Fonds consists of personal and business papers regarding automobile traffic, visitation and tourism in Banff National Park, east gate; clippings and ephemera regarding history and personalities of the Bow Valley; prints and copy negatives pertaining mainly to Exshaw, Rocky Mountains Park entrance, …
4 cm textual records: originals and photocopies. -- ca.45 photographs: prints, postcards, copy negatives
History / Biographical
Annie Staple, 1883-1973, was born in Shrawley, Worcestershire, England. While working as a caregiver in a hospital in Derbyshire, she met Tom Staple. Annie and Tom were married in 1907 and immigrated to Canada. Tom became a warden for Rocky Mountains Park in 1913. Tom's assigned area was Kananaskis and a house (Gateway Lodge) was built for Tom and Annie between Kananaskis and Exshaw in 1916. In addition to area patrols, Tom's warden duties included issuing permits to visitors entering the park by automobile. The permit process included sealing guns, collecting park fees and distributing metal plates (the precursor to the park pass system). During Tom's absences, Annie issued the permits to automobile visitors. In 1916 Annie became the gatekeeper of the east-gate, which at that time was a table set up at the side of the road. Tom Staple died in 1919 while Annie was pregnant with their fourth child. Annie continued to work as the keeper of the east gate until 1948, when she retired.
In 1930 the park boundary was moved west of Canmore and while the entrance was under construction, Parks authorities relocated Annie to the west entrance of Yoho Park. Annie worked the winter of 1930-1931 at the Upper Hot Springs in Banff and returned to her position as keeper of the east gate in the spring of 1931. Construction of the new gate and a residence for Annie and her family lasted six years and during this period, the park boundary was moved again.
Following her retirement in 1948, Annie Staple moved to Seebe to live with her daughter's family and in 1953, she moved to Calgary to live with her sister, Nellie Whitburn. Following Nellie's death, Annie returned to live with her daughter's family in Canmore.
Annie and Tom Staple had four children, Joyce (1909-2001), Tom (1912-1941), Geoffrey (1913-1973), and Albert b.1920.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of personal and business papers regarding automobile traffic, visitation and tourism in Banff National Park, east gate; clippings and ephemera regarding history and personalities of the Bow Valley; prints and copy negatives pertaining mainly to Exshaw, Rocky Mountains Park entrance, Spray River warden cabin, Lake Minnewanka and Banff; postcards views of Banff and Rocky Mountains by Byron Harmon and Wm. J. Gibbons.
Fonds consists of personal photographs, biographical notes, memoir drafts and other collected materials pertaining to Robert Neville (Bob) Smith. Fonds also includes plans and maps pertaining to the development of land near Lake Minnewanka and the Cascade Power Plant project (1943).
ca.300 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 12 x 18 cm or smaller -- 7 cm of textual records -- 7 topographical maps/plans -- 8 postcards
History / Biographical
Robert Neville (Bob) Smith (1926-2021) was born in Banff. He was the only child of parents Enoch Smith and Laurene Smith (nee Munson). Bob grew up near Lake Minnewanka until 1941, when a hydro dam was installed resulting in the intentional flooding of the area. The family moved to Banff, where Bob met his future wife, Mary Parkinson. The couple were married in 1953 and moved to Seebe, where they raised two daughters, Marjory and Shirley.
Bob worked for Calgary Power Co. (later renamed TransAlta Utilities) from 1953 until his retirement in 1986. In his spare time, Bob founded the Bow Valley Camera Club and the Bow Valley Naturalists organization. In 1999, Bob was part of a successful project with the Bow Valley Naturalists to designate the Mount Yamnuska area as a Bow Valley Protected Area, following 25 years of lobbying with the Government of Alberta. Bob also formed the Meanderthals seniors hiking club in 1993 and led various local hiking trips in his later years.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of personal photographs, biographical notes, memoir drafts and other collected materials pertaining to Robert Neville (Bob) Smith. Fonds also includes plans and maps pertaining to the development of land near Lake Minnewanka and the Cascade Power Plant project (1943).
