Fonds constitutes the principal resource for the study of the history of Canadian mountaineering. It provides a wealth of information on individual alpinists, expeditions, mountains, national parks, conservation, climbing, alpine organizations, publications, guiding, scientific study and the Alpin…
ca.42 m of textual records. -- ca.12,500 photographs: prints, stereographic prints, transparencies, slides, negatives, postcards. -- 85 photograph albums. -- 8 motion pictures: films, video recordings. -- 3 sound recordings
History / Biographical
The Alpine Club of Canada, the national mountaineering club, was co-founded in 1906 by A. O. Wheeler and Elizabeth Parker, and other like-minded climbers. The club espoused scientific study and exploration, cultivation of art, public education, acquisition of climbing skills, and preservation of natural areas within the mountainous regions of Canada. Through a national executive, local sections and volunteer committees, the club provided climbing camps, clubhouse, huts, and publications, including the Canadian Alpine Journal. ACC expeditions and projects resulted in pioneer exploration, first ascents, and included mountain warfare training during the Second World War. In recent years, the club's membership has increased dramatically with the popularity of climbing and its programs have evolved to serve the needs of unguided climbers using sophisticated technical aids.
Scope & Content
Fonds constitutes the principal resource for the study of the history of Canadian mountaineering. It provides a wealth of information on individual alpinists, expeditions, mountains, national parks, conservation, climbing, alpine organizations, publications, guiding, scientific study and the Alpine Club itself.
The fonds consists of four Sous-fonds: I. Alpine Club of Canada records; II. Mount Everest Expedition (1982) records; III. Personal papers and photographs; IV. Other material. Club administration records (series I.A.) pertain to executive positions; head office; finance; camps, climbing and treks; expeditions; huts and properties; clubhouses; library; publications; photography; other committees; other activities; and other. Other club records include section records (series I.B.), hut registers and summit records (series I.C.).
Fonds consists of seven series: I. Personal and professional series, 1937-1993 (diaries, correspondence, filing systems and papers pertaining to awards, memberships, biography and other); II. Business series, 1948-1982 (pertaining to guiding, outfitting, trail riding, ranching, Andy Russell and S…
6 m of textual records and printed material. -- ca.6100 photographs : prints, negatives, transparencies. -- 1 photograph album (49 prints). -- 29 motion pictures. -- 5 sound recordings
History / Biographical
Andy Russell, 1915-2005, was a trapper, guide and outfitter, writer, photographer, cinematographer, lecturer and environmental advocate in the Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada.
Russell was born in Lethbridge, Alberta and spent his childhood on a ranch in the foothills near Pincher Creek. He became a skilled horseman, hunter, fisherman and trapper, and, in 1936, was employed by Bert Riggall, a pioneer guide and outfitter of wilderness pack trips in the southern Rockies since 1907. He became Riggall's partner in 1939 and took over the business when Riggall retired in 1946. Andy Russell and Kathleen (Kay) Riggall married in 1938 and raised five children at their ranch bordering Waterton Lakes National Park, where family businesses included guiding, saddlehorses and ranching. Children are: Richard "Dick" H. (b.1938); Andrew Charles "Charlie" (b.1941); Harold John "John" (b.1944); Hugh Gordon Riggall "Gordon" (b.1947); Lorenda Anne "Anne" (b.1952).
Russell continued as a renowned guide and outfitter with a wealthy repeat clientele until he was forced out of guiding by 1960 with the advance of the oil industry concerns upon wilderness areas in southern Alberta and British Columbia. Russell began to write nature articles in 1945 and after 1960 concentrated upon writing, photography, film making, lecturing and ranching. He wrote for numerous magazines and newspapers, produced radio broadcasts, and, using colour motion picture photography, developed programs on wildlife and wilderness habitat research for live public performances. Russell's films launched his career as an author of popular wildlife and mountain culture books, which included Grizzly Country. In later years, he was an active writer, consultant and advocate of wilderness and environmental management and received numerous awards and honours, including Member of the Order of Canada.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of seven series: I. Personal and professional series, 1937-1993 (diaries, correspondence, filing systems and papers pertaining to awards, memberships, biography and other); II. Business series, 1948-1982 (pertaining to guiding, outfitting, trail riding, ranching, Andy Russell and Sons, royalties and lecturing); III. Writing, broadcasting and public appearances series, 1908-1990 (papers and photographs pertaining to writing, book projects, columns, broadcasts, reviews, advertising, promotion and other); IV. Photography and cinematography series, 1909-1990 (details below); V. Wildlife study and conservation activities series, 1945-[198-]; VI. Other activities series, 1931-[199-] (politics, interviews, information files); VII. Russell family series, [1867]-1983.
