Fonds consists of organizational records including photographs, brochures, correspondence and other documents which are divided into five series [see Content Details]. Content pertains to the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies, including the organization's history, members and staff, trail rides …
ca.340 cm of textual records -- 1191 photographs (691 prints, 312 transparencies, 188 negatives) -- 11 photograph albums -- 4 motion pictures -- 7 discs (1,214 digital images, 1 slideshow)
History / Biographical
The Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies is a trail riding organization based in Calgary, Alberta. The organization was established in 1923 with the support of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The first ride was held in 1924, and annual summer trail rides and pow-wows attracted fifteen hundred members by 1929. Many notable residents of the Bow Valley, including members of the Brewster and Moore families, Catherine Robb and Peter Whyte, and Carl Rungius have participated in trail rides. Support from the Canadian Pacific Railway ended in 1961. As of 2020, the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies remains an active organization.
LISTING OF TRAIL RIDE LOCATIONS:
1924 : Yoho Valley
1925 : Marble Canyon, Wolverine Plateau, Goodsir Plateau, Lake O'Hara, Lake Wapta, Sun Dance Lodge
1926 : Baker Lake, Shaki, Molar Peak, Bow Lake, Mosquito Creek, Ptarmigan Valley
1927 : Mountain Assiniboine, Brewster Creek, Magag Lake, Sunshine Camp, Simpson Pass; Jasper, Portal Creek, Maccarib Pass, Tonquin Valley, Meadow Creek, Calendone River
1928 : Lake of Hanging Glaciers; Horse Thief Creek, Windermere
1929 : Egypt Lake, Shadow Lake, Twin Lake; Lake Louise, Columbia Icefields
1930 : Red Earth Creek, Hawk Creek, Floe Lake, Wolverine Pass, Marble Canyon
1931 : Bankhead, Cascade River, Stewart Canyon, Stoney Creek, Baker Creek, Sawback Lake
1932 : Mount Assiniboine and Banff Springs Hotel terrace (Pow-wow)
1933 : Mosquito Creek, Bow Lake, Isabella Lake, Pipestone River, Lake Louise
1934 : Leanchoil, Shining Beauty camp, Goodsir mountain, Wolverine Plateau, Marble Canyon
1935 : Windy Camp, Snow Creek Pass, Scotch Cabin, Baker Lake, Ptarmigan Valley, Lake Louise Station (pow-wow)
1936 : Johnston Canyon, Pulsatilla Mountain, Badger Pass, Forty Mile Creek, Hillsdale Meadows
1937 : Mount Assiniboine, Lake Magog, Valley of the Rocks, Simpson Pass, Healy Creek
1938 : Carrot Creek, Lake Minnewanka, Middle Lake, Devil Gap, Ghost River, Mount Aylmer, Aylmer Pass
1939 : Healy Creek, Egypt Lake, Scarab Lake, Shadow Lakes, Twin Lakes, Taylor Lake, Moraine Lake
1940 : Marble Canyon, Helmet Creek, Ottertail River, Lake McArthur, Chateau Lake Louise
1941 : Mount Assiniboine, Canmore, spray Lakes, Valley of Rocks, Simpson Summit, Rock Isle Lake, Healy Creek
1942 : Larix Lake, Egypt Lake, Twin Lakes, Storm Mountain
1943 : Healy Creek warden's cabin, Brewater Creek, Fatigue Pass, Quartz hill, Simpson Summit, Sunshine Lodge, Eohippus lake, Mount Assiniboine
1944 : Healy Creek, Brewster Creek, Quartz Hill, Lake Eohippus, Red Earth Creek
1945 : Baker Lake
1946 : Panther River (Windy Camp), Snow Creek, Harrison Lake, Panther Falls
1947 : Monard Mountain, Healy Creek, Redearth Creek
1948 : Sunshine and Simpson River
1949 : Molar Mountain area
1950 : Palliser Pass
1951 : Goodsirs
1952 : Harvey Pass, Healy Creek, Egypt Lake
1953 : Baker Lakes
1954 : Mount Assiniboine, Magog Lake
1955 : Pulsatilla Pass area
1956 : Pipestone area
1957 : Panther River, Windy Camp, Dormer Pass, Snow Creek
1958 : Mount Assiniboine
1959 : Palliser Pass area [Bunny Robinson paints new teepee designs]
1960 : Pipestone area, north of Lake Louise
1961 : Goodsirs Mountains, McArthur Creek, Wolverine Pass [Volume 102, CPR publication last issue - CPR pulls sponsorship of association]
1962 : Pipestone and Skoki Valley areas
1963 : Simpson Summit, Healy Creek, Harvey Pass, Egypt Lake
1964 : Bryant Creek Meadows, Mount Assiniboine
1965 : Palliser Pass
1966 : Ptarmigan Valley, north of Lake Louise
1967 : Palliser Pass
1968 : Bryant Creek Meadows, Mount Assiniboine
1969 : Pulsatilla Pass
1970 : Egypt Lake area
1971 : Pipestone region
1972 : Shadow Lakes
1973 : Palliser Pass [50th anniversary]
1974 : Pulsatilla Pass area, Johnson Creek Meadows
1975 : Pipestone River area : Molar Glacier, Skoki Lakes, Merlin Lakes, hector Plateau, Fish Lakes
