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.
Fonds consists mainly of scrapbook, 1932-1948, pertaining to activities of the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. Accompanied by Trail Rider publications, ca.1929-1966.
Fletcher P. Brady was a towerman with the New England Association of Railroad Veterans in Providence, Rhode Island. In the 1930s, he served as an officer of the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists mainly of scrapbook, 1932-1948, pertaining to activities of the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. Accompanied by Trail Rider publications, ca.1929-1966.
Fonds consists mainly of poems by Gordon Burles, 1970-2017. Manuscripts contain about twenty-seven hundred poems, mainly in free verse, some with revisions. Poems are numbered in chronological order. About 2016 Burles stopped numbering each poem. The year of creation is indicated with each poem.…
ca. 36.5 cm textual records + 9 CD-R (textual records). -- 7 photographs : prints, negatives.
History / Biographical
James Gordon Burles, b.1949, is a poet, surveyor and civil servant at Banff, Alberta, Canada. A native of Banff, Burles is a student of the Canadian Rockies. In Burles' own words, much of his poetry is inspired by four environments: the life and history of Banff National Park, the town of Banff, the Okanagan Valley, and Calgary.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists mainly of poems by Gordon Burles, 1970-2017. Manuscripts contain about twenty-seven hundred poems, mainly in free verse, some with revisions. Poems are numbered in chronological order. About 2016 Burles stopped numbering each poem. The year of creation is indicated with each poem. Some poems pertain to mountain personalities such as Bill Peyto, Norman Sanson, Margaret Stone, Walter D. Wilcox, Walter J. Phillips, Conrad Kain, and Georgia Engelhard. Many are surrealist or nonsense poems and many deal with the Cemetery Tea House, an imaginary teahouse frequented by various characters.
Fonds consists of three series: I : Poetry Manuscripts; II : Prose and research; III: Digital typeset copies of published poems
Some poems deal with Burle's parents and family. The collection also holds fifty-three books and booklets, self-published by the author from 1984 to 2017. The books published from 2003 to 2017 contain all the poems which the author considers worth preserving. Some in one book have been revised in a later book. Some poems were revised more than once. The three books published in 1984, 1986, and 1990 are considered by the author as early works. Only the poems in those books that the author considered worth publishing have been republished in the 2003-2017 books. Names in the poem titles are usually made up.
Some titles are tongue-in-cheek. There were so many poems that the author resorted to names like "Portrait for Bertrand Clerihew-Guggenheim" to make it easier. Some titles, of course, are obviously connected to the content of the poem. Many titles were long enough to preclude the difficulty of getting the graphic designer to centre the title over the poem! Also included are manuscripts, research materials, articles, and notes etc. regarding Bill Peyto, the Copper Mountain Mine, Banff National Park museum, logging roads in the Johnson Lake area, and the Sanson-Bethune connection.
Photographs pertain to remains of hay rake and wagon in the Third Vermilion Lake area (1975) and remains of the Queen of the Hills Mine, above Silver City (1977).
CD-ROMS's contain typeset copies of manuscripts by Gordon Burles in Pagemaker, In Design and .pdf file formats. Manuscripts include "The Jagged Harmony," 2005, "An Avenue Without End," 2005, "That Perfect Elsewhere," n.d., "Much Like A Dream," 2004, "All the Universe of Sight," 2006, "Those Grand Poplars," 2004, "Lords of Many Orchards: Selected Best Poems of Gordon Burles," 2003, "That trellis of tombs: Further Selected Poems of Gordon Burles," 2004, "The Closing of Many Doors: More Poems by Gordon Burles," 2006.
II : Prose and research includes "Life story of James Gordon Burles," 2022
Notes
Books of poetry published by Gordon Burles are located in the Whyte Museum Archives Library 05.1/B92.
In 2018 Gordon Burles compiled a listing of the original poems that were edited and re-published. This list is in the M196 document file, and is also a PDF attached to the fonds level record
Fonds consists of 83 lantern slides and accompanying lecture notes. Topics include pack trains, camps, activities and scenic views, Banff and Jasper National Parks and areas. Documents include a handwritten script made by Maud Grice-Hutchinson to accompany the slides and a photocopied copy of the B…
Maud Grice-Hutchinson, of Cheltenham, England, and her husband, Reverend Canon Rowan E. Grice-Hutchinson, lived in Sorrento, BC, from 1913-1916 and again from 1919-1923. During World War I the couple returned to England where Maud served as Commandant for the veteran's hospital on her father's estate, Boddington Manor (Gloucester, UK), and Rowan as a Military Chaplain. Maud and Rowan moved back to Boddington permanently in 1962 when she inherited the estate. A mountain at the north-west end of Shuswap Lake (between the Anstey and Seymour Arms) was named Mount Grice-Hutchinson in 1978 after the Reverend.
