Fonds consists of textual records and photographs by and about Aileen Harmon, as well as collected items. Textual records include: letter from Harmon to the Director of Alberta's provincial parks re addition of Yamnuska area to Bow Valley Provincial Park, 1973; brief, from Harvie Heights and Bow Va…
26.5 cm of textual records. -- 33 photographs (26 prints : b&w and col. ; 20.5 x 30 cm or smaller -- 6 negatives : b&w nitrate negatives ; 12.5 x 10 cm -- 1 transparency : col. slide ; 35 mm)
History / Biographical
Aileen Harmon (1912 - 2015), daughter of Byron Harmon, worked as a government naturalist at Banff, Alberta, Canada and was involved in local natural history groups and activities. Aileen was a founding member, alongside Bruce Gordon, of the Bow Valley Naturalists, and was also on the Board of The Canadian Wildlife Federation and The Society of Alberta Naturalists. Aileen moved to Mill Bay on Vancouver Island, B.C. in 1981 following the end of a lengthy career with Parks Canada. During her retirement years, Aileen travelled extensively, reaching all seven continents. She also authored an autobiographical book, titled "Tales of My Mountain Life", in 2004. Aileen passed away on January 9, 2015 at the age of 102.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual records and photographs by and about Aileen Harmon, as well as collected items. Textual records include: letter from Harmon to the Director of Alberta's provincial parks re addition of Yamnuska area to Bow Valley Provincial Park, 1973; brief, from Harvie Heights and Bow Valley subdivision residents to public hearings on land use and resource development in the eastern slopes, 1973; letter re James Hector, 1979; notes on career, 2003; notes on Catharine Whyte for CBC recording, 2004; Christmas cards and collected articles, ca.1960. Photographs, made by and collected by Aileen Harmon, pertain to Aileen Harmon and friends, skiing, Skoki area, Mount Yamnuska, Banff Indian Days. Includes photographs by Byron Harmon.
Added content from accession 2016.8596 : ca. 25 cm of textual records including personal correspondence, guest book, original writing and notes by Aileen Harmon, personal travel journals from a 1931 packing trip and 1933 ski trip to Skoki, drafts of autobiographical book "Tales of My Mountain Life", articles pertaining to or written by Aileen Harmon, Christmas cards, and letters of condolence to Carole Harmon following Aileen's passing. Also 26 print photographs, 6 negative photographs from a 1937 hiking trip, and one transparency.
Fonds consists of one series :
Series I - Personal records
Fonds consists of materials pertaining to Ben Gadd's personal life and career as an environmental researcher, educator, interpretive guide, publisher, public speaker and author, ca.1956-2018. Fonds includes maps, research materials, publication notes/drafts, correspondence, contracts, photographs, …
ca. 7.9 metres of textual records -- ca. 274 maps -- 29 VHS tapes -- ca.15 discs with digital files -- 21 cassettes -- photographs -- oversized materials -- USB stick with 15 sldeshows
History / Biographical
Ben Gadd (1946-) is a retired naturalist, guide, geologist, instructor, freelance writer and award-winning author based in the Canadian Rockies.
Ben was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1946. He met his wife, Cia (Langdon) Gadd at Colorado College in 1965, and the couple married four weeks later. Ben and Cia had two sons, Will and Toby. Ben and his family relocated to Jasper in the late 1960s. Ben later attended the University of Lethbridge and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Earth Science in 1972.
Between 1976 and 1980, Ben taught classes at Mount Royal College and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology; he later taught additional classes at Grant MacEwan College and Lakeland College. From 1981, Ben also worked as a seasonal naturalist/guide for Parks Canada. Ben left Parks Canada in 1985 to start an independent naturalist guiding business with Cia based in Jasper and other parts of the Canadian Rockies, which the couple continued to operate for over two decades.
Ben published his best-known work, "Handbook of the Canadian Rockies", through his publishing company Corax Press in 1986. The second edition of "Handbook of the Canadian Rockies" received multiple awards after its release in 1995. Ben's fiction book, "Raven's End" won the title of Best Canadian Rockies Book at the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival in 2001 and became a Canadian bestseller. Overall, Ben has authored or co-authored 11 books and received nearly one dozen awards for his achievements as a writer, researcher and guide.