1976 : Cascade Valley region : Elk Lake summit, Stoney Creek, Dormer Pass
1977 : Mount Assiniboine
1978 : Palliser Pass area : Upper Spray River
1979 : Pulsatilla Pass area : Indian Paint Pots, Johnston Creek Meadows
1980 : Panther River region
1981 : Red Deer River region : Divide Creek, Tyrell Creek, Horseshoe Lake, Panther Ridge
1982 : Bryant Creek, Og Pass, Owl and Marvel Lakes, Allenby Pass, Assiniboine Pass, Lake Magog
1983 : Upper Pipestone River region: Red Deer Lake, Skoki Lakes, Hector Plateau, Singing Meadows [60th Anniversary]
1984 : Panther River region
1985 : Palliser Pass : Goat Ridge, Tumble Creek Falls, Spray Lakes, Birdwood Mountain, Leman Lake, White Man Pass
1986 : Johnston Creek, Badger Pass and Pulsatilla Pass; Safari expeditions: Kananaskis Country, Pipestone River , Front Range, Clearwater, Kootenay Plains
1987 : Red Deer River
1988 : Pipestone River
1989 : Panther River
1990 : Palliser Pass
1991 : Red Deer River
1992 : Bryant Creek
1993 : Pipestone River
1994 : Johnston Creek
1995 : Palliser Pass
1996 : Red Deer River
1997 : Bryant Creek
1998 : Panther River
1999 : Pipestone River
2000 : Johnston Creek
2001 : Palliser Pass
2002 : Yamnuska and Ghost Mountain
2003 : Bryant Creek
2004 : Cascade Valley and Mystic Lake
2005 : Sundance and Halfway Lodge
2006 : Waterton Park
2007 : Clearwater River
2008 : Kananaskis
2009 : Johnston Creek
2010 : Stoney Creek and Flint's Valley
2011 : Rock Lake and Solomon Creek
2012 : Kananaskis
2013 : Bryant Creek
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of organizational records including photographs, brochures, correspondence and other documents which are divided into five series [see Content Details]. Content pertains to the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies, including the organization's history, members and staff, trail rides and other events, publications and advertising, finances, and administration.
Notes
Fonds has been reorganized by Processing Archivist Kate Skelton and content from all accessions prior to 2019 has been integrated into new series. Content from accessions 5757 and 5939 have been renumbered; storage of files adjusted to accommodate most recent donations [accn. 8235 & accn. 2014.8277]
Some files contain personal contact information including full names, home addresses, email addresses and phone numbers [see file-level entries under M545/V635 for specific contents and restrictions]
Series I - Events and Activities: Records include ride notes and summaries [1968-2009], songs and poems performed during trail rides, documents and images pertaining to the Townsend Trophy photograph competition, and materials related to other events including trail ride anniversary events and round-ups.
Series II - Members, Staff, Personal Content : Records include lists of trail ride participants, documents from camp coordinators and other trail ride staff, personal photographs, committee notes, personal correspondence and trail ride surveys from 1958-2009
Series III - Published Records : Records include newsletters, brochures, promotional material, news articles and other published content
Series IV - Financial Records : Records include tax records, income statements, expense notes, receipts, payment information for members, budgets, price lists and funding applications
Series V - Administrative Records : Records include administrative notes, inventories and checklists, meeting minutes and agendas, legal and administrative forms, and agreements with outfitting and supply companies
Fonds contains six series: I. Robert G. Brett series, 1873-1926, 36 cm of textual records, consisting of: A. Personal papers, 1873-1926 (1. Correspondence, 2. Financial papers, 3. Other papers); B. Business papers, 1897-1925, (1. Banff businesses, 2. Businesses outside Banff); C. Professional pap…
73 cm of textual records. -- 11 photograph albums (ca.850 prints). -- ca.350 photographs (ca.320 prints, 28 negatives)
History / Biographical
Robert George Brett, 1851-1929, was a prominent physician, hotel-hospital owner, businessman and politician Banff, Alberta from 1883 until 1929. Brett was born in Strathroy, Ontario, son of James Brett and Catherine Mallon. He was educated as a physician at the University of Toronto (M.D., 1874), and practiced medicine at Arkona, Ontario. He moved to Winnipeg in 1880, where he helped found the Manitoba Medical College.
