Fonds includes motion pictures by Alice Wright of horse trips and travels in the Canadian Rockies and miscellaneous papers and ephemera pertaining to Mount Robson Ranch, Berg Lake Chalet and Mount Robson region and history. Films pertain mainly to the Mount Robson and Jasper, Alberta areas; also B…
Alice Wright, d.ca.1982, was owner of the Mount Robson Ranch and operator of the Berg Lake Chalet in the Mount Robson area of British Columbia, Canada. She also lived at Red Pass and Sidney, B.C.
Scope & Content
Fonds includes motion pictures by Alice Wright of horse trips and travels in the Canadian Rockies and miscellaneous papers and ephemera pertaining to Mount Robson Ranch, Berg Lake Chalet and Mount Robson region and history. Films pertain mainly to the Mount Robson and Jasper, Alberta areas; also Banff and Lake Louise. Textual records include a transcript of a portion of a diary of George MacDougal, 1827, describing a trip through Yellowhead Pass, Tete Jaune Cache to Jasper House. Also includes a memorandum of the British Columbia Parks Branch, 1975, re the future of the Berg Lake Chalet; annotations by Alice Wright.
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 includes seven series: I. Personal and professional, 1884-1959; II. Business and financial, ca.1910-1959; III. Professional photography, 1900-1955; IV. Writing, 1906-1957; V. Natural history, 1904-1954; VI. Other interests, 1913-1956; VII. Riggall family, ca.1865-1959. Personal and pro…
ca.13,100 photographs: ca.7080 prints, ca.5310 negatives, ca.700 transparencies. -- 9 photograph albums. -- ca.2 m textual records, print material and graphic records. -- 33 cartographic records
History / Biographical
Frederick Herbert (Bert) Riggall, 1884-1959, was a mountain guide, outfitter, hunter, trapper, rancher, naturalist, photographer, writer and gunsmith/loader in southern Alberta. Born in 1884 at Gayton-le-Wold Grange, Lincolnshire, his family moved to Grimsby where his father was an auctioneer and, in 1905, served as Mayor. In England, Riggall was an athlete, avid sportsman and naturalist. He was exposed to alpine country on school holidays in Switzerland and, determined to visit Canada, left for North America in 1904.
Upon arriving in western Canada, Riggall worked for a year at Craighurst Farm near Calgary. There he met Dorothea (Dora) Williams, 1877-1951, an Irish Quaker ranch cook who had emigrated with her sister Anna in 1902. In 1905, Bert worked on the Correction Land Survey in southwestern Alberta and explored Waterton Lakes. Bert and Dora married in 1906 and until 1946 they homesteaded and ranched adjacent to Waterton Lakes National Park.
Initially, Bert and partner Jack Hazzard built boats and guided fishing parties on Waterton Lakes. In 1909, with partner Cyril Watmough, the Riggalls began guiding and outfitting summer and fall hunting and fishing trips for numerous repeat clients, especially, after 1913, four Minneapolis, Minnesota families: Bovey, Crosby, Bennett and McKnight. Hunts involved Big Horn Sheep, goats, black and grizzly bears. Bert served as chief guide and Dora as camp cook. Prior to 1911, the Riggalls worked at Gloyne's oil camp and Oil City to supplement their income. In 1911, Bert and partner Cyril Watmough made a 1000 mile (1600 km) exploratory trip from Fort Steele, B.C. to the Yellowhead Pass and beyond. Following that trip, Riggall concentrated guiding activities on the continental divide as far north as the Highwood region, but primarily in the upper Oldman River Valley and Gap in the Livingstone Range. Their outfit grew to include numerous saddle and pack horses.
Of five children, only two daughters survived infancy. Kay Riggall (Russell), 1909-1984, and Doris (Babe) Riggall (Burton), 1910-1999, were both able riders, markswomen and packtrain workers. They accompanied their parents on summer back country trips starting in 1918. Bert Riggall was renowned for his knowledge of botany, geology, zoology, wilderness life and lore as well as literature and current affairs. He was especially endeared to his clients for his skill as a raconteur and campfire storyteller. He wrote articles for magazines such as: Arms and the Man, American Rifleman, Field and Stream and the Boone and Crockett Club's book: North American Big Game. Riggall was an accomplished semi-professional photographer who specialized in wildlife studies, panoramic landscapes, Dufaycolor and later Kodachrome transparencies. His photographs appear in Department of Interior Reports and other publications.