Fonds consists of the photographic records and sample materials of Byron Harmon Photos, the photographic business of Byron Harmon and his successors; as well as the personal photographs of Byron Harmon. I. Scenic / commercial, 1907-1975, ca.7600 items. Primary component of series is film and glass…
Byron Hill Harmon, 1876-1942, was a professional photographer and businessman at Banff, Alberta, Canada. He was born near Tacoma, Washington, USA and operated a portrait studio there for a time. In 1903, while travelling around the United States and Canada as an itinerant photographer, he decided to settle in Banff and by 1907 had produced enough mountain views to begin selling a line of postcards. Between 1906 and 1913, Harmon was official photographer for the Alpine Club of Canada and made trips in numerous mountain areas, such as the Bugaboos (1910) and Mount Robson (1911, 1913). Harmon personally financed trips into other areas, such as Tonquin Valley (1918) and Lake of the Hanging Glaciers (1920, 1922), producing both still photographs and motion pictures for commercial sale. After his last major expedition in 1924 across Saskatchewan Glacier, through to Maligne Lake and back to Banff by packtrain, Harmon devoted most of his time to photographing scenes along the railway, skiing in the Assiniboine and Skoki regions, and the annual rides and hikes of the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies and the Sky Line Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies. At the same time he managed several businesses, including a drug store, fountain lunch, theatre and book store. In his later years, Harmon spent much time travelling and photographing in other parts of the world. The business, Byron Harmon Photos, was managed successively by his son, Don Harmon, then his grand-daughter, Carole Harmon.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of the photographic records and sample materials of Byron Harmon Photos, the photographic business of Byron Harmon and his successors; as well as the personal photographs of Byron Harmon.
I. Scenic / commercial, 1907-1975, ca.7600 items. Primary component of series is film and glass negatives, 1907-1942, ca.6500 items. Also includes: postcard negatives and positives and production negatives to ca.1955; original prints; a wide range of sample products, such as postcards, enlargements and framing prints, calendars and viewbooks, mainly by Harmon business, some by other photographers; and lantern slides, ca.1913-192-, pertaining to Columbia Icefield Expedition, mountaineering, mountain landscapes, Indians, wildlife, Canadian Pacific Railway and Asian travel. Scenic / commercial series pertains to annual camps and expeditions of the Alpine Club of Canada in the Canadian Rockies and Selkirks, 1907-1913; private movie-making expeditions in the Canadian Rockies and Selkirks; mountain scenic views, primarily for postcard purposes; Banff events and development; skiing; birds and animals. Includes some material by Don Harmon and Lloyd Harmon, sons of Byron Harmon.
II. Personal, 189- to 194-, ca.370 items. Includes: family photographs and views received from others; motion picture out-takes pertaining to world travels, 1930s; and 35 mm. transparencies, ca.1940, pertaining mainly to world travels, also mountain and prairie scenics.
Notes
For more information on the Byron Harmon photographs, see "Great Days in the Rockies: The Photographs of Byron Harmon, 1906-1934" (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1978) or "Byron Harmon, Mountain Photographer" by Carole Harmon and Bart Robinson (Banff: Altitude Publishing, 1992)
File consists of published textual materials pertaining to Calgary Exhibition and Stampede events between 1912 and 1972. File includes cutout paper logos, books, brochures and pamphlets, "prize list and rules" booklets, informational content mailed to Eleanor Luxton [1928] empty branded Stampede en…
File consists of published textual materials pertaining to Calgary Exhibition and Stampede events between 1912 and 1972. File includes cutout paper logos, books, brochures and pamphlets, "prize list and rules" booklets, informational content mailed to Eleanor Luxton [1928] empty branded Stampede envelopes, blank pages with Stampede letterhead, and 6 cloth ribbons labelled "Native Daughter", "Pioneer" and "Pioneer Son" [n.d.].
Notes
File contains duplicates
Some excess duplicates have been temporarily moved and may be de-accessioned in the future
File consists of commercial postcards with images pertaining to landscapes, tourist attractions, Stoney Nakoda community members [including Leah Rider Hunter], winter sports, wildlife and other related themes within Canada. Images primarily depict scenes in Banff National Park and the Canadian Rock…
Most images in file produced by photographer Byron Harmon; some materials produced by photographers George Noble, G. & W. Fear, Rumsey & Co. Ltd, and J.C. Walker
Date Range
[1910-1930]
Physical Description
63 b&w postcards ; 9 x 14 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of commercial postcards with images pertaining to landscapes, tourist attractions, Stoney Nakoda community members [including Leah Rider Hunter], winter sports, wildlife and other related themes within Canada. Images primarily depict scenes in Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies, and also include content from Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
Notes
Date range for materials in file is estimate provided by Processing Archivist
Some items are annotated with information pertaining to images on postcards [names of individuals, locations, etc.]