R. G. Brett moved to Banff in 1886, founding the Banff Sanitarium. In 1909 he established the Brett Hospital. Brett also had numerous other businesses and real estate in Banff (including the National Park Drug Store, the Sanitarium Bottling Co., the Bretton Hall Hotel, Lithia Bottling Co.) and elsewhere.
In 1878, Brett married Louise Theodora Hungerford, 1855-1935, of Waterford, Ontario. Of their five children, only two survived infancy, Reginald H. "Harry", 1879-1925, and Robert Earle, 1887-1912. Earle Brett was survived by Maidie (Stacpole) Brett, whom he married in 1910, and by an infant daughter. Dr. Harry Brett was married to Helen Brett, 1877-1964, who outlived the rest of her family by many years. Associated closely with the Brett family was Dr. Brett's nurse, Annie McLauchlin.
From 1881 to 1901, R. G. Brett was Conservative Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the North-West Territories, and from 1889 to 1891 he was president of the executive council. He was Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta from 1915 to 1925. He died in Calgary.
Scope & Content
Fonds contains six series:
I. Robert G. Brett series, 1873-1926, 36 cm of textual records, consisting of: A. Personal papers, 1873-1926 (1. Correspondence, 2. Financial papers, 3. Other papers); B. Business papers, 1897-1925, (1. Banff businesses, 2. Businesses outside Banff); C. Professional papers, 1889-1925 (1. Political correspondence, 2. Official correspondence, 3. Other material);
II. Louise H. Brett series, [between1855 and 1935], 10 cm of textual records, consisting of: A. Writing, betw.1885 and 1935; B. Scrapbooks, ca.1900, ca.1910; C. Diaries and letters, 1912-1925; D. Other, ca.1870-1924.
III. Reginald H. "Harry" Brett series, ca.1910-1921, 10.5 cm of textual records, print material and photographs. Consists of: A. Personal papers, ca.1910 (1.Scrapbooks, 2. Ephemera); B. Business papers, 1912-1921.
IV. Helen Brett series, 1925-1965, 4.5 cm of textual records, consisting of: A. Correspondence, 1927-1950; B. R. G. Brett estate papers, 1925-1949; C. Financial and business records, 1936-1962; D. Other, 1935-1965.
V. Brett family series, [ca.1860-ca.1935], consisting of : A. Photographs albums, ca.1860-ca.1910; B. Photographs, ca.1875-ca.1935.
VI. Other material series, [before 1928], 2 cm of textual records, consisting of: A. Annie McLauchlin papers, 1914-1928; B. Other, before 1925.
Fonds consists of four series: I. Personal, II. Professional, III. Activities, IV. Brewster family. I. Personal series, 1905-1982, 18 cm of textual records, 160 photographs, 2 sound recordings. Includes correspondence, interview and recorded conversation, address/notebook, artwork, other textua…
ca.80 cm of textual material. -- ca.900 photographs : prints, postcards, transparencies, negatives, copy negatives. -- 1 photograph album (50 prints). -- 3 sound recordings : audio tape cassettes
History / Biographical
Forrest Oliver "Pat" Brewster, 1896-1982, was a trail guide, outfitter and businessman in Banff, Alberta, Canada. Pat was a native and life-long resident of Banff. As a boy, he was an active Boy Scout and, by age seventeen, was a big game guide. After serving in World War I, Brewster established the first permanent camp at Lake O'Hara for the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1926, he took over the Brewster Transport Company outfitting business from his brothers, Bill and Jim. In the 1930s, he became involved in skiing explorations in the Assiniboine, Skoki and Sunshine areas. Pat Brewster was active in community affairs and, in his later years, was an avid historian of the region. He published three books of reminiscences between 1975 and 1982.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of four series: I. Personal, II. Professional, III. Activities, IV. Brewster family.