Ben continued to lead guided hikes and school programs until his retirement in 2016.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of materials pertaining to Ben Gadd's personal life and career as an environmental researcher, educator, interpretive guide, publisher, public speaker and author, ca.1956-2018. Fonds includes maps, research materials, publication notes/drafts, correspondence, contracts, photographs, video and sound recordings, and other related material. Materials donated in 2024 include one USB stick containing
Notes
Ben Gadd fonds arrangement:
Series I : Personal records
- Subseries A : Travel guides and maps
- Subseries B : Education and early writings
- Subseries C : Personal interest files
- Subseries D : Other personal and collected
Series II : Research and publication records
- Subseries A : Handbook of the Canadian Rockies
- Subseries B : Other publications
Series III : Professional records
- Subseries A : Parks Canada Records
- Subseries B : Interpretive guiding
- Subseries C : Teaching records
- Subseries D : Other contracts and projects
Series IV : Legal and financial records
- Subseries A : Legal records
- Subseries B : Financial records
File consists of 23 negative photographs (colour and b&w), 30 colour transparencies and 1 colour print. Content pertains to Banff National Park AB views. Includes Balfour Glacier, Hector Lake, Bow Lake, Banff Springs Hotel, Banff Springs Hotel golf course, views from Chateau Lake Louise (1960s), Ti…
54 Photographs: negatives, transparencies, print; b&w and colour
Scope & Content
File consists of 23 negative photographs (colour and b&w), 30 colour transparencies and 1 colour print. Content pertains to Banff National Park AB views. Includes Balfour Glacier, Hector Lake, Bow Lake, Banff Springs Hotel, Banff Springs Hotel golf course, views from Chateau Lake Louise (1960s), Timberline Hotel, Banff. Print photograph depicts bagpipe player near Banff Springs Hotel.
Notes
Contains duplicates. Negatives, transparencies and print stored in separate file boxes.
Fonds consists of visual and texual material pertaining to the Canadian Pacific Railway and its holdings. Visual material conists of two series. Series I: lantern slides, Series II: prints. Textual material consists of two series. Series I: organizational records, Series II: the 1942 film "Canadian…
69 b&w lantern slides, 5 cm of textual records, ca. 309 prints : b&w ; 27.9 x 20.3 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of visual and texual material pertaining to the Canadian Pacific Railway and its holdings. Visual material conists of two series. Series I: lantern slides, Series II: prints. Textual material consists of two series. Series I: organizational records, Series II: the 1942 film "Canadian Pacific" screenplay and associated documents.
Visual material includes black and white lantern slides and black and white prints depicting various scenes pertaining to travelling on the Canadian Pacific Railway and depict dining rooms, scnes involving trains and mountains, farming scenes and fields, people in train cars, various cities and towns, figures in natural landscapes, horses and horseback riding, mountains, waterfalls, skiing, ships, CP hotels, and other grand buildings [across Canada] such as Notre Dame Cathedral in Montreal.
Textual material includes paper reports [some compiled by Canadian Pacific Hotels Architectural Engineer Ed Steel] detailing various construction and/or renovation projects for hotels, lodges, tea houses, bugalow camps, huts, and backcountry lodges throughout the Canadian Rockies as well as records pertaining to CP hotels in the Canadian Rockies, and the screenplay for "Canadian Pacific."
Notes
Slides were stored in rectangular wood box with leather handle on top, and metal handle at one end. White label that says “Lyon & Turnbull 432 04 February 2009” on lid of the box. Old, peeling, and stained label on top under handle, illegible. Faded, peeling labels on front, some words legible: “from the Canadian Pacific…” 2 stained and water damaged labels detached from box appear to be English shipping labels.“10” stamped in black on both ends of box. Stamped in black on rear of box: “Canadian Pacific Rly Co. 62 to 65 Charing Cross, London, S.W. 1. “3” engraved on upper rim of box. Box is divided into 3 sections with removable wood separators, small pieces of felt line 2 sections of the box.
Prints and some textual records absorbed from old records V121 and M48.
Lantern slides donated to the Whyte Museum by Dr. William and Mrs. Wynn Bensen. The slides were purchased by the Bensens from Lyon and Turnbull in Scotland.
Fonds consists of selected colour transparencies mainly pertaining to Hunter's world travels, including Africa, 1961, northern India and region, 1967, Norway, 1974, and New Zealand and Australia, date unknown. Also, scenic views of the Canadian Rockies. Selected from total of 1633 slides. Accompa…
Charlie Hunter, 1888-1982, was a guide and outfitter at Pincher Creek, Banff, Rocky Mountain House and Nordegg, Alberta. Hunter was born in Illinois, USA and came to Pincher Creek in 1904. There he began his career as a guide and outfitter, expanding to the Banff area in 1930s. Hunter travelled extensively throughout the world.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of selected colour transparencies mainly pertaining to Hunter's world travels, including Africa, 1961, northern India and region, 1967, Norway, 1974, and New Zealand and Australia, date unknown. Also, scenic views of the Canadian Rockies. Selected from total of 1633 slides. Accompanied by one photograph of Kootenai Brown.