On July 9, 1936, Maud, her sister Violet Seeley, and Mary Diana Buckle arrived in Canada after having taken a ship over from Liverpool. They stayed at the Kananaskis Ranch from 4-7 August before starting on their trip. They had four guides and twelve pack horses to make the 300 mile (483 kilometer) trip to Jasper.
Notes about the trip written by Maud later mention locations like the Red Deer River and White Rabbit Pass before arriving at the Saskatechewan River. After that, she names the Snow Dome Glacier, the Columbia Icefield, and Nigel Pass before arriving in Jasper. The four guides in her notes are named Edie Rowe, Edie Fraser, Smoky, and Chet [possibly Chet Ogan, a guide who worked for the Brewster family out of the Kananaskis Ranch in the 1930's].
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of 83 lantern slides and accompanying lecture notes. Topics include pack trains, camps, activities and scenic views, Banff and Jasper National Parks and areas. Documents include a handwritten script made by Maud Grice-Hutchinson to accompany the slides and a photocopied copy of the Brewster family's Kananaskis Ranch guestbook page 63, dated August 1936.
Notes
Not all images were taken by Grice-Hutchinson - some bear manufacturers' labels and were most likely purchased after the pack trip.
Fonds consists of textual, visual and sound materials pertaining to Norman Luxton, Eleanor Luxton and their family members and friends (including Georgina Luxton, Norman's parents and siblings, and members of the Ross, Graham and McDougall families). Includes correspondence, personal and profession…
ca.32.1 m of textual records (29.3 m textual records, 47 scrapbooks) -- ca.7290 photographs (ca.5300 b&w and col. prints, ca.1915 negatives, 75 transparencies, 2 tintypes) -- 17 albums -- ca.74 cm sound recordings (29 CDs, 45 audio cassettes, 17 R120 DAT tapes, 1 VHS, 8 voicewriter discs)
History / Biographical
The Norman Luxton family was a prominent family in Banff, Alberta, Canada from 1904 until 1962. Daughter Eleanor Luxton maintained the family's position in the town until her death in 1995.
Publisher and businessman Norman K. Luxton, 1876-1962, was the son of Winnipeg Free Press co-founder William Luxton. After working for the Winnipeg Free Press, Norman Luxton travelled, then joined the Calgary Herald for eight years. In 1901, he journeyed 10,000 miles on the Pacific in the dug-out canoe Tilikum. After becoming ill, Luxton abandoned the trip in Fiji and came to Banff to recuperate. The around-the-world trip was subsequently completed by his sailing partner, Capt. John Voss.
Luxton bought Banff's Crag and Canyon newspaper in 1902 and remained as publisher until 1951. Also in 1902, he established the Sign of the Goat Curio store which specialized in Stoney Indian handicrafts and taxidermy specimens. Other significant Luxton businesses were the King Edward Hotel and Livery, Luxton Bros. insurance (with brother Louis Luxton) and the Lux Block, which included a hotel, the Lux Theatre and retail stores.
In 1904, Norman Luxton married Georgina (Georgie) Elizabeth McDougall, 1870-1965, of the pioneer missionary McDougall family of Morley, Alberta. In addition to her McDougall connections, Georgie Luxton was related by marriage to Senator George Ross. Norman and Georgie Luxton had one child, Eleanor Georgina, born in Banff in 1908.
The Luxtons were important Banff "boosters" with involvement in numerous local organizations and events. Norman Luxton managed the Banff Indian Days from 1909 to 1950, was a founder of Banff Winter Carnival and was involved with native events at the Calgary Stampede for 25 years. In 1953, Norman established a museum to house his native artifacts. The Luxton Museum was built in co-operation with Eric Harvie of the Glenbow Foundation of Calgary. After Luxton's death, the museum continued to be managed by the Glenbow until 1992.