Photography and cinematography series consists of: Riggall/Russell guiding activity photographs, 1909-1962, ca.280 items; Andy Russell and Sons Production Ltd / Andy Russell professional photographs and films, ca.1940- ca.1990, ca.4200 photographs (mainly transparencies), 28 motion pictures, accompanied by some textual and printed items; personal and family photographs, 1916-1989, ca.1550 items; collected photographs, ca.1940-197-, ca.75 items. Professional photography and cinematography primarily arose from field work by Andy, Dick and Charlie Russell and pertains mainly to flora, fauna and landscape of the Canadian Rockies in continental divide region, British Columbia, Yukon and Alaska.
Motion pictures, ca.1950-1974, include original film "Grizzly Country" by Dick, Charlie and Andy Russell, produced by Evan J. Anton, ca.1969, copy print of same; also unedited wildlife and landscape footage of Waterton area, Yukon and British Columbia.
Sound recordings are interviews with Andy Russell, [ca.1970]-1988.
Fonds consists of correspondence re establishment and premises, 1949-1961; constitution and minutes, 1949-2006; miscellaneous textual items, including poster, blueprint and calendar of community events, 1974-1976; and a sound recording of the Banff Library/Seniors Centre opening ceremony, April 20,…
6 cm of textual records. -- 1 sound recording : audio tape reel; 217cm of unprocessed textual and visual material
History / Biographical
The Banff Public Library, also known as the Banff Library, was initially sponsored by local service groups in various premises, including the Banff Clinic, 1949-1961, a home on the Whyte property, 1961-1967, and in the Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation building (now Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies) from 1968-1985. In 1985, the Banff Public Library relocated to the lower floor of the new Banff Library/Seniors Centre, and in 1990 the library came under the jurisdiction of the new Town of Banff.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of correspondence re establishment and premises, 1949-1961; constitution and minutes, 1949-2006; miscellaneous textual items, including poster, blueprint and calendar of community events, 1974-1976; and a sound recording of the Banff Library/Seniors Centre opening ceremony, April 20, 1985.
Unprocessed Includes:
Box 1 consists of Banff Public Library minutes 1949 to 1994
Box 2 consists of Banff Public Library minutes 1995 to 2006
Box 3 consists of: Banff Public Library Needs Assessment, 1987, Banff Public Library Collection Assessment Project January – April 1995, Banff Public Library Renovations 1998, Banff Public Library Bylaws & Policy (1983?), Banff Public Library Plan of Service, By-Laws & Policy (1994?), Banff Public Library Rules & Regulations (1953-54?), George Stacey, Proposed Library Philosophy 1981, and Banff Public Library Goals & Objectives 1998, and Minutes of the Banff Library/Seniors’ Centre Building Committee.
Also included is Proposed Banff Seniors’s Centre/Library Complex: Proposed Financing and funds, Proposal for Architectural Services, Budget for Construction and Consulting costs, Site Plan.
Documents regarding establishing a Building Committee: Letter from George Stacey, Secretary-Treasurer, Banff Library Board to W. R. Roberge, Chairman, Banff School District No. 102 requesting School District representation on the Building Committee and List of Committee members
Other various documents included are: Library Building Program Checklist, Review and remarks of the Building Committee’s visit to Lacombe, Space & design requirements; Fundraising, Planning, Clippings, One file “Banff Public Library up to 1962 clippings (incl. 1949 & before), Nine files labelled 1990-91, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 containing newspaper clippings, advertisements, and programme posters. Also included: library logo contest c. 1985, One blue receipt book containing receipts for fundraising donations for the new library at 101 Bear St. c. 1982-83, Seniors’ Centre: Plans, Anticipated Needs and Suggestions, Library Citizen Survey, and Space Plan April 1981
Leasehold Correspondence
Letter; E. J. Hart, Administrator, Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation to George Stacey, Secretary/Treasurer Banff Library Board
Letter; George Stacey, Secretary/Treasurer Banff Library Board to Cliff White, President, Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation
Letter; Lee Racine, Building and Development Officer, Parks Canada, Banff Township Office to Patricia Langridge, Chairperson Banff Library/Seniors’ Centre Building Committee
Letter; Patricia Langridge, Chairperson Banff Library/Seniors’ Centre Building Committee to Mr. Tom Ross, Acting Superintendent, Banff National Park
Letter; E. J. Hart, Administrator, Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation to Patricia Langridge, Chairperson Banff Library/Seniors’ Centre Building Committee
Letter: Patricia E. McNamee, Librarian/Secretary/Treasurer, Banff Public Library to Patricia Langridge, Chairperson Banff Library/Seniors’ Centre Building Committee
Letter: Patricia E. McNamee, Librarian/Secretary/Treasurer, Banff Public Library to Patricia Langridge, Chairperson Banff Library/Seniors’ Centre Building Committee
Box 4
Two small green photograph albums
Banff Public Library 1984-1989
Banff Public Library 2003-2007 Programming, staff events, renovations
Fourteen photos mounted on foam core with a sheet of paper describing the images. Copied and mounted by Chic Scott for a library celebration c. 2005.