Also contains one photograph album previously belonging to Charlie Hunter consisting of ca.211 b&w photographs depicting Canadian Rockies tours and packing trips.
File consists of 124 negative photographs (b&w, colour), 30 colour transparencies and 2 colour prints, various sizes. Content pertains to interior and exterior views of the Chateau Lacombe hotel in Edmonton, AB.
File consists of 124 negative photographs (b&w, colour), 30 colour transparencies and 2 colour prints, various sizes. Content pertains to interior and exterior views of the Chateau Lacombe hotel in Edmonton, AB.
Notes
Contains duplicates. Negatives, transparencies and prints stored in separate file boxes.
File consists of reference photographs collected by Chic Scott for use in various publications. Photographs were retrieved from various individuals, and institutions including Whistler Archives and the Whyte Museum. Content pertains to mountaineering, skiing, individual portraits, views of the Cana…
ca.230 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 25.5 x 20 cm or smaller -- 4 photographs : col. slides ; 35 mm -- 42 photographs : b&w negatives ; 35 mm -- 0.5 cm of textual records
Scope & Content
File consists of reference photographs collected by Chic Scott for use in various publications. Photographs were retrieved from various individuals, and institutions including Whistler Archives and the Whyte Museum. Content pertains to mountaineering, skiing, individual portraits, views of the Canadian Rockies, and related subjects.
Notes
Sub-series contains mostly photograph prints
Some items are annotated
Materials, including accompanying textual notes, have been kept in original order to preserve context
Fonds consists of 2 cm of textual records consisting of correspondence from Catharine Robb Whyte [1967-1973] and Murray Adaskin to David Zweifel; 9 colour transparencies pertaining to a 1977 ski trip in Lucerne, Switzerland and David and Marilyn Zweifel's wedding in 1975; 6 colour prints from a 197…
Corresponence written by David Zweifel and Catharine Robb Whyte
Date Range
1967
1972
1975
1989
Physical Description
2 cm of textual records -- 15 photographs (9 col. transparencies, 6 col. prints) -- 1 sound recording
History / Biographical
David Zweifel (1950 -) is a professional violinist who met Catharine Robb Whyte in December 1966 at the age of 16, shortly following the death of her husband Peter Whyte. Catharine helped to fund Zweifel's musical education and concert trips over the following years, and arranged with her friend Murray Adaskin for Zweifel to obtain a violin that had been previously owned by David White, who was the father of Peter Whyte. Zweifel attended Master classes in music at the Banff Centre as a young adult and stayed in Catharine's home with her during the summer months. David and Catharine were both active in outdoor activities and sports, and the pair went on multiple skiing trips and hikes together including Mount Rundle. Upon completing his education, Zweifel moved to Switzerland to join the Lausanne Orchestra. Catharine visited David and his wife Marilyn in Switzerland at least twice, in 1972 and 1977.
Zweifel later became a concert violinist for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra upon returning to Canada. David performed at Catharine Robb Whyte's memorial service at the Banff Centre on March 15, 1979 alongside Ken Stromberg [violin], and Tom Rolston [viola]. Marilyn Zweifel also performed a vocal solo. David Zweifel made a brief appearance in the 2016 film "Drawing Home", which tells the story of Peter and Catharine Whyte, in which he plays an unnamed violinist on a train ride to Banff.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of 2 cm of textual records consisting of correspondence from Catharine Robb Whyte [1967-1973] and Murray Adaskin to David Zweifel; 9 colour transparencies pertaining to a 1977 ski trip in Lucerne, Switzerland and David and Marilyn Zweifel's wedding in 1975; 6 colour prints from a 1972 ski trip in Austria with Catharine Robb Whyte, David Zweifel, and Marilyn Zweifel; and 1 sound recording of Catharine Robb Whyte's memorial service in 1979
Fonds consists of one series which currently includes all listed content in the fonds:
Series I : Catharine Robb Whyte
"Romance in the Rockies: The Life and Adventures of Catharine and Peter Whyte" by Kim Mayberry (Canmore: Altitude Publishing Canada Ltd., 2003), p. 98-99.