Eleanor Luxton, 1908-1995, was a writer, historian, researcher, engineer, teacher and business woman. After graduating from high school in Banff in 1926, she attended the University of Alberta from 1926 until 1939, receiving degrees in history (BA '30, MA'33), a Diploma in Education (1931) and subsequent education, biology and natural history courses during the summers.
Between 1937 and 1956, Eleanor received further degrees and certificates from studies at Garbutt Business College (Calgary), St. Stephen's College (Edmonton), Ottawa Technical High School, Havergal Ladies College (Ontario), St. George Williams College (Montreal), McGill University (Montreal) and the Banff School of Fine Arts. Subjects studied included office practices, shorthand, machine draughting, English, civil engineering (BSc '46), German, broadcast writing, management, commerce, accounting and commercial law.
Eleanor Luxton's extensive education overlapped and preceded a long and varied professional career. Her teaching career extended from high school teacher in Alberta (Banff and Sexsmith), 1933-1940, to university lecturer in Montreal in the 1950s. During the 1940s, she worked in locomotive design for the CPR in Montreal. Beginning in 1956 and continuing until 1965, when she returned to Banff to care for her mother, Eleanor worked throughout southern Alberta as a field researcher for Calgary's Glenbow Foundation. From 1965 until her death in 1995, Eleanor remained in Banff in her family home and pursued an active career in writing and research.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual, visual and sound materials pertaining to Norman Luxton, Eleanor Luxton and their family members and friends (including Georgina Luxton, Norman's parents and siblings, and members of the Ross, Graham and McDougall families). Includes correspondence, personal and professional records, financial documents, organization and volunteer records, business and property records, scrapbooks and albums, research materials, candid and professional portraits, various collected materials, and other related content.
Notes
Fonds consists of three sous-fonds:
I. Norman Luxton sous-fonds, [ca.1880]-1962, ca. 7.5 m. of textual records and photographs in four series: A. Correspondence, B. Business, financial and legal, C. Personal, D. Personal and professional, E. Collected materials.
II. Eleanor Luxton sous-fonds, [ca.1890]-1995, ca. 15 m. of textual records, sound recordings and photographs in six series: A. Correspondence, B. Professional, C. Personal, D. Business, financial and legal, E. Travel and events, F. Collected materials.
III. Luxton family sous-fonds, 1836-1972, ca.6.5 m. of textual records and photographs in four series: A. Norman Luxton family series, [ca.1900-ca.1970]; B. Georgina Luxton series, [ca.1890]-1967; C. Related family series, [ca.1890]-1972; D. Other material series, 1836-1970; E. Luxton family home records [1996].
File consists of a wide-ranging selection of lantern slide views from across western Canada; industry, settlement, first nations, recreation, scenic views. Set was probably a travel and/or settlement promotion lecture series.
88 photographs : b&w and col. slides ; 10.2 x 8.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of a wide-ranging selection of lantern slide views from across western Canada; industry, settlement, first nations, recreation, scenic views. Set was probably a travel and/or settlement promotion lecture series.
File pertains to Dunsmore family and friends; family life; Banff community life; Banff locations, such as streets, zoo, Cave and Basin; events, including Banff Indian Days, Banff Winter Carnival, royal visit, 1919; activities, including fishing, camping, picnicing, dogsledding, snowshoeing, skiing,…
File pertains to Dunsmore family and friends; family life; Banff community life; Banff locations, such as streets, zoo, Cave and Basin; events, including Banff Indian Days, Banff Winter Carnival, royal visit, 1919; activities, including fishing, camping, picnicing, dogsledding, snowshoeing, skiing, ski jumping, canoeing. People include: members of the Paris, Woodworth, White (Whyte), Irwin and Latam families; also Dick Patrick, MacAulay twins, Edwin Young, John Thomson and others. Includes scenic views of Banff, Lake Louise and other Rocky Mountain areas. Most photographs are identified.
Notes
Fulton Dunsmore made most of the photographs and assembled the album. Also includes photographs by Tom Dunsmore and other
File pertains to a photo album about Fulton Dunsmore, friends and family; mainly activities, including skiing, fishing, climbing, hiking, camping, picnicing, ski jumping, skating, hockey. Includes: Mount Norquay Ski Camp, 1928?; Dunsmore and friends, including Peter Whyte and possibly Paris brothe…
1 photograph album (268 prints and 1 loose print).
