Fonds consists of textual records and photographs by and about Aileen Harmon, as well as collected items. Textual records include: letter from Harmon to the Director of Alberta's provincial parks re addition of Yamnuska area to Bow Valley Provincial Park, 1973; brief, from Harvie Heights and Bow Va…
26.5 cm of textual records. -- 33 photographs (26 prints : b&w and col. ; 20.5 x 30 cm or smaller -- 6 negatives : b&w nitrate negatives ; 12.5 x 10 cm -- 1 transparency : col. slide ; 35 mm)
History / Biographical
Aileen Harmon (1912 - 2015), daughter of Byron Harmon, worked as a government naturalist at Banff, Alberta, Canada and was involved in local natural history groups and activities. Aileen was a founding member, alongside Bruce Gordon, of the Bow Valley Naturalists, and was also on the Board of The Canadian Wildlife Federation and The Society of Alberta Naturalists. Aileen moved to Mill Bay on Vancouver Island, B.C. in 1981 following the end of a lengthy career with Parks Canada. During her retirement years, Aileen travelled extensively, reaching all seven continents. She also authored an autobiographical book, titled "Tales of My Mountain Life", in 2004. Aileen passed away on January 9, 2015 at the age of 102.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual records and photographs by and about Aileen Harmon, as well as collected items. Textual records include: letter from Harmon to the Director of Alberta's provincial parks re addition of Yamnuska area to Bow Valley Provincial Park, 1973; brief, from Harvie Heights and Bow Valley subdivision residents to public hearings on land use and resource development in the eastern slopes, 1973; letter re James Hector, 1979; notes on career, 2003; notes on Catharine Whyte for CBC recording, 2004; Christmas cards and collected articles, ca.1960. Photographs, made by and collected by Aileen Harmon, pertain to Aileen Harmon and friends, skiing, Skoki area, Mount Yamnuska, Banff Indian Days. Includes photographs by Byron Harmon.
Added content from accession 2016.8596 : ca. 25 cm of textual records including personal correspondence, guest book, original writing and notes by Aileen Harmon, personal travel journals from a 1931 packing trip and 1933 ski trip to Skoki, drafts of autobiographical book "Tales of My Mountain Life", articles pertaining to or written by Aileen Harmon, Christmas cards, and letters of condolence to Carole Harmon following Aileen's passing. Also 26 print photographs, 6 negative photographs from a 1937 hiking trip, and one transparency.
Fonds consists of one series :
Series I - Personal records
File pertains to the transcript of an interview conducted by Clint Fillion and Murray Christmas with Oswald McGuiness, who was a surveyor for the route.
0.5 cm of textual records (11 pages ; 21.6 x 27.9 cm)
Scope & Content
File pertains to the transcript of an interview conducted by Clint Fillion and Murray Christmas with Oswald McGuiness, who was a surveyor for the route.
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).
File pertains to 120 b&w prints of various historical topics, some photos taken by Bruno Engler, others collected [presumably] by him. Includes various Canadian Pacific Railway events, community events and celebrations, Skoki Lodge's 60th anniversary, the Norquay Ski Hill rope-tow, the 1968 Winter …
File pertains to 120 b&w prints of various historical topics, some photos taken by Bruno Engler, others collected [presumably] by him. Includes various Canadian Pacific Railway events, community events and celebrations, Skoki Lodge's 60th anniversary, the Norquay Ski Hill rope-tow, the 1968 Winter Olympics bid, Princess Margarite's [sic] visit in 1958, the Cosmic Ray Observatory operations, a Kiwanis Club event, ranching and ranch lands, portraits, and more.
Series consists of hut registers produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between ca.1930-2020. Registers include entries from visitors to the huts, which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while staying at the huts; wildlife sightings; custodi…
Series consists of hut registers produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between ca.1930-2020. Registers include entries from visitors to the huts, which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while staying at the huts; wildlife sightings; custodial issues and updates; and related topics.