Box 5
Two guest books containing visitor comments from 1999 and 2000
One file of negatives – ca. 1970? to 2000? and 1 CD-R disc containing 109 J-PEG photos dating 2000-2007
One VHS containing the Much Music Snowjob event, March 1995 containing a segment filmed in the library (staff Margaret Watson & Max Elliott).
Special program event posters
Fonds consists primarily of predator study photographs by Bill Vroom, re grizzly bears and wolves in Banff National Park, ca.1974-ca.1980. Also includes textual records: The ecology of grizzly bear winter den sites in Banff National Park, Alberta / G. William Vroom, Stephen Herrero, R. T. Ogilvie :…
G. William (Bill) Vroom, 1931-1998, was a national park warden at Banff, Alberta, Canada from 1955 until 1988
Scope & Content
Fonds consists primarily of predator study photographs by Bill Vroom, re grizzly bears and wolves in Banff National Park, ca.1974-ca.1980. Also includes textual records: The ecology of grizzly bear winter den sites in Banff National Park, Alberta / G. William Vroom, Stephen Herrero, R. T. Ogilvie : [conference paper], 1977, 33 p.; personal income tax return, 1956; recorded slide show commentary for "Grizzly Bear Winter", 1976; and prints pertaining to grizzly bears, 1964, and Palliser cabin, 1970.
Fonds consists of textual and photographic records pertaining to Brewster Transport and its predecessor and subsidiary companies. Series are: I. James I. Brewster, 1892-1962; II. Brewster Brothers, 1905-1909; III. Brewster Transfer Company Ltd., 1909-1916; IV. Brewster Trading Co. Ltd., 1907-1926;…
ca.5 m of textual records : includes ca.50 v. -- ca.1280 photographs : prints, negatives, transparencies, proof sheets. -- 2 photograph albums. -- ca.100 sets of cartographic records : plans, blueprints. -- 11 motion pictures (10 videocassettes, 1 film reel). -- 11 sound recordings : audio cassettes
History / Biographical
Brewster Transport Company is a transportation company based at Banff, Alberta. Formally organized in 1900 as W. & J. Brewster, Guides and Packers, the company expanded in 1904 into commercial development in Banff and acquired the Canadian Pacific Railway livery concession at Banff in 1905. From 1909 until his death in 1947, Jim Brewster guided the company, with Lou Crosby handling finance. Beginning in 1917, Brewster Transport entered the motorized era with touring cars, later replaced with a succession of buses. From 1920 to 1933, Bill Brewster was general manager and during this period the company acquired Royal Hawaiian Transport and the Sunshine Ski development. The company amalgamated its transportation interests with Rocky Mountain Tours in 1957, and in 1965 the company passed out of the Brewster family's hands, being sold to Greyhound Lines of Canada. Brewster Transport continues to operate as Brewster Transportation and Tours, a diversified transportation and accommodation company in the Rocky Mountains.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual and photographic records pertaining to Brewster Transport and its predecessor and subsidiary companies. Series are: I. James I. Brewster, 1892-1962; II. Brewster Brothers, 1905-1909; III. Brewster Transfer Company Ltd., 1909-1916; IV. Brewster Trading Co. Ltd., 1907-1926; V. Brewster Hotel Company Ltd., 1909-1926; VI. Brewster Transport Company / Brewster-Rocky Mountain Grayline, ca.1900-1988; VII. Brewster Transportation and Tours Co. records, 1930s-1996; VIII. Other, 1956-1972.
