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. 184 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. 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…
File pertains to 58 handwritten and typewritten letters by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb between April 1933 and September 1933. Topics include news from Concord, daily life in Banff, the fire at Bretton Hall, Peter out painting and sketching, Sam Ward continuously adding cab…
Date Range
1933
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 91
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Private record
decided
on , is t he tea service as difficult?
Tomor r ow the Mountainschool is coming down
1.3 cm of textual records (173 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to 58 handwritten and typewritten letters by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb between April 1933 and September 1933. Topics include news from Concord, daily life in Banff, the fire at Bretton Hall, Peter out painting and sketching, Sam Ward continuously adding cabinets and cupboards to the Whyte Home, Catharine practicing typewriting and the beginning of some typewritten letters to her mother, the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. John Walker, moving a cabin on the property for their Stoney friends to stay in while they paint portraits, selling two sketches, various baking recipes from Edith, Peter painting Mark Poucette, a visit from children from the Mountain School, Peter and Catharine visiting the west coast [via Bonners Ferry and Spokane] and seeing Fern Brewster in Vancouver, writing Mrs. Paley, attending the Calgary Stampede, painting J.D. Curren, painting David Bearspaw, hiking at Lake O'Hara with Skyline Trail Hikers [with participant names], a visit with Mary Vaux in Banff, a Pacific Relations Conference at the Banff Springs Hotel and cleaning the house expecting visits from participants, Catharine discussing Adolf Hitler with a Swiss man visiting the house, a boat trip with the White Family and Allen Mather to Lake Minnewanka, meeting Mr. Anasaki from the Conference [an old friend of Edward Morse] and looking at Catharine's Japanese collection with Mr. Miyoaka and Mr. Takaki, Peter taking photographs at the Indigenous Camp during Banff Indian Days, Peter receiving a beaded coat from Mrs. Jonie, buying some items from the Indigenous Camp that belonged to Old Hector [Crawler?], Jackie heading east to meet Barbara before the birth of their child, and Peter and Catharine heading east via the United States to attend the World Fair and visit Edith Morse Robb and then family in Gorham, Maine.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples, people of colour, and those of the Jewish faith used throughout is outdated and offensive.
Letters are all handwritten and typewritten and include some hotel, business and camp letterheads. Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981. Some letters also have numbers written in pencil crayon, believed to be from when originally processed.
File pertains to 115 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 4 to December 29, 1946. Topics include New Years activities, day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, weather, hockey games [on the radio and live], curling, skiing, cameras and phot…
2 cm of textual records (139 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 115 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 4 to December 29, 1946. Topics include New Years activities, day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, weather, hockey games [on the radio and live], curling, skiing, cameras and photography, events and people in Concord, world news, radio programs, the Winter Carnival, cleaning and household chores, Catharine working with the Red Cross and instructing a weekly art class, skiing on Sulphur between the Upper Hot Springs and the river, Pete making posters for various organizations, community events and programs, painting, gardening and yard word, errand trips to Calgary, judging an art show at the Auditorium sposored by the Horner Co. in June, Catharine's brother Russ and his family coming to visit in late June-late July [included stays at Skoki, Bow Lake, Lake O'Hara, and Temple], the Governor General touring Banff in July, Banff Indian Days, driving up to Sunshine Lodge and beyond to the edge of Porcupine Valley as part of a survey crew with Fern Brewster, the Calgary Stampede, day trips around Banff National Park for sketching and picnics, trips to Bow Lake and Temple Mountain [usually for a week at a time], matters pertaining to the store, moving a shed from behind Annie White's house closer to the river [used to store cars and later a stagecoach], Catharine going to Concord for a month [mid-November to mid-December], making the annual Christmas card, and various Christmas/holiday activities and parties [including Pete and Catharine's first Christmas tree since before the war].
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoplesand people of colour (especially black people) used throughout is outdated and offensive.
