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.
File pertains to a photograph album depicting snapshots of prisoners of war and surroundings taken by Seargent William D. Buck of the Banff, Castle Mountain, and Kapuskasing, ON, internment camps during World War I.
Photograph album includes Banff and Kapuskasing River views; Castle and Banff inter…
William D. Buck, 1859-1922, was born in England and is thought to have served during the First World War with the 103 Calgary Rifles. Buck was a Sergeant at the Banff and Castle Mountain internment camps, ca.1915-1917, and appears to have accompanied prisoners to a camp at Kapuskasing, Ontario after closure of the Castle Mountain camp in 1917.
Scope & Content
File pertains to a photograph album depicting snapshots of prisoners of war and surroundings taken by Seargent William D. Buck of the Banff, Castle Mountain, and Kapuskasing, ON, internment camps during World War I.
Photograph album includes Banff and Kapuskasing River views; Castle and Banff internment camps views of prisoners, guards, facilities, activities, incidents and visit of Duke of Connaught and Princess Patricia; gathering of prisoners at Winnipeg and life at Kapuskasing internment camp; prisoners and Cave and Basin bathing, more Banff camp views and funeral photographs; family portraits, Banff and possible Calgary; and Sergeant Buck.
Consists of 199 numbered and captioned images, one un-numbered portrait on first page, as follows : Banff and area and Kapuskasing River views, 1 - 16 ; Castle and Banff Internment Camp views of prisoners, guards, activities, incidents and facilities, visit of Duke of Connaught and Princess Patricia, 17-88 ; gathering . . . in prisoners at Winnipeg and life at Kapuskasing, Ontario Internment Camp, 89-100 ; prisoners and Cave and Basin bathing, more Banff Camp views and funeral photographs, 101-118 ; family portraits, Banff and possibly Calgary, 119-148 ; published postcards of : Calgary Stampede, Banff and Calgary views, [Indigenous] portraits, 148-195 ; Sergeant Buck with dogs, 1919, 196-197. Span dates : ca.1915-1920 (actual date). Note: Two images are labelled #148.
Notes
Album also contains 47 published postcards of the Calgary Stampede, Banff and Calgary views, and Indigenous portraits that were not copied.
Attached individual images pertain solely to the Cave & Basin internment camp.
File consists of one album of colorized commercial postcards and one postcard print. Content pertains to tourist attractions and communities within Havana and other rural regions of Cuba. Subjects include unidentified local families and individuals, crop harvesting [including bananas, pineapples an…
Some items produced by Harris Bros. Co., and Curt Teich & Co.
Date Range
[ca. 1900 - ca. 1905]
1904
1909
1911
Physical Description
1 album (96 col. postcards ; 9 x 14 cm and 8 cm x 13.5 cm -- 1 print : b&w postcard ; 8 x 13 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of one album of colorized commercial postcards and one postcard print. Content pertains to tourist attractions and communities within Havana and other rural regions of Cuba. Subjects include unidentified local families and individuals, crop harvesting [including bananas, pineapples and cane sugar], livestock, dockyard and wharf scenes, a street carnival and other community events in Havana, city views, Cuba's 1909 presidential inauguration, a mass burial site, cathedrals, landmarks, and botanical gardens. Most items not dated or annotated. Postcard print has personal message addressed to "David" [likely David McDougall] in 1909, and one postcard depicting mass burial site has personal message to David McDougall from Mr. Adam Mackenzie.
Notes
One postcard and b&w postcard print are annotated on back
Many items are duplicates of postcards in album LUX / II / E / PD - 4
File consists of one scrapbook containing photograph prints, postcard prints, newspaper clippings, and two typed pages pertaining to John McDougall and the "Indian Uprising" in Alberta in 1880, and Marion Carson. Visual content pertains to various members and friends of the Luxton family attending …
1 scrapbook (59 b&w and col. prints ; 16.5 x 21.5 cm or smaller -- 3 newspaper clippings - 2 textual records)
Scope & Content
File consists of one scrapbook containing photograph prints, postcard prints, newspaper clippings, and two typed pages pertaining to John McDougall and the "Indian Uprising" in Alberta in 1880, and Marion Carson. Visual content pertains to various members and friends of the Luxton family attending domestic and international trips between 1954 and 1970, including trips to Victoria, B.C., Hawaii, Italy, Egypt, Hong Kong, Japan, Ireland, India, Greece and England.
Notes
Some items are heavily annotated on back, some dates and locations provided on pages of scrapbook