I. Personal series, 1905-1982, 18 cm of textual records, 160 photographs, 2 sound recordings. Includes correspondence, interview and recorded conversation, address/notebook, artwork, other textual records, photographs.
II. Professional series, 1892-1982, 47.5 cm of textual records, 266 photographs, 1 sound recording. Includes papers pertaining to various Brewster family and other businesses, writing papers and sound recording, and photographs pertaining to guiding and outfitting, tourism promotion and other.
III. Activities series, 1841-1983, 6.5 cm of textual records, 262 photographs. Pertains to genealogical research, other activities and collected material.
IV. Brewster family series, 1841-1981, 2.5 cm of textual records, 132 photographs. Pertains to Brewster family, Jack Brewster, John Brewster, Pearl Brewster Moore and the Moore family.
Fonds consist of papers and photographs produced and collected by Lawrence Grassi. Textual records consist of correspondence, 1918-1979, from family in Italy and organizations and individuals in Canada; personal papers, 1912-1975; publications and ephemera from organizations, including the Alpine C…
ca.25 cm of textual records. -- ca.2300 photographs : prints, transparencies, negatives. -- 1 photograph album (180 prints)
History / Biographical
Lawrence Grassi, 1890-1980, was a miner and mountaineer at Canmore, Alberta, Canada. Grassi was born in Falmenta, Italy and emigrated to Canada in 1912, working first as a section man for the Canadian Pacific Railway and from 1916 to 1945 as a miner for Canmore Mines. Grassi distinguished himself in solo mountain climbing and as an unofficial guide to many other mountaineers. Grassi is best remembered for trail building activities. J. S. Woodsworth led support for legislation to change the name of Twin Lakes in White Man Pass to Grassi Lakes in recognition of this work. As assistant warden at Lake O'Hara, British Columbia, Grassi upgraded and built numerous trails for which he received many honours in later life.
Scope & Content
Fonds consist of papers and photographs produced and collected by Lawrence Grassi.
Textual records consist of correspondence, 1918-1979, from family in Italy and organizations and individuals in Canada; personal papers, 1912-1975; publications and ephemera from organizations, including the Alpine Club of Canada, Canadian Youth Hostels Association, Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies; newsclippings, articles and other material pertaining to Grassi and mountaineering.
Photographs pertain mainly to mountain scenery of Alberta and British Columbia, particularly Banff National Park, Lake O'Hara and region, Jasper National Park, Mount Assiniboine and region, Grotto Mountain and Grassi Lakes, ca.1930-ca.1970. Also includes views of Lawrence Grassi, family and friends, ca.1880-ca.1970, and group of unidentified portraits, ca.1880- ca.1900. Transparencies are mainly unidentified colour mountain scenics. Most views are by Grassi; some are by Richard Rushworth and F. V. Longstaff.
Fonds consists of sermons, correspondence, personal papers, clippings, photographs and ephemera. Textual records pertain to St. George's Church, the 1939 royal visit, Banff residents, etc. Also includes letters collected by Montgomery from artist Norman Rockwell to Barbara Clyne, 1943-1945. Photo…
4 cm of textual records. -- 288 photographs : prints, negatives
History / Biographical
Rev. Canon Hollingworth Tully Montgomery, 1885-1965, was an Anglican minister at Banff, Alberta, Canada. Montgomery was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick and educated in Atlantic Canada and England. He succeeded his father, Canon Henry Montgomery, as rector of St. George's in the Pines Anglican Church in Banff in 1924, a position which he held until his retirement in 1955. In 1939, he conducted a service for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during the royal visit to Banff. Montgomery was married to Mary Ruth Montgomery and had two children.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of sermons, correspondence, personal papers, clippings, photographs and ephemera. Textual records pertain to St. George's Church, the 1939 royal visit, Banff residents, etc. Also includes letters collected by Montgomery from artist Norman Rockwell to Barbara Clyne, 1943-1945. Photographs collected by Montgomery pertain to Banff events, people and visitors, church staff and visitors, Rev. Montgomery and family with visiting dignitaries; 1911-1952.