Series VI is the major series, consisting of 146.5 cm of textual records (and ca.50 col), ca.700 photographs, and ca.100 sets of plans and blueprints. The series includes: Agreements, 1915-1974; Minutes, 1915-1963; Financial papers, 1915-1966; Operating, ca.1900-1988; Properties, 1906-1974; Subsidiaries, 1924-1962; Other, 1943-1977. Photographs, ca.1900-ca.1970, are mainly publicity photographs relating to Brewster Transport vehicles, tours, facilities, Sunshine Ski Lodge and area, Canadian Rockies hotels and scenic views, also Brewster family and Banff personalities; include 2 albums. Plans pertain to properties and facilities.
Fonds is primarily a broad-ranging commercial negative collection pertaining to Banff and area, including businesses, buildings, projects, events, people and scenic views; skiing, mountain travel and recreation; Sunshine Village Ski Area; warden activities in the mountain parks; national and provin…
ca.31,580 photographs: negatives, prints, and transparencies. -- 1 photograph album (ca.150 prints). -- 50 motion pictures: 1 original, 8 copies on 3 video cassettes, 41 film reels: 16mm, 35mm. -- 18 sound recordings: audio tape reels, audio tape cassettes. -- 5 electronic records: computer diskettes. -- 3 maps. -- 15 cm textual records.
History / Biographical
Bruno Engler, 1915-2001, was a mountain guide, ski instructor, photographer and film maker at Banff and Canmore, Alberta, Canada. Engler arrived from Switzerland in 1939 and initially worked as a mountain guide and ski instructor for the Canadian Pacific Railway, Sunshine ski area and for Deer Lodge at Lake Louise, Alberta. During the Second World War, he served as a mountain warfare instructor for the Canadian Army. Following the war, Engler worked as a free-lance photographer for the National Film Board and others; as coach of the University of Alberta Ski Team; and as a technical advisor, cameraman and actor for numerous movies made in the Banff area. Throughout his career, Engler worked as a still and motion picture photographer, both for the movie industry and for governments at all levels, as well as operating his own business, Alpine Films of Banff, Alberta.
Scope & Content
Fonds is primarily a broad-ranging commercial negative collection pertaining to Banff and area, including businesses, buildings, projects, events, people and scenic views; skiing, mountain travel and recreation; Sunshine Village Ski Area; warden activities in the mountain parks; national and provincial parks; scenic views of western Canada, particularly mountain landscapes; some portraits and candid shots of local and international personalities. Photographs pertaining to film making include helicopter rescue; highway construction; Norquay, Sunshine, and Lake Louise ski areas' histories; Banff events and buildings; Canmore events and buildings; professional and amateur ski races; scenic mountain and wildlife; mountaineering and highway accidents; mountain guiding trips including Pierre Trudeau, Roland Michener and Peter Lougheed. Fonds consists of four series: Photography, Motion Pictures, Sound Recordings, and Textual records. Photography series consists of four sub-series established by the photographer: I. Old file, 1949-1970; II. Main file, alphabetical A - Z, 1950-1976; III Sunshine file, [1939], 1950-1975; IV. Warden file, 1954-1976.
Motion pictures on video cassettes are footage of skiing at Sunshine, 1930s; Clifford White films, 1930s, from WMCR Archives collection (V682); "Snow Capers" by Thomas Mead, 1946, includes Engler; "Ski Pro's Holiday" by George Encil, 1950?; "Mount Bulyea" by George Encil, 1950?, includes Engler; "Diary of a Mountain Man," a CBC documentary feature on Bruno Engler broadcast on "20/20" in 1965 (ca.27 minutes); "Great Days in the Rockies" by National Film Board of Canada, 1983; "Mountain Man" by Banff Centre, 1985, re Engler. Original film is "Sunshine 1940" and includes Brewster Transport ski buses travelling from train station to Sunshine Lodge, skiers, guide, lessons, games, rope tow, ski action, slalom, Bruno Engler, other. 16mm and 35mm film reels, 1946-1964 are films produced by the National Film Board.