Letters are mostly typed, some hand-written. Many typed letters have hand-written notes and post scripts added throughout. Some letters written on lodge letterhead.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
File pertains to 119 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 1 to December 31, 1947. Topics include New Years activities, day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, weather, hockey games [on the radio and live], curling, skiing, cameras and phot…
2.4 cm of textual records (142 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 119 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 1 to December 31, 1947. Topics include New Years activities, day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, weather, hockey games [on the radio and live], curling, skiing, cameras and photography, events and people in Concord, world news, radio programs, painting [including making sketches for a show in Montreal next year], Jim Brewster's death and funeral in February, ski races and ski jumping at Norquay, the Winter Carnival, Catharine working with the local Red Cross, business pertaining to the shop and apartments on Banff Ave, cleaning and household chores, matters pertaining to the Ski Club, gardening, day trips around Banff National Park for sketching and picnics, Banff Indian Days [including helping Norman Luxton by handling the financials], the Calgary Stampede, going to Calgary for a few days in August for Pete to see an ear specialist [they stay at the Hotel Paliser], beginning construction of a ski lift at Norquay and of the new Banff Art School [Banff School of Fine Arts], Gray & Eleanor Campbell moving to their ranch in Cowley, minor renovations to the house [mostly pertaining to water lines and the roof], expansion of Num-Ti-Jah Lodge [adding the dining room, entrance hall, and second floor], construction of the new Hudson's Bay Store and a new hotel on Banff Ave [possibly the King Edward], the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, errand trips to Calgary, making the annual Christmas card, and various Christmas/holiday activities and parties.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are mostly typed, some hand-written. Many typed letters have hand-written notes and post scripts added throughout. Some letters have small notes written in pencil, possibly by Edith or Pete.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
122-01 contains quotes from two letters [September 12 & August 7, 1947] written by an unknown author.
122-57 contains a few interesting anecdotes about life in Anthracite.
File pertains to 65 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from May 29 to December 29, 1940. Topics include travelling back to Banff from a visit to Concord by car, day to day life, weather, visits from friends and visitors, radio programs [mostly operas and the new…
1.9 cm of textual records (116 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 65 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from May 29 to December 29, 1940. Topics include travelling back to Banff from a visit to Concord by car, day to day life, weather, visits from friends and visitors, radio programs [mostly operas and the news], news pertaining to the war [including Italy entering the war in June, British children being brought to Canada, the Blitz], the Lake Louise-Jasper highway officially opening [Pete and Catharine drive up for the weekend, their first visit to Jasper National Park], the deaths of Louise Rungius in May and Dave White in late June [also includes details of Dave's funeral], errand trips to Calgary [mostly to meet with Clifford about Dave's estate], Catharine and Pete's 10th wedding anniversary, visits to Bow Lake to paint throughout July and August [a large forest fire was burning about 30 miles north of Bow for most of July], Banff Indian Days, Pete joining the militia ["Non-Permanent Active Service" force part of the 2nd Battalion of the Calgary Highlanders], going on the annual Skyline Trail Hikers trip in August, painting/sketching [including a short visit to Lake O'Hara in mid-August for this purpose], Catharine going to Concord for a few weeks in early September, Pete and Catharine going to Victoria at the end of September [Annie was having health issues and was advised to go to Victoria - they went to help], cleaning and household chores [including installing new blue linoleum in the kitchen], minor repairs to the roof and other outdoor work to the property, wildlife, books Catharine and Edith are reading, trips to Mount Temple Lodge to help Cliff with various chores, descriptions of meals, updates on the construction of the new Lake Minnewanka dam, photography and cameras [including colour photography], Pete helping construct the basement of the Mount Royal Hotel, events and people in Concord, various holidays [both Canadian and American], going to the movies, working on the annual Christmas card, and various other Christmas activities, presents, and parties.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoplesand Japanese people used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are typed and hand-written. Many typed letters have hand-written notes and post scripts added throughout. Some are written on hotel/lodge letterhead. Most typed letters are written on a single side of paper, hand-written letters are mostly double-sided.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
109 - 17 contains a sketch of the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge's main building, recently completed.
109 - 56 contains a sketch of the ground floor of Pete and Catharine's home, including the new partition wall in the living room.
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.