Fonds includes Bill Round Sr. papers, Bill Round Sr. photographs, Bill Round Jr. photographs and Round family photographs. Textual records consists of Bill Round Sr. literary papers, ca.1925-1967; personal papers, 1922-1967; and other papers, 1887-1966. Material is mainly research materials, manus…
11 cm of textual records. -- 371 photographs (223 negatives, 130 prints, 18 transparencies). -- 1 photograph album (ca.80 prints)
History / Biographical
William E. Round (Bill Round Sr.), formally known as William John? Eley-Round, 1883-1967, was a musician and journalist at Banff, Alberta, Canada. Round came to Banff before 1918, where he established and operated the Banff Academy of Music, 1920-1958, served as a CPR press representative and was Banff correspondent for the Albertan newspaper of Calgary from 1930-1965. Bill Round Sr. was married to Elsie (Squair) Round, formally Espeth Eley-Round, 1891-1965. The Rounds raised two children, Doreen and Bill Jr., and two grandchildren, Doreen and Eileen Wickens. F. W. E. Round (Bill Round Jr.), formally Francis William Eley-Round, 1918-1978, was a photographer and film-maker at Banff, Alberta and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Scope & Content
Fonds includes Bill Round Sr. papers, Bill Round Sr. photographs, Bill Round Jr. photographs and Round family photographs.
Textual records consists of Bill Round Sr. literary papers, ca.1925-1967; personal papers, 1922-1967; and other papers, 1887-1966. Material is mainly research materials, manuscripts and correspondence resulting from Round's literary career. Content concerns human and natural history of the Rockies, including: Banff tourist information, Canadian Pacific Railway construction and surveys, crime, Norman Luxton, William McCardell, A. B. Rogers, A. L. Rogers, George Simpson and Tom Wilson.
Photographs include: I. Round family photographs, including Bill, Elsie, Doreen, Bill Jr. and friends and activities, 1915-1940, 106 items. II. Bill Round Sr. and Bill Round Jr. negatives of people and events, Banff and area, ca.1925-1955, 205 items; includes some copies. III. Negatives by Bill Round Jr., portraits of ski associates, 1937-1939, 18 items. IV. Transparencies by Bill Round Jr., scenic views, wildlife and people, n.d., 18 items; includes two views of Peyto Lake by Ted MacAulay. V. Prints collected by Bill Round Sr. regarding people, places and events, Banff and area, ca.1890-1930, 25 items.
Fonds consist of papers and photographs pertaining to Lizzie Rummel, her career and her family. Textual records consist mainly of correspondence, 1930-1980, mostly incoming. Also includes personal papers, 1902, 1926-1980, and records pertaining to Mount Assiniboine concerns, Skoki area, ski touring…
60 cm of textual records. -- ca.2200 photographs : prints, postcards, transparencies, negatives. -- 5 photograph albums (400 prints). -- 2 sound recordings : audio tape reels
History / Biographical
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Rummel, 1897-1980, was a lodge owner and operator at Banff National Park, Alberta and Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada. Rummel was born Elisabeth von Rummel to an aristocratic German family. With her mother and sisters, she ranched near Millarville, Alberta, after being stranded there during the First World War. In 1938, Lizzie moved to the mountains and became involved in early ski and backcountry operations. Her forty-two year career in the mountains included: working at Mount Assiniboine Lodge until 1942; managing Skoki Lodge and, at various times, Temple Chalet and Lake Louise Ski Lodge, ca.1943-1950; owning and operating Sunburst Lake Camp, 1950-1970; and working as assistant and oral history interviewer at the Archives of the Canadian Rockies (now the Archives of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies) from 1966 to 1980. Lizzie was active in the town affairs of Canmore, Alberta, where she lived, as well as in various conservation and recreation organizations. She became a member of the Order of Canada in 1980.
Scope & Content
Fonds consist of papers and photographs pertaining to Lizzie Rummel, her career and her family.
Textual records consist mainly of correspondence, 1930-1980, mostly incoming. Also includes personal papers, 1902, 1926-1980, and records pertaining to Mount Assiniboine concerns, Skoki area, ski touring, Al Gaetz and Lawrence Grassi. Correspondents include Charlie Hunter, Ernest Lamarque and Erling Strom.
Photographs include four series: I. Professional and trips, 1903-1978, n.d., ca.1400 items; pertaining to Mount Assiniboine Camp and region, Sunburst Lake camp and region, Skoki Lodge and region, and trips and views in the Canadian Rockies and B.C., and including activities such as skiing, mountaineering and backcountry travel. II. Personal, ca.1898-1980, ca.485 items; pertaining to the Rummel Ranch, Rummel family and friends, Lizzie Rummel and friends and associates, other. III. Travels, 1936-1973, ca.145 items; pertaining to travels in Europe, Yukon and N.W.T. and other. IV. Other, 1912-1977, n.d., ca.140 items; pertaining to Indians, John Ware and other. Includes material by numerous photographers, including Arnold Brigden.