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to a photo album about Fulton Dunsmore, friends and family; mainly activities, including skiing, fishing, climbing, hiking, camping, picnicing, ski jumping, skating, hockey. Includes: Mount Norquay Ski Camp, 1928?; Dunsmore and friends, including Peter Whyte and possibly Paris brothers, on Banff Ski Club trips to Whitmans' Lodge warden cabin #11 and Spray Lakes Lodge warden cabin #1; ski trip to Skoki? area; Dunsmore and friends growing beards; Dunsmore (in Calgary? with fellow students?), 1930; trip to Sherbrooke Lake.
File pertains to photographs of a trip to Europe in 1914 interspersed with typed-text pages telling a story titled "The Cookies and Some of the People They Passed."
File pertains to photographs of a trip to Europe in 1914 interspersed with typed-text pages telling a story titled "The Cookies and Some of the People They Passed."
Album pertains to Hinman camping expedition in the area of Mount Robson to Grand Cache, B.C., 1915. Contains summary page describing 1915 camp. It is unclear as to which portion of album covers 1916 trip. Photographs do not have captions.
Album pertains to Hinman camping expedition in the area of Mount Robson to Grand Cache, B.C., 1915. Contains summary page describing 1915 camp. It is unclear as to which portion of album covers 1916 trip. Photographs do not have captions.
Access Restrictions
Access to original restricted. Microfilm copy available for reference use.
Finding Aid
Summary page available in inventory binder (copy).
File consists of a collection of loose pages, most likely originally part of a scrapbook. The pages do not have a cover. Includes clippings about figure skaters, particularly Sonja Henie, and skating shows.
File consists of a collection of loose pages, most likely originally part of a scrapbook. The pages do not have a cover. Includes clippings about figure skaters, particularly Sonja Henie, and skating shows.
Records were generated by the Canadian Mount Everest Society.
Date Range
predom. 1979-1984
Physical Description
3.15 m of textual records.
History / Biographical
The Alpine Club of Canada was a major sponsor of the 1982 Canadian Mount Everest Expedition.
Scope & Content
Canadian Mount Everest Expedition records are primarily Director's records; also includes material on publication, "Everest Canada."
Finding Aid
Inventory available in analog format plus pdf
Related Material
Constitutes Sous-fonds II of the Alpine Club of Canada fonds. Some records pertaining to expedition planning and preparation can also be found in I.A.2.d. and I.A.3.d., ACC admininstrative records. Other records pertaining to the expedition can be found in Larry Emrick fonds (M539), Bruce Patterson fonds (S42), Peter Spear fonds (M562,V787, S56), John Amatt fonds (M563, V788, S57), and Al Burgess fonds (M64, S48)
Sub-series consists of prints, mainly collected by Nick Morant, and photograph albums created by Morant when a young man.
List of contents: * Photograph album, 1926-1927, 60 prints. Pertains to landscape and development in Kamloops area, Morant home and travels. Includes small prints and panorama…
3 cm of photographs : prints. -- 3 photograph albums (ca.120 prints)
Scope & Content
Sub-series consists of prints, mainly collected by Nick Morant, and photograph albums created by Morant when a young man.
List of contents:
* Photograph album, 1926-1927, 60 prints. Pertains to landscape and development in Kamloops area, Morant home and travels. Includes small prints and panoramas with captions (V500 / E / PD - 1)
* Photograph album, 1928, 37 prints. Pertains to University School, Victoria campus, activities and friends in Victoria. Includes small to medium prints with captions (V500 / E / PD - 2)
* Photograph album, ca.1930?, 22 prints. Pertains to Kamloops and area?, no identifications (V500 / E / PD - 3)
* Nick Morant with family and friends, before 1998, ca.72 prints (V500 / E / 1, 2 PA)
* Flowers, before 1998, ca.30 prints (V500 / E / 3 PA)
* Other prints, before 1998, 5 prints. Consists primarily of photographs of Nick, including one with Bruno Engler. Original enclosure was titled "Photo of files Rick Anderson Aug 98" (V500 / E / 4 PA)
File consists of a class scrapbook produced by Mrs. McCallum and her Grade VI class about the 1922 Banff Indian Days and Banff environs. These pages are a combination of photographs and written text.
File also contains pages of photographs depicting scenes of downtown Vancouver, Victoria, and other…
File consists of a class scrapbook produced by Mrs. McCallum and her Grade VI class about the 1922 Banff Indian Days and Banff environs. These pages are a combination of photographs and written text.
