Fonds consists of personal, professional and literary papers and photographs. Personal papers date from 1954 to 1959. Professional papers include: National Blue Baby Association, 1951-1955; and David Thompson Memorial Foundation, 1957-1959. Literary papers include: general papers, 1956, 1959; an…
39 cm of textual records. -- 29 photographs : prints. -- 1 photograph album (46 prints)
History / Biographical
Mabel Brinkley, d.1959, also known as Mrs. R. D. Brinkley and Ruth Brinkley, was a writer who lived in the United States and at Banff, Alberta, Canada. Brinkley claimed to have had a successful career as a writer before coming to Canada in 1955. She came to Banff to work on a local history to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the inauguration of Alberta. A manuscript for one of several planned volumes was completed, but never published.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of personal, professional and literary papers and photographs. Personal papers date from 1954 to 1959. Professional papers include: National Blue Baby Association, 1951-1955; and David Thompson Memorial Foundation, 1957-1959. Literary papers include: general papers, 1956, 1959; and Banff Jubilee Books, 1955-1957.
Literary papers consists mainly of notes and drafts for "In The Shadow of the Peaks," a Banff local history based on extensive interviews and submissions by and about long-time Banff residents, including Charlie Beil, Jim Boyce, Nicholas de Grandmaison, Dan McCowan, Ike Mills, Casey Oliver, Dorothy Oxborough, Walter Painter, Carl Rungius, Andrew Sibbald, George Simpson, D. M. Soole and Tom Wilson.
Photographs collected by Mabel Brinkley, probably in the course of her research, pertain to Banff and area, people, places and scenic views; also Indians, unknown location.
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).
File consists of 5 cm of handwritten and typed correspondence, 23 x 34 cm or smaller. File pertains to correspondence between Carl Rungius and the Wardle family, as well as correspondence between Dorothy and Jon Whyte regarding gifting copies to the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. File docume…
File consists of 5 cm of handwritten and typed correspondence, 23 x 34 cm or smaller. File pertains to correspondence between Carl Rungius and the Wardle family, as well as correspondence between Dorothy and Jon Whyte regarding gifting copies to the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. File documents, among other things, the death of Louise (Carl's wife) in 1940; exhibiting Carl's work in the National Gallery of Canada, 1942 and 1956; and Carl's visits to the Wardle family home in Ottawa. Records also include a postcard and two Mayfair articles from 1943.
Notes
In 1983, Dorothy gifted photocopies of Carl's correspondence with her family. In 2003, the originals were donated as part of Dorothy's estate. The photocopies (accn. 5296) were discarded.
Carl Rungius was a wildlife and landscape painter who frequented and had a studio in Banff. The Wardle family was good friends with Rungius.
File consists of 2.5 cm of textual records, 28 x 21.5 cm or smaller. File pertains to Christmas cards that were sent to the Wardle family from Peter and Catharine Whyte (c. 1951-c. 1968), Dean and Edith Robinson, and Carl Rungius (c.1938-c.1954). Records include a one-page typed biography of Peter…
2.5 cm of textual records (28 x 21.5 cm or smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of 2.5 cm of textual records, 28 x 21.5 cm or smaller. File pertains to Christmas cards that were sent to the Wardle family from Peter and Catharine Whyte (c. 1951-c. 1968), Dean and Edith Robinson, and Carl Rungius (c.1938-c.1954). Records include a one-page typed biography of Peter Whyte and a handwritten letter tucked into one of the cards from the Whyte family (dated Jan. 22, 1967).
Notes
Each holiday greeting is written on a card made by Peter and Catharine Whyte, and Carl Rungius, respectively.
File consists of Canadian Pacific Railway negative photographs pertaining to trail riders, camp staff, guides and outfitters, trail rides, fishing, camps, ceremonies, scenic views of Yoho, Jasper, and Banff National Parks, Canmore and surrounding area, and Banff's townsite. Trail riders in photogr…
129 photographs : b&w nitrate negatives ; 12 x 9.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of Canadian Pacific Railway negative photographs pertaining to trail riders, camp staff, guides and outfitters, trail rides, fishing, camps, ceremonies, scenic views of Yoho, Jasper, and Banff National Parks, Canmore and surrounding area, and Banff's townsite. Trail riders in photographs include John Murray Gibbon, Carl Rungius and Charlie Beil.
Notes
Original order retained, appears to be chronological.
Most negative envelopes individually titled and dated, majority from 1943 and 1944. Mostly nitrate photographs.
Original CPR negative envelopes retained in document file.
File consists of 19 letters addressed to David Zweifel: 18 from Catharine Robb Whyte and one from Murray Adaskin. Letters pertain to David Zweifel's music lessons and Catharine's funding of these lessons; Catharine fixing a violin to give to David Zweifel which was originally owned by David White; …
Produced by Catharine Robb Whyte and Frances and Murray Adaskin
Date Range
1967
1969
1970
1973
1989
Physical Description
2 cm of textual records
Scope & Content
File consists of 19 letters addressed to David Zweifel: 18 from Catharine Robb Whyte and one from Murray Adaskin. Letters pertain to David Zweifel's music lessons and Catharine's funding of these lessons; Catharine fixing a violin to give to David Zweifel which was originally owned by David White; discussions about composer Murray Adaskin and artists Carl Rungius and Belmore Browne; Catharine's skiing lessons and trips; the Tabeteau family; letters of recommendation written by Catharine for David Zweifel; Catharine's flying lessons; Catharine attending a funeral in Concord in 1969; Catharine reminiscing about art school in Boston and Peter Whyte; Christmas greetings; Catharine attending a concert in Edmonton; and a letter from Murray Adaskin which includes a copy of another letter sent to David Zweifel from Frances Adaskin in 1967, discussing Catharine's generosity.