Fonds consists of letters, 1929-1972, including letters to Leslie Peters, 1929-1972 and Julius Peters, 1931-1938; Christmas cards from Beil to members of the Peters family; miscellaneous brochures, pamphlets, etc. illustrated with Beil's works; photographs. Papers discuss Banff Winter Carnival ice…
3 cm of textual records. -- 80 photographs : prints, postcards
History / Biographical
Charlie Beil, 1894-1976, was an artist at Banff, Alberta, Canada. Beil pursued his interest in art after meeting artist Charlie Russell in Glacier Park, Montana, USA. Prior to that, he worked as a cowboy and served in the U.S. Cavalry. Beil came to Banff in 1930 and settled there permanently in 1934. He established a studio and began to produce murals, dioramas and bronze sculptures. Beil was well-known for the latter and was active as an artist until his death. Charles Beil married Olive Luxton (1915-1983), ca.1940.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of letters, 1929-1972, including letters to Leslie Peters, 1929-1972 and Julius Peters, 1931-1938; Christmas cards from Beil to members of the Peters family; miscellaneous brochures, pamphlets, etc. illustrated with Beil's works; photographs. Papers discuss Banff Winter Carnival ice sculptures, Olive Beil, Grey Owl, and Beil's life and work as an artist, particularly in the 1930s and 1940s as he was becoming established in Banff. Photographs pertain to paintings, models and sculptures by Charlie Beil; also Calgary Stampede, Banff and Sunshine area views.
File consists of 38 commercial souvenir postcards pertaining to areas in Canada and Panama. Includes a collection of 20 image cards titled "Souvenir Views: Panama and the Canal"; 10 mini postcards titled "Minicards by Intag: Vancouver, Canada" and original annotated envelope; an exterior view photo…
Items produced and/or owned by Curt Teich & Co.; M. R. Pellissier; John D. Anderson Jr.; Canada in Colour Ltd.; Harry Rowed [Jasper] and Bill Gibbons [Banff]
Date Range
[1915-1925]
[1940-1945]
1947
1953
[1956-1964]
Physical Description
38 prints : b&w and col. postcards ; 23.5 x 16 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
The Mile-Hi Lodge in Banff was owned and operated by John D. "Jack" Anderson (1917-1964). Anderson purchased the property located at 402 Banff Ave. in 1956 and operated the Mile-Hi Lodge until his death in 1964. The lodge remained in business under Anderson's estate until at least 1969, but was likely closed prior to the property's sale in 1973.
Scope & Content
File consists of 38 commercial souvenir postcards pertaining to areas in Canada and Panama. Includes a collection of 20 image cards titled "Souvenir Views: Panama and the Canal"; 10 mini postcards titled "Minicards by Intag: Vancouver, Canada" and original annotated envelope; an exterior view photograph of Mile-Hi Lodge in Banff; a postcard print depicting 4 unnamed individuals on a narrow bridge titled "Suspension Bridge Capilano Canyon N. Vancouver, Canada"; and a set of 6 colour postcard prints titled "Natural Colour Photographs" depicting scenes in Banff and Jasper National Park.
File consists of collected commercial postcards from Canada, the United States, Central America, Europe and the United Kingdom [non-annotated]. File includes loose postcards, postcard sets and fold-out photo card booklets.
ca. 630 b&w and col. postcards ; 23 x 18 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of collected commercial postcards from Canada, the United States, Central America, Europe and the United Kingdom [non-annotated]. File includes loose postcards, postcard sets and fold-out photo card booklets.
Notes
Items in this file have been organized by geographical location. See "Content Details" entry field for contents of individual folders.
File is organized into 8 folders, numbered LUX / III / D / PG - 1 to 8.
PG - 1 : Banff National Park
PG - 2 : Canadian Rockies and Selkirks
PG - 3 : Alberta and British Columbia [Other]
PG - 4 : Canada
PG - 5 : United States of America
PG - 6 : United States of America, cont.'d [postcard sets and 1933 Chicago World Fair]
PG - 7 : Foreign
PG - 8 : Other [location not specified]
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 photographs, 1913-1956 pertaining to climbing, guiding, backcountry skiing, and film-making of "Emperor Waltz", filmed in Jasper. Also included are personal photographs, 1935-1950. Photograph album pertains to farming, 1935 and includes ca.25 postcards re Jasper area and Europe,…
100 photographs: prints. -- 1 photograph album: ca.40 prints, ca.25 postcards. -- 6 cm textual records
History / Biographical
Ernst Niederer, 1891-1978, was an alpine ski and climbing guide at Jasper, Banff, Columbia Icefield and Lake Louise, Alberta. Niederer was born in Teufen, Switzerland and came to Canada in 1920. He began guiding in 1928 and was certified in 1940. He retired to Victoria in 1951, but continued to ski and teach. Niederer was survived by his wife Ivy and son Ernie.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of photographs, 1913-1956 pertaining to climbing, guiding, backcountry skiing, and film-making of "Emperor Waltz", filmed in Jasper. Also included are personal photographs, 1935-1950. Photograph album pertains to farming, 1935 and includes ca.25 postcards re Jasper area and Europe, ca.1940 - ca.1950. Textual records include certificates, passports, and published articles, 1913-1956.