File also contains pages of photographs depicting scenes of downtown Vancouver, Victoria, and other scenic views along the west coast of Canada.
File pertains to a scrapbook of ephemera and memorabelia pertaining to Pat Brewster. Includes newsclippings and sketches pertaining to Nicholas Morant, personal correspondence letters and greeting cards sent from Pat Brewster, and photographs of Pat Brewster and his family.
Sheila Keough had worked with Pat Brewster on his books
Scope & Content
File pertains to a scrapbook of ephemera and memorabelia pertaining to Pat Brewster. Includes newsclippings and sketches pertaining to Nicholas Morant, personal correspondence letters and greeting cards sent from Pat Brewster, and photographs of Pat Brewster and his family.
File pertains to a photograph album depicting snapshots of prisoners of war and surroundings taken by Seargent William D. Buck of the Banff, Castle Mountain, and Kapuskasing, ON, internment camps during World War I.
Photograph album includes Banff and Kapuskasing River views; Castle and Banff inter…
William D. Buck, 1859-1922, was born in England and is thought to have served during the First World War with the 103 Calgary Rifles. Buck was a Sergeant at the Banff and Castle Mountain internment camps, ca.1915-1917, and appears to have accompanied prisoners to a camp at Kapuskasing, Ontario after closure of the Castle Mountain camp in 1917.
Scope & Content
File pertains to a photograph album depicting snapshots of prisoners of war and surroundings taken by Seargent William D. Buck of the Banff, Castle Mountain, and Kapuskasing, ON, internment camps during World War I.
Photograph album includes Banff and Kapuskasing River views; Castle and Banff internment camps views of prisoners, guards, facilities, activities, incidents and visit of Duke of Connaught and Princess Patricia; gathering of prisoners at Winnipeg and life at Kapuskasing internment camp; prisoners and Cave and Basin bathing, more Banff camp views and funeral photographs; family portraits, Banff and possible Calgary; and Sergeant Buck.
Consists of 199 numbered and captioned images, one un-numbered portrait on first page, as follows : Banff and area and Kapuskasing River views, 1 - 16 ; Castle and Banff Internment Camp views of prisoners, guards, activities, incidents and facilities, visit of Duke of Connaught and Princess Patricia, 17-88 ; gathering . . . in prisoners at Winnipeg and life at Kapuskasing, Ontario Internment Camp, 89-100 ; prisoners and Cave and Basin bathing, more Banff Camp views and funeral photographs, 101-118 ; family portraits, Banff and possibly Calgary, 119-148 ; published postcards of : Calgary Stampede, Banff and Calgary views, [Indigenous] portraits, 148-195 ; Sergeant Buck with dogs, 1919, 196-197. Span dates : ca.1915-1920 (actual date). Note: Two images are labelled #148.
Notes
Album also contains 47 published postcards of the Calgary Stampede, Banff and Calgary views, and Indigenous portraits that were not copied.
Attached individual images pertain solely to the Cave & Basin internment camp.
File consists of a handwritten notes, private correspondence, disability insurance, Crag & Canyon press certificate tickets, and seed orders pertaining to multiple businesses in Banff. File includes: mortgage certificate executed by George E. and Ada Luxton to Grace S. Mariette; Canadian Passenger …
File consists of a handwritten notes, private correspondence, disability insurance, Crag & Canyon press certificate tickets, and seed orders pertaining to multiple businesses in Banff. File includes: mortgage certificate executed by George E. and Ada Luxton to Grace S. Mariette; Canadian Passenger Association Press Certificate for G. E. Luxton; private correspondance, notifications, and invoices with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Imperial Bank of Canada, O.K. Electric, and Suburban Life Magazine; correspondence relating to the Lux Theatre regarding roof repair and seating replacement following fire loss with The Metallic Roofing Co. of Canada, Limited, and Winnipeg Scenic Co. Ltd; correspondence with Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. inquiring about Balopticon lantern projection; and seed orders and correspondence with Dingee & Conard Co., Briggs Seed Col, Limited, Hitchings & Company Greenhouses, and T. Eaton Co.
Notes
The Canadian Passenger Association Press Certficiate ticket sheet booklet has one ticket sheet removed, all the rest are intact. Only one sheet of tickets is digitized.