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 one scrapbook, mostly empty, containing ca. 48 newspaper clippings, a pamphlet re: the Banff Elementary School Spring Concert in May 1969, and a signed original sketch by Peter Whyte. Content pertains to the openings of the Whyte Museum Archives and the Harvie Theatre in Banff, Pet…
4 cm of textual records (1 scrapbook : 18 pages ; 30 x 37 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of one scrapbook, mostly empty, containing ca. 48 newspaper clippings, a pamphlet re: the Banff Elementary School Spring Concert in May 1969, and a signed original sketch by Peter Whyte. Content pertains to the openings of the Whyte Museum Archives and the Harvie Theatre in Banff, Peter and Catharine Whyte, Senator Donald Cameron and Margaret Greenham.
Series consists of textual records pertaining to the creation and publication of Chic Scott's book, Mountain Romantics; includes notes, correspondence, legal/financial documents and other related material.
This book tells the story of the White/Whyte family of Banff — pioneers Dave and Annie who created a successful mercantile business in Banff, their son Cliff who played a major role in creating the Mount Norquay ski resort and Skoki Lodge, his brother Peter and his wife Catharine who became two of the most famous artists of the Canadian Rockies, Clifford Jackson White and his wife Bev who created modern Sunshine Village Ski Resort, Jon Whyte the poet and historian and Cliffy, Brad and Tristan White who have had distinguished careers in the Warden Service and the tourist industry.
This book tells the story of one of the most unique towns in Canada, through its ups and downs, and the colourful characters who have called Banff home.
Scope & Content
Series consists of textual records pertaining to the creation and publication of Chic Scott's book, Mountain Romantics; includes notes, correspondence, legal/financial documents and other related material.
File consists of 4 school books which formerly belonged to Peter Whyte. Consists of 1 algebra book (1918), 1 high school physics book (1921), 1 English book (1919), and 1 'New Canadian Readers' book (1918). Physics book contains a postcard from Seattle signed by Peter Whyte, dated August 25, 1921. …
File consists of 4 school books which formerly belonged to Peter Whyte. Consists of 1 algebra book (1918), 1 high school physics book (1921), 1 English book (1919), and 1 'New Canadian Readers' book (1918). Physics book contains a postcard from Seattle signed by Peter Whyte, dated August 25, 1921. All books, excluding the 'New Canadian Readers' volume, contain original hand-drawn sketches by Peter Whyte; books also contain study notes and annotations by Peter Whyte.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 12 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 15
Fonds consists of administrative and operational records of the Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation and the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. Textual records: 1. Board of Trustees; 2. Administration; 3. Archives; 4. Gallery; 5. Heritage collections; 6. Photography. Photographs: A. Foundation b…
ca.6.0 m textual records. -- ca.12,500 photographs: prints, transparencies, negatives. -- 13 sound recordings: 6 audio cassettes, 7 audio compact disc (copy of 2 audio cassettes). -- 7 video tape recording: 1 VHS, 6 DVD. -- 1 cartographic record: survey site plan: 1:250
History / Biographical
The Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation is a charitable, non-profit organization that operates the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Banff, Alberta, Canada. The Wa-Che-Yo-Cha-Pa Foundation, as the foundation was initially named, was founded and endowed by artists Peter and Catharine Whyte in 1958. It supported broad causes as well as acting as an agency for collecting and preserving cultural materials of the Canadian Rockies.
In 1968, a building designed by Philippe Delesalle and known as the Archives of the Canadian Rockies opened at 111 Bear Street in Banff, providing accommodation for a regional archives, gallery and the Banff Library. After a major renovation and addition in 1993, the foundation now supports three collection and exhibition departments under the name of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies: Archives and Library, Art Gallery and Heritage Collection.
Geographic collecting limits of the museum are the mountainous areas of Canada bounded by the 49th Parallel on the south, the Peace River on the north, the Front Ranges of the Rocky Mountains on the east and the Columbia Mountains on the west.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of administrative and operational records of the Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation and the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.
Photographs: A. Foundation buildings; B. Gallery exhibition installation shots (negatives only); C. Events and guests (including Banff Day, gallery openings, special events and guests); D. Displays (inside and outside of the museum); E. Publicity and publication (includes views produced for this purpose); F. General (mainly people, places and events in Banff and area; includes photographs produced by Museum staff not included in other series). Photographs were made by staff of the Whyte Foundation, private photographers, and others.
Three sound recordings were made for research purposes during the course of Gallery operations; pertain to Ann Wheeler, David Settles and Peter Whyte art and exhibit. Other sound recording is of Grant MacEwan talk at the Whyte Museum, December 1993; recorded by Woody MacPhail. Video recording is of Banff Day 1997 by Eddie Hunter. 2 audio cassettes are a recording of the Clifford Jackson White memorial service held September 13, 2003 hosted by the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.
Six sound and video recordings were made as part of the Fireside Chats at the Whyte program. These oral histories were conducted before a live audience at the historic Crosby home, Abegweit during the years 2012-2014. Interviews with Rob Crosby, Dorothy Carleton, Ralphine Locke, Don Mickle, Bridget Jones, Fran Drummond.
Cartographic materials include a site plan of lots 7-12, Block A, Plan 6719 B.C., November, 2000.
Finding aids and reference tools: basic description
Related Material
A CD-R copy of the Clifford Jackson memorial service with program notes and a transcript of a speech by Bill Holmes is located in the Clifford Jackson White fonds.
Note: March 16, 2023: Foundation Records were processed up to 2008 by Ted Hart in 2010-2011. The unprocessed records are stored off-site and there is no inventory. Some Art Department exhibition records prior to 2008 were inadvertently missed and remain in unprocessed. The file level descriptions prepared by Ted Hart are not in the database, however the inventory is located in the ArchivalMaster file for textual and sound, and ArchivalMaster2 for visual. Some records, including oversize have been added to the database, but it isn't consistent. O:\m_textual\m124_foundation_records_archivalmaster ; R:\v_visual\v692_foundation_records_archivalmaster. Access is restricted unless authorized by Head of Archives and Special Collections, CEO or CFO, or Head of applicable department.
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 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 consist of two separate series: A. Printed Materials; B. Photograph Albums. Collection includes a variety of items collected by the Whytes. Two albums include views of personalities, places, winter sports and other events, wildlife and scenic views at Banff and area, ca.1915-1925. Most view…
3 photograph albums: 241 prints. -- 2 cm of textual records
Scope & Content
Fonds consist of two separate series: A. Printed Materials; B. Photograph Albums. Collection includes a variety of items collected by the Whytes. Two albums include views of personalities, places, winter sports and other events, wildlife and scenic views at Banff and area, ca.1915-1925. Most views were made with Kodak 3A camera and at least some are attributed to Dan McCowan and George Paris. Third album is mainly scenes in Yoho National Park; includes numbered, annotated prints (perhaps postcards). Other items in collection include: manuscript, "The Canadian Rockies" by A. P. Coleman, n.d.; letter, by T. Zouave to R. G. Brett, 1917; Park Hotel account book, Banff, 1906-1907, with records of Canmore house project, 1968-1969; receipt, 1919, and letter, 1966, re piano owned by Norman Luxton and Iva Smith; plan for CPR stop-over log cabin at Sunshine Valley, 1927; signatures of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, n.d..; Canadian Jr. [ski] champions from Alberta [poster], 1962.