Bert's heart problems forced the Riggalls to move to Pincher Creek in 1947. Daughter Kay and son-in-law Andy Russell continued the packtrain and guiding business until 1960. After Dora's death, Bert experienced medical problems and lived with or close to Doris.
Scope & Content
Fonds includes seven series: I. Personal and professional, 1884-1959; II. Business and financial, ca.1910-1959; III. Professional photography, 1900-1955; IV. Writing, 1906-1957; V. Natural history, 1904-1954; VI. Other interests, 1913-1956; VII. Riggall family, ca.1865-1959.
Personal and professional series consists of diaries and notes, correspondence and personal papers.
Business and financial series consists of guiding and ranching records, gunsmithing, shooting and loading records; and legal and financial records.
Professional photography series consists of standard photographs, panoramas, transparencies and textual records
Writing series contains manuscripts, published magazines, book outlines, newspaper articles and letters to the editor
Natural history series contains bird and plant records, and other natural history papers
Other interests series consist of clippings, annotated books and collected material
Riggall family series contains Bert and Dora Riggall family papers and photographs, Williams family photographs, Frederick W. and Fanny Riggall papers and photographs, and Allan Riggall papers and photographs. Negatives and transparencies pertain to Andy Russell as a young man with Bert Riggall.
Notes
Some transparencies in V110 Dick Russell are marked Andy Russell, some marked 64 dup; V110 - original transparencies have full set of duplicates (2 sets were made, 1 for Dick Russell and the other is part of this accession)
File consists of 139 pages of handwritten research notes, correspondence, and newspaper clippings, H35 x W30 cm or smaller. File pertains to Dorothy's research on Banff and surrounding area, Parks Canada, Department of the Interior, and the history of the Canadian Rocky Mountains in general. Record…
2 cm of textual records (139 pages ; 30 x 35 cm or smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of 139 pages of handwritten research notes, correspondence, and newspaper clippings, H35 x W30 cm or smaller. File pertains to Dorothy's research on Banff and surrounding area, Parks Canada, Department of the Interior, and the history of the Canadian Rocky Mountains in general. Records were filed in an envelope that was titled "Book Notes."
Notable people include James Wardle, J.B. Harkin, Pat Brewster, Arthur Unwin, Dr. Brett, Norman Sanson, and Bill Peyto, among others. Notable places and topics include the organization of the Department of the Interior, the Banff-Windemere Highway, Rocky Mountain Park and Park Wardens, Kootenay National Park fires, coal and precious metal mines (e.g. Bankhead, Silver City), trail riding and hiking, research about James Wardle and his accomplishments, Ya-Ha-Tinda, and various parks (e.g. Glacier, Revelstoke, Elk Island, Kootenay, and Yoho).
Other records include a handwritten letter to the Auld family in Scotland (cousins of Sheila Ritchie) with a story about Glenbow and a highland cow from Oban, Scotland; personal reflections on the Banff area and mountains in general; notes that Dorothy took while doing research at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies and the Banff Public Library; and a variety of newspaper clippings.
Notes
Includes request slips and stationary from the archives at the Whyte Museum.
Potentially includes a handwritten list of Dorothy's written works.
Newspaper clippings primarily from the Times Colonist, which is published in Victoria, British Columbia.
Some of the slips of paper are taped together. Was unable to remove them without damaging the materials. May present conservation issues in the future.
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 consist mainly of photographs by Edward Cavell, 1973-1975. Consists of 6 x 6 cm. negatives with corresponding contact sheets and some identification lists for four projects: I. Copy and on-site shots for Banff Springs: The Story of a Hotel, 1973, ca.209 negatives plus contact sheets and enlar…
Edward Cavell, b.1947, writer, researcher, photographer and museum curator at Banff, Alberta, Canada, is currently a business owner at Banff and Calgary, Alberta.
