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.
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 pertains to 41 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from September 3 to December 14, 1959. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, seeing the m…
1 cm of textual records (58 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 41 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from September 3 to December 14, 1959. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, seeing the musical My Fair Lady at the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary (Sept. 21), driving out to the Panther Valley with Warden Peter Tasker (Oct. 16), Carl Rungius' death (October), a trip to Concord in early November [just Catharine], construction on the back of the house, a second trip to Concord for Christmas and New Years followed immediately by a two-month trip to the West Indies [Catharine and Peter]. Letters are mostly typed, some hand-written. Also includes two postcards making up one letter.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
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.
File consists of 17 cm of textual records, 34 x 44 cm or smaller. File pertains to an assortment of personal recordkeeping records and contains textual records, correspondence, photograph prints, and newspaper clippings. File documents various purchases and sales (Canmore, Alberta and Sidney, Briti…
File consists of 17 cm of textual records, 34 x 44 cm or smaller. File pertains to an assortment of personal recordkeeping records and contains textual records, correspondence, photograph prints, and newspaper clippings. File documents various purchases and sales (Canmore, Alberta and Sidney, British Columbia, mainly 1985-1986 and 1991-1995), property sales (Banff and Calgary, Alberta, 1972, and a photocopy of the original lease for the Wardle's property in Banff on Muskrat Street, 1921), Dorothy's work and membership with the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (1991-2001), art sales and appraisals (mainly Carl Rungius, 1977-2001), health and dental records detailing Dorothy's medical history (mainly 1994-2001, but goes back to 1934), a trip to Canmore (Banff Right to Reside (1984), subscriptions and miscellaneous records (including Dorothy's address book; poetry by her father, James Morey Wardle; Dorothy's passport from 1991-1996; various art collector catalogues such as Sotheby's; and commemorative coins), and Sheila Iris (S.I.) Ritchie's personal records (includes birth record from 1927 and death record from 1990).
Notes
Poetry by James Morey (J.M.) Wardle can be found in folder 34 under "miscellaneous."
Sheila Iris Ritchie was Dorothy's long-term housemate and close friend. Dorothy served as the executor of Sheila's will.
Dorothy's SIN card was originally included but has since been discarded for privacy concerns.
Photocopies of the original lease for the property on Muskrat Street were taken from Parks Canada microfiche records in 1993.
File consists of 1 album comprised of 69 black and white photographs, 17.5 x 11 cm or smaller. File pertains to various family trips and outings with family and friends (including Carl Rungius), primarily in the 1940s. File documents Wardle family trips to Wolfe Island (Ontario), the Seigniory Club…
1 album (69 photographs : b&w ; 17.5 x 11 cm or smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of 1 album comprised of 69 black and white photographs, 17.5 x 11 cm or smaller. File pertains to various family trips and outings with family and friends (including Carl Rungius), primarily in the 1940s. File documents Wardle family trips to Wolfe Island (Ontario), the Seigniory Club in Montebello (Quebec), Banff-Windermere, Assiniboine, Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park, Mount Wardle, Bull Creek Ranch (High River), Collins Bay (Ontario), Ghost River, Lake Louise, Kingston (Ontario), and Washington, D.C., Atlantic City, and New York (USA). Includes photographs of family and friends, landmarks and scenery, picnics, James Wardle in front of the sign for Mt. Wardle, and Carl Rungius (1948-1950).
Notes
Album was a gift from Dorothy to her mother, Leette, for her birthday. It is signed: "To Mother for her birthday, May 24, 1951. With love from Dorie."
Album is also labelled "Volume II: Trips, Family, Friends."
V75 / I / PD - 2 is Volume I. Both albums were given to Leette from Dorothy as a birthday present on May 24, 1951.
Album is green with "Photo Album" written in gold on the front, it is bound with a green tassel.