Fonds consists of a biography, editorial and speech re J. B. Harkin, the J. B. Harkin medal and the awarding of the medal to Jean Chretien, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, 1973. Also includes poster opposing Village Lake Louise development, [ca.1971]
Fonds consists of a biography, editorial and speech re J. B. Harkin, the J. B. Harkin medal and the awarding of the medal to Jean Chretien, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, 1973. Also includes poster opposing Village Lake Louise development, [ca.1971]
Fonds consists of two sous-fonds: M521 and V75.
M521 consists of four series, 154 cm, ca.1870-2002. Series I: Dorothy Wardle Personal Papers, 69.5 cm, ca.1870-2002 (includes Dorothy's written work and research and notes related to Banff). Series II: Wardle Family, 32.5 cm, 1872-1998 (including cor…
154 cm of textual records. -- 1304 photographs (1190 prints, 95 negatives, 19 transparencies). -- 6 photograph albums.
History / Biographical
The Wardle family was comprised of husband and wife, James Morey Wardle (June 26,1888 - May 18,1971) and Maud Leette (Roney) Wardle (May 24,1889 - December 1,1969), and their one child, Dorothy Hope Wardle (May 23,1919 - July 20,2003).
James Wardle, born in Chiliwack, British Columbia, was a civil engineer and public servant. He was the Superintendent of Banff National Park from 1918-1921, Chief Engineer for Parks Canada from 1921-1935, and Deputy Minister of the Interior from 1935-1936. He is primarily known as a highway design engineer, particularly for building the Banff-Windermere, Banff-Lake Louise, and Banff-Jasper highways. He was a councillor for the Municipality of Rockcliffe Park in Ontario and he was the President of the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies in Banff from 1925-1929. Mount Wardle in Vermillion was named after him in 1921. James married Leette on November 4, 1913, with whom he had one child, Dorothy.
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Dorothy (also known as Dot and Dorie) grew up in Banff, Alberta and Ottawa, Ontario, due to her father's position with the federal government. She was educated at the Mountain School in Banff and at the Elmwood School in Ottawa. All three family members were graduates of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. James graduated in 1912 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Leette graduated with a Bachelor's degree, and in 1942, Dorothy also earned a Bachelor's degree. Dorothy was prominent in student life and active in athletics. In 1941, Dorothy became the first woman elected as President of the Alma Mater Society and during her academic career, Dorothy was a member of the Levana Intercollegiate Debative, University Centenary Committee, and Queen’s War Aid Commission.
Dorothy spent her career as a freelance writer however, upon graduation she served as the first Secretary-In-Charge of Records at Carleton College (now Carleton University) from 1942-1944 in Ottawa and in the mid-1950s worked as a secretary for the Glenbow Foundation in Calgary. Dorothy pursued a lifelong interest in traveling, art, and antiques. Although she was fiercely proud and protective of Banff and the Park, and remained a volunteer and patron of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Dorothy eventually settled in Sidney, British Columbia and shared an apartment with Sheila Iris Ritchie, with whom Dorothy travelled extensively. After her death in 2003, Dorothy, "Dorie," was laid to rest alongside her parents in the Old Banff Cemetery.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of two sous-fonds: M521 and V75.
M521 consists of four series, 154 cm, ca.1870-2002. Series I: Dorothy Wardle Personal Papers, 69.5 cm, ca.1870-2002 (includes Dorothy's written work and research and notes related to Banff). Series II: Wardle Family, 32.5 cm, 1872-1998 (including correspondence with Carl Rungius and Mrs. Helen Brett, and Christmas and other greeting cards from Peter and Catharine Whyte). Series III: Queen's University, 7.5 cm, 1911-1980 (including graduation certificates for each family member and records pertaining to Dorothy's participation on the Alma Mater Society). Series IV: Travel, 44.5 cm, ca.1950-1988 (includes hand-written notebooks meticulously detailing their travels).
V75 consists of two series, 79.5 cm, ca. 1912-2001. Series I: Wardle Family, ca. 1912-1971, 6 albums, 31 cm of photograph prints and negatives (including family trips, trail rides in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and family gatherings). Series II: Dorothy Wardle, 1972-2001, 34 cm of photograph prints, negatives, and transparencies (including Dorothy's travels in Alberta and British Columbia, overseas, and various outings with friends).
Fonds consists of notes and letters by J. B. Harkin; transcripts of Harkin's notes and quotations by Mabel B. Williams and Dorothy Barber (former colleagues of Harkin); biographical notes; articles re Harkin; a Parks Canada newsletter; correspondence between M. B. Williams and Dr. Robin Winks; a le…
4 cm textual records. -- 1 photograph: print; b&w; 8x10 in.
History / Biographical
James Bernard Harkin, 1875-1955 was born in Vankleek Hill, Ontario, Canada. In 1892 Harkin worked for a newspaper in Montreal and in 1893 moved to The Ottawa Journal. Promoted to city editor, Harkin gained access to the Parliamentary Press Gallery. In 1901 Harkin went to work for the federal civil service as a clerk in the Department of the Interior and in 1904 became Parlimentary Secretary to the Minister of the Interior. In 1911 the Dominion Parks Branch was established within the Department of the Interior as a result of the increasing importance of parks to the federal government's conservation and tourism policies. From 1911 to 1936 Harkin, as Commissioner of Dominion Parks, developed Canada's National Park system and created a centralized agency to administer the National Parks. Harkin promoted and was instrumental in the successful passage of the National Parks Act - federal legislation providing for the conservation of National Parks in Canada. During his term as Commissioner of Dominion Parks, Harkin generated greater awareness of the importance of conservation and was influential in promoting ecological approaches to public recreation and tourism initiatives within the national parks.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of notes and letters by J. B. Harkin; transcripts of Harkin's notes and quotations by Mabel B. Williams and Dorothy Barber (former colleagues of Harkin); biographical notes; articles re Harkin; a Parks Canada newsletter; correspondence between M. B. Williams and Dr. Robin Winks; a letter to Harkin from N. K. Luxton. Fonds also includes a photograph of Harkin by Yousef Karsh.
Accession record; E. J. Hart, The Place of Bows (Banff: EJH Literary Enterprises, 1999); Eleanor G. Luxton, Banff: Canada's First National Park (Banff: Summerthought, 1974); Gabrielle Blais, RG 84 Records of Parks Canada General Inventory Series, 1985; C. J. Taylor "Defining National Parks: J. B. Harkin and the National Parks Branch," 1997.