File pertains to 41 letters, telegraphs, postcards and envelopes written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from April 1929 to May 1930. Topics include meeting Peter Whyte's family and touring around town, Banff Springs Hotel, day to day life, Banff events, people in Concord, s…
2.4 cm of textural records (162 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to 41 letters, telegraphs, postcards and envelopes written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from April 1929 to May 1930. Topics include meeting Peter Whyte's family and touring around town, Banff Springs Hotel, day to day life, Banff events, people in Concord, sketching and painting around Banff with Peter and Gardner Cox, meeting new people [including Belmore Browne, Carl Rungius, and Billie Simpson], Catharine's travels to France, England, and Scotland, and making plans for Peter and Catharine's wedding. Places include Cardiff (Wales), Lake Louise, Kicking Horse Restaurant, Storm Mountain Bungalow Camp, Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake, Yoho Valley, Lake McArthur, Lake O'Hara, Glacier National Park, and travels to Montana and Yellowstone National Park.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples, people of colour, and those of Jewish faith used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are hand-written. Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981. Some letters also have numbers written in pencil crayon, believed to be from when originally processed.
File pertains to 47 letters and postcards written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from July 1930 to October 1930. Topics include the trip back to Banff after marriage, day to day life, meeting and visiting Pete's friends, the Banff community and artists [including Bill Brews…
1.3 cm of textual records (82 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 47 letters and postcards written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from July 1930 to October 1930. Topics include the trip back to Banff after marriage, day to day life, meeting and visiting Pete's friends, the Banff community and artists [including Bill Brewster, Jim Brewster, Guy Davenport, Sid Graves, Sid Brewster, Mary Vaux Walcott, Jimmy Simpson, Byron Harmon, Fern Brewster, Wayne Palmer, Fred McCauley, Mrs. Brett, Julia Raymond, Pearl Moore, Edmee Moore, Philip Moore, J.E.H. MacDonald, Mr. and Mrs. Link, Mr. and Mrs. Painter, George Brewster, Jessie McLean, Buddy van Dyke, Dorothy Whyte, John Murray Gibbon, Carl Rungius, Fred Arbrister, Neil Begg, Rudolph Aemner,] painting outdoors, people in Concord, meeting Noel Odell of the 1924 Everest Expedition, a fire at a tea house in town, plans for building their home [including a sketch of the lots along Bow River], visiting Castle Mountain Camp and Kicking Horse Tea House, description of Skoki Lodge building plans [with Cliff White, Cyril Paris, and Ike Mills], and builders Earl Spencer and Spud White, and painting in Morley [Mrs. Twoyoungmen, John Simian or Black Buffalo, Jonas Richson [?], Dan Wildman and other illegible names], the climb to Abbot Pass, Lake Oesa, and Lake O'Hara Camp.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples, people of colour, and those of the Jewish faith used throughout is outdated and offensive. Some items were stapled together and therefore scanned together as one document.
Letters are all handwritten and include some hotel and camp letterheads. Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981. Some letters also have numbers written in pencil crayon, believed to be from when originally processed.
File pertains to 56 letters and envelopes written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from February 1931 to October 1931. Topics include visiting J.E.H. MacDonald in Toronto and meeting Lawren Harris, day to day life in Banff, skiing at Skoki, bringing materials out to Skoki in …
1.3 cm of textual records (310 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to 56 letters and envelopes written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from February 1931 to October 1931. Topics include visiting J.E.H. MacDonald in Toronto and meeting Lawren Harris, day to day life in Banff, skiing at Skoki, bringing materials out to Skoki in packs and by dogsled, Bill Oliver filming at Skoki, the description and construction details of Peter and Catharine's house and yard and moving in [including furniture details], shopping in Calgary for house items,a rock slide near Field, travel to Montana, people in Concord, installation of Peter and Catharine's paintings in the ballroom at the Banff Springs Hotel, the fire at Grand View Villa, attending the Calgary Stampede with Edmee Moore and Georgia Engelhard, painting portraits of Indigenous friends and Tom Wilson, Edith's visit to Banff, painting at Castle Mountain [including details about Joe Smith], Peter making picture frames, the visit of the King and Queen of Siam, and meeting new people, community members and house callers [including Cyril Paris, Victor Kutschera, Norman Knight, Bernie Hanson, Ike Mills, Erling Strom, Allan Mather, Betty Painter, Rick Smith, Mrs. Bill Brewster, Bill Carson, Mr. Coach, Spud White, Cliff White, Dr. Robinson, Cameron and Lila White Stockand, Mildred Jackson White, Annie White, Mr. and Mrs. Rungius, Charlie Beil, J.D. Curren, Sam Ward and Earl Spencer and others working on the Whyte Home, Mrs. Carr, Jackie White, Pearl and Philip Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Byron Harmon, Casper McCullah, Dorothy White, Mrs. Childe, Mrs. Robertson, Bobby Hunter, William Twin, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Poucette, Hank Cheever, Mr. and Mrs. Leuning [Otto?], Barbara and Ruth Carpenter, Sid Graves, Mr. and Mrs. Forbes, Fred Armbrister, Mr. Gillet, Belmore Browne, Margaret Simpson, Betty Painter, and Jim and Dell Brewster.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples, people of colour, and those of the Jewish faith used throughout is outdated and offensive. Some items were stapled together and therefore scanned together as one document.
Letters are all handwritten and include some hotel, business, and camp letterheads. Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981. Some letters also have numbers written in pencil crayon, believed to be from when originally processed.