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).
Sub-series pertains to approx. 109 black and white negatives and includes individual, group, family and baby portraits, school portraits, classes, sports, graduation, events, yearkbook, weddings, businesses and facilities, buildings and dwellings, construction projects and government projects, cour…
Sub-series pertains to approx. 59 black and white negatives and includes individual, group, family and baby portraits, school portraits, classes, sports, graduation, events, yearkbook, weddings, businesses and facilities, buildings and dwellings, construction projects and government projects, cours…
ca. 59 photographs : b&w negatives ; 12.1 x 9.9 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
Sub-series pertains to approx. 59 black and white negatives and includes individual, group, family and baby portraits, school portraits, classes, sports, graduation, events, yearkbook, weddings, businesses and facilities, buildings and dwellings, construction projects and government projects, courses, conventions, conferences, meetings, presentations, displays and exhibits, clubs and organizations, Banff events including Banff Winter Carnival, Banff School of Fine Arts 1963-1971, Banff and area views, copy work.
Includes:
12 - Masonic Group
13 - Harbidge Truck
14 - Insurance Group
15 - Big Horn Construction
110 - Can. Cement
111 - BSAM Windup
112 - Highlanders
113 - Hospital
114 - BSFA Copy Negs.
115 - Hockey Banquet
116 - Chalet I interiors
117 - Nabors Drilling
118 - Bible Books
119 - Hospital Day
120 - Slim Martin, Chief Mountain [First Nations]
121 - Publicity BSFA, Loeser
122 - Ted Matson Bus Port.
123 - Alta. School Trustees Assoc.
124 - Elementary School Class Pics.
125 - Endocrinology Group, BSFA
126 - Old Timers Archives
127 - Liberal Group
128 - Dr. Leighton Candids
130 - Registration [BSFA]
131 - Publicity Portraits, Festival Production
132 - Piano – Duet
133 - Scholarship Recital
134 - Make-up
135 - Trio
136 - Piano
137 - A.T.A. Groups
138 - Pastoral Institute
139 - Prairie Youth Conference
140 - Bank of Montreal
142 - Automobile Dealers
143 - Clarkson Gordon Group
144 - Firemen’s Investigation Group
145 - Hospital Admin. Group
146 - Wizard of Oz
147 - Art Classes
148 - Shirley Tooke Drama Class
149 - Student String Recital
150 - Student Brass Class
151 - Orchestra Class
152 - Leighton
153 - Speech and Drama Class
154 - Piano Recital
155 - Spinning and Wool Dying
156 - Opera
157 - Misc.
158 - Scholarship Nite
159 - Art Exhibit
160 - French Sunshine
161 - Ballet
162 - Festival Banquet
162 - Skating
163 - Drama
164 - Brass Recital
165 - Opera Class
File consists of 8 cm of textual records (40.5 x 60 cm or smaller) and 25 photographs : b&w (20 x 25 cm or smaller). Records include newspaper clippings, typed articles, research, correspondence, and photograph prints.
File pertains to Dorothy's freelance research, notes, original writing, and pub…
8 cm of textual records (40.5 x 60 cm or smaller); 25 photographs : b&w (20 x 25 cm or smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of 8 cm of textual records (40.5 x 60 cm or smaller) and 25 photographs : b&w (20 x 25 cm or smaller). Records include newspaper clippings, typed articles, research, correspondence, and photograph prints.
File pertains to Dorothy's freelance research, notes, original writing, and published articles from The Albertan and The Calgary Herald primarily in the 1960s, and short stories for Reader's Digest in 1933-1934. File documents various people, places, and events significant to Banff, including: the old days, Banff Indian Days, Mountain School, Banff Centre, Banff namesake in Scotland, the teahouses at Lake Louise, hot springs, Indigenous regalia and ceremonies, local guides, and Silver City. File also includes personal notes/stories and correspondence between Dorothy and her parents, and several articles from the Banff Crag and Canyon. Notable people include Cliff and Beverly White, Walking Buffalo (Tatanga Mani, George McLean), George Paris, Margaret Greenham, Ike Mills, and Nora Drummond-Davies.
Notes
Correspondence between Dorothy and Mrs. Margaret Greenham, dated April 4, 1942.
Correspondence between Dorothy and C.R. Walrod from the museum in Kelowna, dated November 4, 1953.
Correspondence between Dorothy and her parents, dated March 9, 1961.
M521 / I / A / 10 : title on folder changed to [Indigenous]. Original title was "Indian Story Material."
M521 / I / A / 10 : photographs of Frank Kaquitts were originally filed in this folder (see: V75).
M521 / I / A / 16 : title on folder changed to [Indigenous Ceremonial Regalia]. Original title was "Indian Ceremonial Costume."
Most of the newspaper clippings are glued on a piece of paper like an unbound scrapbook.
Many of the newspaper clippings and other textual records were taped or glued together, and some of the photograph prints are damaged by ink. May present conservation issues in the future.
Acid-free archival paper was sporadically used to protect prints.
Should consider digitizing before further degradation.