scope & Content
Item consists of 1 photograph album compiled by Frank W. Freeborn of New York City for the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to a 1905 ACC trip in and around the Banff & Lake Louise areas and includes black and white photographs and colourized postcards, all of which are annotated in white ink. A fleur-de-lis is stamped into the center of the front cover, a small adhesive paper with an "A" printed on it is adhered to the top left corner, and "1905" is written in white ink on the spine.
Item consists of 1 photograph album compiled by Frank W. Freeborn of New York City for the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to a 1908 ACC trip in and around the Lake Louise & Field, BC, areas and includes black and white photographs, all of which are annotated in white ink. A small white p…
1 album (159 photographs : b&w and col. ; 20.3 x 25.5 cm)
Scope & Content
Item consists of 1 photograph album compiled by Frank W. Freeborn of New York City for the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to a 1908 ACC trip in and around the Lake Louise & Field, BC, areas and includes black and white photographs, all of which are annotated in white ink. A small white paper with "F" printed on it is adhered to the top left corner of the front cover and "1908" is written in white ink on the spine.
Item consists of 1 photograph album by the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to ACC camps and climbs that took place during the summers of 1920 & 1921 throughout the Rocky Mountains, including the Banff, Sunshine, Assiniboine, Lake Louise, and Spray Lake areas, and includes black and white …
1 album (98 photographs : b&w and col. ; 32.5 x 25.6 cm)
Scope & Content
Item consists of 1 photograph album by the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to ACC camps and climbs that took place during the summers of 1920 & 1921 throughout the Rocky Mountains, including the Banff, Sunshine, Assiniboine, Lake Louise, and Spray Lake areas, and includes black and white photographs, all of which are annotated. A black leather album, it has "PHOTOGRAPHS" stamped into the top left corner of the front cover with "1920 and 1921" written in white ink below it.
Item consists of 1 photograph album compiled by Frank W. Freeborn of New York City for the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to a 1917 ACC trip throughout the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia, including the Field, Lake O'Hara, Assiniboine, and Glacier areas, and includes black and white …
1 album (396 photographs : b&w and col. ; 28.6 x 18.5 cm)
Scope & Content
Item consists of 1 photograph album compiled by Frank W. Freeborn of New York City for the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to a 1917 ACC trip throughout the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia, including the Field, Lake O'Hara, Assiniboine, and Glacier areas, and includes black and white photographs, all of which are numbered. A bound-edge flip-book style album, it is tied together with a black string and has a faded gilt "Photographs" embossed in the top left corner of the front cover. Additionally, a small white paper with "W" is adhered to the top right corner and a piece of a lined paper is adhered to the centre with the album's title - this piece is torn through the middle but, as per the title page, the album is titled "Canadian Souvenirs Vol. II."
Item consists of 1 photograph album by the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to ACC camps and climbs that took place from 1912-1913 throughout the Rocky Mountains, including the Lake Louise, Vermillion Pass, Lake O'Hara, Mt. Robson, and Banff town areas, and includes black and white photogr…
1 album (170 photographs : b&w and col. ; 31.9 x 25.6 cm)
Scope & Content
Item consists of 1 photograph album by the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to ACC camps and climbs that took place from 1912-1913 throughout the Rocky Mountains, including the Lake Louise, Vermillion Pass, Lake O'Hara, Mt. Robson, and Banff town areas, and includes black and white photographs, all of which are annotated. A black leather album, it has "PHOTOGRAPHS" stamped into the top left corner of the front cover with "1912 and 1913" written in white ink below it.
[Girl's last name was Rider, she married into the Benjamin family]*
*Information provided by Stoney Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, and archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify First Nations people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum archives.
[Girl's last name was Rider, she married into the Benjamin family]*
*Information provided by Stoney Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, and archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify First Nations people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum archives.
Information provided by Stoney Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, and archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify First Nations people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum archives.
Item consists of 1 photograph album compiled by Frank W. Freeborn of New York City for the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to a 1909 ACC trip in and around Lake Louise, Banff, Lake O'Hara, and Field, as well as the Mt. Hood area of Oregon, and includes black and white photographs, all of …
1 album (194 photographs : b&w and col. ; 20.3 x 25.5 cm)
Scope & Content
Item consists of 1 photograph album compiled by Frank W. Freeborn of New York City for the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to a 1909 ACC trip in and around Lake Louise, Banff, Lake O'Hara, and Field, as well as the Mt. Hood area of Oregon, and includes black and white photographs, all of which are annotated in white ink. A small white paper with "G" printed on it is adhered to the top left corner of the front cover and "1909" is written in white ink in the middle of the front cover.
Information provided by Stoney Elders during the Recognizing Relations project, and archives initiative undertaken in 2014 to identify First Nations people in photographs held in the Whyte Museum archives.
Item consists of 1 photograph album compiled by Frank W. Freeborn of New York City for the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to a 1912 ACC trip in and around Banff and the Assiniboine area, as well as the ACC camp at Vermillion Camp and a trip to the Mt Rainier area, and includes black and …
1 album (164 photographs : b&w and col. ; 20.3 x 25.5 cm)
Scope & Content
Item consists of 1 photograph album compiled by Frank W. Freeborn of New York City for the Alpine Club of Canada. The album pertains to a 1912 ACC trip in and around Banff and the Assiniboine area, as well as the ACC camp at Vermillion Camp and a trip to the Mt Rainier area, and includes black and white photographs, all of which are annotated in white ink. "1912" is written in white ink in the top left corner of the front cover with "M" also written in white below it.