Fonds consists of textual records, postcards, drawings and one photograph album pertaining to Mary (Molly) Wright Adams (1868-1909); transcripts of Molly's original letters which were compiled by Molly's sister, Catharine Elkin (nee Adams) between ca.1939 and 1941; and transcriptions of letters sen…
Some materials produced by Catharine (Adams) Elkin
Date Range
[ca.1844 - 1909]
[ca.1939 - 1944]
1980 - 1981
2014
Physical Description
21 cm of textual records -- 16 postcards -- 3 drawings -- 1 photograph album : 107 b&w photographs
History / Biographical
Mary Wright (Molly) Adams was born on 15 October 1868. in Ridgefield Connecticut. She was the third of five children born to Cornelia Ann Cook (1830-1902) and Daniel Lucius Adams (1814 - 1899) She died in Kobe, Japan on 23 January 1909 and was buried there.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual records, postcards, drawings and one photograph album pertaining to Mary (Molly) Wright Adams (1868-1909); transcripts of Molly's original letters which were compiled by Molly's sister, Catharine Elkin (nee Adams) between ca.1939 and 1941; and transcriptions of letters sent between Molly's extended family members [including members of the Adams, Cook and Wright families], ca.1844 and 1866.
Textual records primarily consist of correspondence sent between Molly Adams and various friends and family members [ca.1891-1909].
Notes
Fonds consists of two series:
Series I : Correspondence [contains two sub-series: I / A : Molly Wright Adams ; I / B : Extended family]
Series II : Personal and collected records
File consists of transcribed correspondence between members of the Cook, Wright and Adams families. File includes letters between Catharine Cook, Mary Wright, Cornelia Cook Adams and "Arianna" [ranging between 1844-1866]; and a letter sent from Cornelia to her brother, Roger Cook Adams, pertaining …
File consists of transcribed correspondence between members of the Cook, Wright and Adams families. File includes letters between Catharine Cook, Mary Wright, Cornelia Cook Adams and "Arianna" [ranging between 1844-1866]; and a letter sent from Cornelia to her brother, Roger Cook Adams, pertaining to the transcribed letters [ca.1944].
Sub-series consists of textual and visual materials pertaining to the history of Southern Alberta. Includes personal accounts, day books and diaries, genealogical research, records of livestock and other trade, and portrait and group photographs depicting early settlers of Southern Alberta. Materia…
29 cm of textual records -- 29 photographs (28 b&w prints, 1 tintype) ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
Sub-series consists of textual and visual materials pertaining to the history of Southern Alberta. Includes personal accounts, day books and diaries, genealogical research, records of livestock and other trade, and portrait and group photographs depicting early settlers of Southern Alberta. Materials in sub-series believed to have been collected by Eleanor Luxton, possibly on behalf of the Southern Alberta Pioneers' and Old Timers' Association or as part of Eleanor's personal research.
Transparencies are hand-coloured and black and white lantern slides pertaining to transportation: Canadian Pacific Railway, railway travel and ships, derived from various sources. Includes two transparencies by Mary Schaffer
Transparencies are hand-coloured and black and white lantern slides pertaining to transportation: Canadian Pacific Railway, railway travel and ships, derived from various sources. Includes two transparencies by Mary Schaffer
Finding Aid
Copy prints are available for reference use
Location (Copy)
Reference prints are available
Title Source
Title based on contents of file.
Content Details
LIST OF LANTERN SLIDES - V527 / PS 1 :
#810 - Driving the Golden Spike, by Donald Smith; #on CPR, Nov. 7, 1885 / Notman
#811 - The first engine built by the Canadian Pacific Railway
#812 - Winnipeg in 1870
#813 - Quebec Bridge, Quebec
#814 - DeWitt Clinton and Train 1831 / Chas. Beseler
#815 - Canadian Pacific Railway, arrival of the first through train at the seaboard of British Columbia
#816 - [Group at driving of last spike on the CPR, Nov. 7, 1885]
#817 - [Unidentified locomotive]
#818 - Passengers boarding standard sleeper
#819 - Plowing thro. the snow, of the Selkirks & Glacier
#820 - [Passengers on platform beside Montreal and Boston railway car]
#821 - Wapta & Safety Switch
#822 - Red Sucker Tunnel, Lake Superior
#823 - [Map of Dominion of Canada]
#824 - [Unidentified railway tunnel]
#825 - Prospect Point Vancouver Steamer "Beaver"
#826 - [Unidentified ocean liner]
#827 - [Empress of Britain in lock of Panama Canal]
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.
Speeches and letters written by Patrick Robb. School report and medical questionaire. -- Patrick Robb is the father of Russell Robb Sr. and husband of Kate Robb.
Speeches and letters written by Patrick Robb. School report and medical questionaire. -- Patrick Robb is the father of Russell Robb Sr. and husband of Kate Robb.
Cased tin type in black coated paper case. Tin type is framed in a brass coloured, decorative frame. Inside of the front cover has a design is debossed in red velvet. A red adhesive sticker that reads “Robb” is found in the front cover. Front and back of case feature an architectural and floral design in relief.
Daguerreotype removed from case housed in cover plate and enclosed with brass coloured foil. The image is framed under an oval, brass coloured metal mat. A sticker with “?” written on it has been adhered to the cover glass in the top left frame. Copper plate can be seen on the reverse side.
Ambrotype in wooden case. Case covered with black coated paper. Front and back covers feature architectural and vegetal design in relief and a gold embossed frame around the designs. The inside cover features a design debossed in green velvet. The Ambrotype is framed in an oval brass coloured, decorative metal mat.
Daguerreotype in wooden case covered in brown coated paper. The front and back covers feature a vegetal motif design in relief. Inside the front cover is a floral design debossed in velvet. The interior portions of the case are bordered with a gold embossed frame.
Ambrotype in black coated paper case. The covers of the case feature a simple rectilinear debossed boarder. Interior of front cover padded with red velvet. An adhesive sticker has been placed on velvet padding that reads “E.S. Morse.” Padded portion has come loose from the front cover and may fall out when Ambrotype is viewed. Cover glass is held in the case by a decorative brass-coloured foil boarder. Image is framed by an oval brass-coloured metal mat. Mat feature a small weave like motif.