Copy of "Romance in the Rockies" located in the Whyte Museum's library under code [06 W62ma c.1]
Drawing Home Production Notes, M.Y.R.A. Entertainment, LLC. p. 34 [PDF]
Title Source
Title based on contents of fonds
Content Details
Cassette tape in accession 2019.02 is Loan for Copy, rest of items in fonds are part of a gift donation
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 records pertaining to Elmer and Grace Charlton's business, social and recreational activities in Banff. Photographic records include ca.400 35mm slides re animals, mountain scenics, trail-riding parades, golf, winter activities, Mount Royal Hotel fire; 40 prints re Banff personal…
ca.841 photographs: ca.800 transparencies; 35mm, 40 prints + 1 framed. -- textual records -- 9 framed certificates and letters -- 1 plaque
History / Biographical
Grace Charlton (née Wheatley) was born 1912 in Bankhead, Alberta to Alice and Frank Wheatley. The family moved to Banff in the early 1920s when the Bankhead mine closed. Following graduation from school in Banff, Grace attended Henderson Business School in Calgary completing secretarial courses. She returned to Banff to work for J.D. Hansen.
Elmer Charlton was born in Spokane, Washington, U.S.A. in 1911. Elmer completed his schooling in Calgary when his family moved there from Spokane. Elmer worked for his brother Malcolm before moving to Banff in the 1930s to work for his brother in-law George Brewster, who owned Brewster Skyline Tours. Elmer worked for George Brewster driving the daily bus from Banff to Calgary. On his return trips from Calgary, Elmer delivered the Calgary Herald newspaper to homes and businesses along the way. Elmer met Grace while he was working for Brewster and they married in 1935. Grace and Elmer had two children, Ken (b.1939) and Gary (b.1942).
Growing up in Banff, Grace was an active skier and she and Elmer became involved with the Ski Runners of the Canadian Rockies and helped build the first lodge and rope tow. Both Grace and Elmer held executive positions with the Ski Runners of the Canadian Rockies and Elmer was a judge at the ski-jump event for the North American Ski championships, 1948-1950. Grace and Elmer were also active golfers. Grace served on the ladies' executive of the Banff Springs Golf Club and won many club tournaments. Elmer was also an active member of the Banff Springs Golf Club, holding executive positions with the men's club at various times. Elmer was a member of the Banff Curling Club and both he and Grace were involved with the Banff Winter Carnival in the early years. Elmer worked on the construction of the Highway between the park gates and Banff and also found work on the sets of a number of movies filmed in Banff. Elmer worked on the soundstages, appeared as an extra and was a driver for the casts of the films "Lassie Come Home", "North West Stampede", "Saskatchewan", and "River of No Return." In 1949 Elmer and Grace built Charlton's Cedar Court, the first year round motel. It opened with four units and expanded to twenty units before their son Gary took over management of the motel in 1969. Grace and Elmer became members of the Banff Chamber of Commerce and Elmer served as president. Elmer was a life member of the Banff Kinsmen Club and Banff Rotary Club. Grace was a life member of the IODE and the Eastern Star Lodge. Grace died in 1998 and Elmer in 2000.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of records pertaining to Elmer and Grace Charlton's business, social and recreational activities in Banff. Photographic records include ca.400 35mm slides re animals, mountain scenics, trail-riding parades, golf, winter activities, Mount Royal Hotel fire; 40 prints re Banff personalities, skiing, golfing, social gatherings; 1 framed photograph of actor Jack Oakie.
Textual records consist of Banff Springs Golf Club papers, 1923-1960s (largely collected by Dr. E. Kennedy) including Canadian Golfer May 1925 with article on donation of Prince of Wales trophy; bylaws and constitution, 1923 & 1931; correspondence re Prince of Wales trophy, 1924; scorecards & advertising brochures re BSGC; competition recordbook, 1950s & 1960s.
Also included in textual records are Grace Charlton's organizations including 2 National Parks School District scribblers re fashion show, 1940; history of IODE; IODE provincial reports, 1989; Star cookbook, 1947; Exercises in Grammar, 1928.
Textual records also include Dominion Ski Championships materials including programs, 1938; screenplay "Saskatchewan", Universal-International Pictures, July 8, 1953; miscellaneous programs & brochures, 1935-1980s; miscellaneous newspaper clippings, 1930s-1980s; Rangeman's Dinner programs and menus, 1968-1992; golf file containing brochures, scorecards, Ladies' Division Rule Book, 1985; History of Events and Competitions of the BSGC - Ladies Division, 1985; correspondence re death of Patricia Christensen at Marble Canyon, 1954; and miscellaneous leaseholder/land use documents.
Fonds also includes 9 framed certificates and letters and one plaque, pertaining to Elmer Charlton's involvement in the Banff Kinsmen's Club, the Rotary Club of Banff, Banff Springs Golf Course, and Grace and Elmer's golden wedding anniversary.