Sound recordings are Rummel reading in German and French from the guidebooks of Edward Feuz Jr. and Sr., 1969, and a practice tape by Rummel as an archives interviewer, 197-?
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 includes textual records and photographs generated and collected by the Wilson family and pertaining to Tom Wilson, son Ed Wilson, daughter Ada Wilson and other family members. Textual records include: Ed Wilson's scrapbook, 1881-1968, which includes mainly items pertaining to Tom Wilson, Ed …
2 v. and 2 cm of textual records. -- ca.400 photographs : prints, copy negatives. -- 1 cm of print material
History / Biographical
The Wilson family were guides, outfitters and ranchers at Morley, Kootenay Plains, Banff and Nordegg, Alberta, Canada. Thomas Edmonds (Tom) Wilson, 1859- 1933, and Minnie McDougall Wilson, 1865-1936, had six children, including sons John Clark Wilson, 1888-1932, and Thomas Edmonds (Ed) Wilson, 1892-1973. Daughters were Ada, 1886-1967?, Rene, Bessie and Dora. Tom Wilson is credited with the discovery of Lake Louise in July of 1882, while working as a packer on the Canadian Pacific Railway survey through the mountains. In 1883, Wilson established his own business at Banff, Lake Louise and Field, British Columbia. After selling the business in 1904, Tom Wilson operated a horse ranch at Kootenay Plains. He later retired to Banff. Ed Wilson was born at Morley and raised in Banff. Around 1910 he began working for Brewster Trading Company at Banff and, later, Lake Louise. Just before the First World War, he moved to Nordegg, where he worked for the Bighorn Trading Company for many years.
Scope & Content
Fonds includes textual records and photographs generated and collected by the Wilson family and pertaining to Tom Wilson, son Ed Wilson, daughter Ada Wilson and other family members.
Textual records include: Ed Wilson's scrapbook, 1881-1968, which includes mainly items pertaining to Tom Wilson, Ed Wilson, the Wilson family, and early guiding and exploration in the Canadian Rockies (photocopy in two volumes); miscellaneous papers, 1905-1929, including a holograph speech by D. D. Galletly on the cave at Banff; letter and note re sale of horses to Frank Wellman, 1920; letters to Catharine Whyte from Ada Wilson re personal matters and Wilson family history, 1964-1965; transcripts of manuscripts by Tom Wilson and B. M. (Bess) Wilson re the CPR and tourism and 1916 pack trip Lake Louise to Kootenay Plains; letters of Col. Robert O'Hara to Tom Wilson, 1895- 1914, re Mount Assiniboine and Lake O'Hara; letter by Catharine Robb Whyte to Tom Link, 1965, re Lake O'Hara history based partly upon above material; diary, Trip to ranch by B. M. Wilson; essay, The last of the pathfinders by Dorie (Wilson) Legit; programmes, articles, clippings re Tom Wilson, 1924-1982; Eliza Edmonds certificate, 1845, and later clipping.
Photographs pertain to outfitting and guiding activities of Tom, John and Ed Wilson, including clients, associates and trips throughout the Rocky Mountains; Wilson family, friends and associates; Stoney Indians; Kootenay Plains; Banff people and events; Banff townsite and surrounding area; Canadian Pacific Railway; Nordegg area; 1861-1930. Includes photograph of Tom Wilson at Lake Louise inscribed to A. O. Wheeler, 1932. Many of the early photographs were taken by clients of Tom Wilson. Later, after settling at Kootenay Plains, Wilson was apparently given a camera by Mary Vaux and likely took many of the Stoney Indians views. Ed Wilson was an amateur photographer and likely took most of the views of staff at Lake Louise and of Nordegg.
Fonds consists of school papers, 1923; student evaluations 1934-1944; retirement album, 1969, from Banff Elementary School; correspondence and notes of secretary or Cascade Lodge No. 5, A.F. & A.M., 1948-1949; and family photographs, ca.1915-ca.1920
4 cm of textual records. -- 18 photographs : prints, negatives
History / Biographical
William A. (Bill) Alexander, 1909-1973, was a teacher and school principal at Banff, Alberta, Canada for forty years. He retired in 1969
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of school papers, 1923; student evaluations 1934-1944; retirement album, 1969, from Banff Elementary School; correspondence and notes of secretary or Cascade Lodge No. 5, A.F. & A.M., 1948-1949; and family photographs, ca.1915-ca.1920