Scope & Content
Fonds consist mainly of photographs by Edward Cavell, 1973-1975. Consists of 6 x 6 cm. negatives with corresponding contact sheets and some identification lists for four projects: I. Copy and on-site shots for Banff Springs: The Story of a Hotel, 1973, ca.209 negatives plus contact sheets and enlargements; II. Landscape photographs for Rocky Mountains highway guide book, Waterton to Jasper, with Jon Whyte (incomplete), 1974, ca.700 negatives with contact sheets and identifications; III. Stage shots of Phil Nimmons Quartet at the Banff Centre, 1974, 84 negatives and contact sheets; IV. Ground and aerial survey of Cascade Fire Road for Banff Warden Service, 1975, ca.257 negatives and contact sheet. ; Also includes photographs collected by Cavell for personal and research purposes, including Tepee at Bow Lake, hand-coloured print by Byron Harmon; "Dedicatory services at Mount Eisenhower 1958" by Bruno Engler, Alpine Films, Banff; Rocky Mountain scenic postcards by several publishers, including Byron Harmon and Bill Gibbons; slide copies of photographs by Charles Horetzky, Walter D. Wilcox, William Notman, Byron Harmon and [Ernest Brown].
Fonds consists of copies of textual records from the Thorington Archives at Princeton University and photographs in both original and copy form. Textual records include: I. Thompson-Little Collection and supplement 1895- 1907; letters chiefly addressed to Charles Sproule Thompson collected by Georg…
ca.1.8 m of textual records. -- 64 photographs : prints, transparencies, copy negatives
History / Biographical
J. Monroe "Roy" Thorington, 1894-1989, was an ophthalmologist, mountaineer and mountain historian at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Thorington was a pre-eminent climber and explorer in the Canadian Rockies starting in 1922. He studied the Freshfield and Lyell Glaciers for 22 years and explored and mapped the Purcell Range, British Columbia. Thorington wrote approximately 300 publications on mountaineering, mountain history and the Canadian Rockies. He was active in numerous organizations, particularly the American Alpine Club.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of copies of textual records from the Thorington Archives at Princeton University and photographs in both original and copy form.
Textual records include: I. Thompson-Little Collection and supplement 1895- 1907; letters chiefly addressed to Charles Sproule Thompson collected by George T. Little, Appalachian Mountain Club and supplemented by material mainly from the estate of Charles E. Fay. II. American Alpine Club, 1903- 1967; correspondence with American Alpine Club members elected to 1918. III. Alps and Canada mountaineering correspondence. IV. Guide books and writings; pertains to writings on the Canadian Rockies and Conrad Kain. V. Dr. W. S. Ladd and Allen Carpe papers 1908-1935.
VI. Photographs, 1871-1970, pertain mainly to Thorington's climbing associates, mountain guides, friends and climbs; also, tombstones of friends at Banff Cemetery.
Fonds also includes miscellaneous original summit notes, articles, etc. concerning landmark mountaineering activities in the Canadian Rockies.
Fonds consists of diary fragments, [1900], 1902, possibly pertaining to Bush River expedition; correspondence between Collie and his mother, n.d. 1875-1883, re personal matters, money problems, travel, education and employment; letters from friends, n.d., 1927, including A. F. Mummery and Fred Step…
.75 cm of textual records. -- 9 photographs : prints
History / Biographical
J. Norman Collie, 1859-1942, was a chemist and mountaineer who lived at London, England. Between 1897 and 1911, Collie pioneered climbing in the Canadian Rockies, making twenty-one first ascents including Mount Victoria and Mount Athabasca
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of diary fragments, [1900], 1902, possibly pertaining to Bush River expedition; correspondence between Collie and his mother, n.d. 1875-1883, re personal matters, money problems, travel, education and employment; letters from friends, n.d., 1927, including A. F. Mummery and Fred Stephens; photographs pertaining to Norman Collie, family, friends and associates
Fonds consists of material pertaining to the separate careers and families of Jim and Dorothy Boyce, as well as material from their life together. Jim Boyce material consists mainly of business and personal papers and photographs, ca.1910-1982. Business papers arise mainly from the incorporation, …
ca.6.5 m textual records. -- ca.3500 photographs: prints, negatives, copy negatives. -- 4 photograph albums. -- 5 motion pictures: film reels; 8mm, 16mm; col.