Sound recordings, electronic records and and related textual material pertain to interviews with Bruno Engler, 1987, done by Brian Patton and Jon Whyte for Bruno Engler autobiography project. Interviews covered Engler's life, but are not complete to 1987. Transcripts, prepared from recordings by Brenda Goeres, are not verbatim. Audio tape cassettes consist of portions of content of audio tape reels.
Textual records include corporate records, newspaper clippings and magazine articles pertaining to film making, cast and crew listings and schedules for various movies, ski racing, mountain guiding trips and ski race listings. Also included is documentation pertaining to film making with producer National Film Board including letters, film stock footage, press releases, and film summaries; maps indicate film location shots for Arctic Rampage.
Fonds consists mainly of textual records in the form of correspondence, reports, grant applications, etc. pertaining to the preservation, duplication and exhibition of Byron Harmon photograph collection, 1973-1983; correspondence, research notes and photocopies of primary and secondary sources on B…
10 cm of textual records. -- 7 photographs : prints. -- 1 sound recording : audio tape reel
History / Biographical
Carole Harmon, b.1947, writer, publisher, photographer and businesswoman at Banff, Alberta, Canada, was instrumental in securing the preservation and exhibition of the photographs of her grand-father, Byron Harmon.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists mainly of textual records in the form of correspondence, reports, grant applications, etc. pertaining to the preservation, duplication and exhibition of Byron Harmon photograph collection, 1973-1983; correspondence, research notes and photocopies of primary and secondary sources on Byron Harmon biography and cinematography, ca.1902-1977. Also includes ephemeral material from Merry-Go-Round Theatre productions in which Carole Harmon was involved as a child, ca.1952-1960. Sound recording is an interview by Aileen, Carole and Don Harmon with Edward Feuz, recorded while the group looked at photographs. It pertains to trips with Byron Harmon and Harmon's photography and film making career; also, Feuz's life and guiding career, clients, trips. Photographs pertain to Merry-Go Round Theatre productions, Carole Harmon and other participants.
Series consists of textual records, photographs and video and sound recordings collected by Eleanor Luxton. Contents include various published and unpublished materials, including sheet music, correspondence, books about Canadian and Indigenous history, magazines, souvenir publications, travel guid…
37.0 cm textual records.-- photographs.-- 74 cm sound recordings
Scope & Content
Series consists of textual records, photographs and video and sound recordings collected by Eleanor Luxton. Contents include various published and unpublished materials, including sheet music, correspondence, books about Canadian and Indigenous history, magazines, souvenir publications, travel guides, and pamphlets; visual materials, including commercial postcards, portraits of Georginal Luxton and other family members, photographs of the Tilikum on display in Victoria, and a portfolio of illustrated Stoney Nakoda portraits by R.H. Palenske; oral histories recorded and collected by Eleanor Luxton; and a VHS copy of "Qualicum Wind".
Notes
Series consists of four sub-series:
Textual records
Photographs
Oral Histories (includes printed interview transcripts; transcripts in electronic format written to CD Rom and 3.5" floppy disk; supporting documentation; the recorded interviews on audio cassettes and R120 DAT tapes)
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 Earle Birney textual records, 1896-1971, n.d.; recordings of Birney reading his works, 1967, 1982; and portraits of Birney, ca.1967. Textual records are excerpts from the Earle Birney papers pertaining to Banff and the Canadian Rockies; including correspondence, 1918-1924, biogra…
2 cm of textual records. -- 2 sound recordings : audio discs. -- 4 photographs : prints
History / Biographical
Earle Birney, 1904-1995, was a writer, poet and educator at Toronto, Ontario. Birney lived in Banff from 1911 until 1917.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of Earle Birney textual records, 1896-1971, n.d.; recordings of Birney reading his works, 1967, 1982; and portraits of Birney, ca.1967. Textual records are excerpts from the Earle Birney papers pertaining to Banff and the Canadian Rockies; including correspondence, 1918-1924, biographical material, 1971, drafts of poems, 1941-1952, printed material, 1948-1970, and Birney family correspondence, 1896-1917.
Poems include: "Ballad of Kootenay Brown", "Biography", "Bushed", "Conrad Kain", "Holiday in the Foothills", "Leaving Yellowstone", "Oldster". Correspondence is mainly from Charles Brown to Birney. Printed material includes short story: "Mickey was a Swell Guy," set in Banff during the First World War. Recordings are "David" [1967] and "Nexus and Earle Birney", 1982