History / Biographical
James (Jim) Hawkins Boyce, 1892-1982, was a guide, outfitter, log builder and businessman at Lake Louise and Banff, Alberta, Canada. Dorothy Boyce was a pharmacist and business woman at Calgary, Quebec and Banff, Canada.
Jim Boyce was the son of Joseph Boyce, 1856-1927, and stepson of Wilma "Josephine" Boyce, 1866-1952, of Banff, Alberta. In 1911, Jim joined his father building trails. His guiding and outfitting career began with Jimmy Simpson's outfit as a trail cook. During the 1920s Boyce formed his own outfit with Max Brooks and went on to guide prominent clients Carl Rungius, Caroline Hinman and her parties, George and Adeline Link and William D. Cox of Chicago, USA.
In addition to guiding and outfitting, Jim Boyce worked with motion picture companies on location in the Rockies with his dog teams during the 1920s. A number of well-known log buildings are testament to his log-building skills, including Skoki, Mount Temple Lodge and the Lake Louise Ski Lodge. During the 1930s, Boyce managed and expanded Skoki Lodge. He also supervised road construction on the Banff-Jasper Highway and the Alaska Alcan Military Highway for the U. S. Army during the Second World War and operated the Bar C Ranch (for William D. Cox) for many years. Boyce made his home in Banff.
Dorothy Frances Llewellyn (Whiteman) Boyce, 1901-2001, was the daughter of Rev Arthur Wellesley Richard Whiteman, 1865-1926, and Nina L. Whiteman, 1873-1956. After studying pharmacy at the University of Alberta, Dorothy came to Banff in 1922 to work for Dr. Brett. She subsequently studied at the University of Toronto, Ontario; worked at the Calgary General Hospital, Alberta, from 1926 to 1940; and during the Second World War, worked as a chemist in Quebec, Canada. After the death of her first husband, Tronson James Draper, 1879-1949, an oilman of Calgary, Alberta, Dorothy became a permanent resident of Banff. She owned and operated Travellers Digest in Banff and married Jim Boyce in 1957.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of material pertaining to the separate careers and families of Jim and Dorothy Boyce, as well as material from their life together.
Jim Boyce material consists mainly of business and personal papers and photographs, ca.1910-1982. Business papers arise mainly from the incorporation, operation and expropriation of the Lake Louise Ski Lodge (later Post Hotel) 1941-1969. Other business and personal material pertains to Skoki Lodge, 1933-1942; guiding and outfitting, 1938-1940; Army Service Forces and Alaska Alcan Military Highway, 1943-1944; Bar C Ranch, 1947-1969; laundry and rental businesses, 1962-1965, plans for Boyce house, Banff and family items. Correspondents include William D. Cox and Eldon Woolliams. Jim Boyce photographs pertain to family, friends, associates and activities, Banff and Skoki areas; includes guiding and outfitting, hunting, motion picture and dog team activities, Skoki Lodge and region, Alaska-Yukon activities, Bar C Ranch and personal material.
Papers of Dorothy Boyce, 1901-ca.1950, pertain to her childhood, university career, business life and first marriage; Dorothy Boyce photographs, ca.1920s-1940, pertain to family, friends, professional and recreational activities in Banff, Banff and Yoho National Parks, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto.
Jim and Dorothy Boyce joint material includes photographs, 1900s-1990s, and incoming letters pertaining to home, travel and friends. Album includes mainly published postcards from all over the world. Fonds also includes Boyce family personal and financial papers, 1901-1928; business and estate papers of Joseph Boyce, 1908-1954; Tronson Draper and Draper family personal and professional papers and photographs, 1906-1949; and Whiteman family papers and photographs, ca.1860, 1885-ca.1925. Also included in the Boyce's personal records are film reels ca.1920-1970 which pertain mainly to the Skoki area.
Copyright, privacy, commercial use and other restrictions may apply
Language
English
Finding Aid
Finding aids and reference tools: preliminary electronic finding aid
motion picture summaries
Related Material
Transparencies by Adeline and/or George Link of trips with Jim Boyce, formerly retained by Jim Boyce, can be found in George K. K. Link fonds (M60/V276)
Accompanied by artifacts (Heritage collections, Whyte Museum)