Series is separated at the sub-series level by individual huts:
M200 / IV / A : Abbot Pass Hut
M200 / IV / B : Elizabeth Parker Hut
M200 / IV / C : Wates-Gibson Hut
M200 / IV / D : A. O. Wheeler Hut
M200 / IV / E : Sydney Vallance (Fryatt) Hut
M200 / IV / F : Bow Hut
M200 / IV / G : Stanley Mitchell Hut
M200 / IV / H : Fay Hut
M200 / IV / I : Balfour Hut
M200 / IV / J : Peyto Hut/ Peter and Catharine Whyte Hut
M200 / IV / K : Elk Lakes Cabin
M200 / IV / L : Bon Echo Hut
M200 / IV / M : Bill Putnam / Fairy Meadows Hut
M200 / IV / N : Scott Duncan Hut
M200 / IV / O: Conrad Kain/Bugaboos Hut
M200 / IV / P: Neil Colgan Hut
M200 / IV / Q: Silver Spray Hut
M200 / IV / R: Asulkan Hut
M200 / IV / S: Mount Colin Hut
M200 / IV / T: Great Cairn Hut
M200 / IV / U: Other Huts [Registers]
Notes
See sub-series entries for chronological inventories of hut registers
File pertains to 69 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from December 26, 1936, to June 9, 1937. Topics include Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations and activities, gifts given and received, day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, Ame…
2.5 cm of textual records (98 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 69 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from December 26, 1936, to June 9, 1937. Topics include Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations and activities, gifts given and received, day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, American newspapers Catharine is interested in, radio programs [mostly news and operas], weather, cleaning and household chores, maintenance and upkeep of the house and property [including the construction of a screened-in porch at the back of the house, remodelling the stairs, building a darkroom on the second floor, and building a new garage], events and people in Concord, the opening of the new Administration building on the south side of the river [the Post Office is relocated here], painting/sketching, watching hockey games, skiing, descriptions of meals, the Winter Carnival, going to the movies [and Edith going to various plays], the Dominion Ski Championship being held at Norquay in March, photography and cameras, responsibilities and activities pertaining to the Ski Club, Edith's trip to Florida in March, books Catharine and Edith are reading, various holidays [both Canadian and American], trips to Skoki Lodge to ski and paint [also includes details of people who were also there, meals, and conversations], the coronation of King George VI and Queen Mary in May, the death of Catharine's Aunt Jane [Edith's sister?], day trips around the National Park to paint/sketch and have picnics with family, dinner and tea parties, print-making, frame making, and various other community events.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Some letters are written on hotel/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.
101 - 31 contains a sketch of the newly remodelled stairs in the Whyte home.
101 - 43 insert may or may not belong to this specific letter - no identifying marks can be found on it.
101 - 59 is a brochure advertising Lake Minnewaska Mountain Houses, New York, and does not appear to be associated to a specific letter and so has been scanned as it's own entry.
Two tags in the shape of bison stamped from metal: a) Gold-coloured metal bison standing on a sign reading “Canada's National Parks 1939” a with plate beneath for attaching to an automobile. This is a duplicate artifact, see 106.06.1085.b) Silver-coloured metal bison standing on a sign reading “Ca…
Two tags in the shape of bison stamped from metal: a) Gold-coloured metal bison standing on a sign reading “Canada's National Parks 1939” a with plate beneath for attaching to an automobile. This is a duplicate artifact, see 106.06.1085.b) Silver-coloured metal bison standing on a sign reading “Canada's National Parks 1933” with two pin holes in the middle of the buffalo for attaching to an automobile.
File consists of 17 cm of textual records, 34 x 44 cm or smaller. File pertains to an assortment of personal recordkeeping records and contains textual records, correspondence, photograph prints, and newspaper clippings. File documents various purchases and sales (Canmore, Alberta and Sidney, Briti…
File consists of 17 cm of textual records, 34 x 44 cm or smaller. File pertains to an assortment of personal recordkeeping records and contains textual records, correspondence, photograph prints, and newspaper clippings. File documents various purchases and sales (Canmore, Alberta and Sidney, British Columbia, mainly 1985-1986 and 1991-1995), property sales (Banff and Calgary, Alberta, 1972, and a photocopy of the original lease for the Wardle's property in Banff on Muskrat Street, 1921), Dorothy's work and membership with the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (1991-2001), art sales and appraisals (mainly Carl Rungius, 1977-2001), health and dental records detailing Dorothy's medical history (mainly 1994-2001, but goes back to 1934), a trip to Canmore (Banff Right to Reside (1984), subscriptions and miscellaneous records (including Dorothy's address book; poetry by her father, James Morey Wardle; Dorothy's passport from 1991-1996; various art collector catalogues such as Sotheby's; and commemorative coins), and Sheila Iris (S.I.) Ritchie's personal records (includes birth record from 1927 and death record from 1990).
Notes
Poetry by James Morey (J.M.) Wardle can be found in folder 34 under "miscellaneous."
Sheila Iris Ritchie was Dorothy's long-term housemate and close friend. Dorothy served as the executor of Sheila's will.
Dorothy's SIN card was originally included but has since been discarded for privacy concerns.
Photocopies of the original lease for the property on Muskrat Street were taken from Parks Canada microfiche records in 1993.
File consists of 16 typed accounts and recollections by Aileen Harmon of her life, work and travel experiences in the 1930's and 1940's. Content pertains to her early career with Parks Canada, trips throughout the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and personal memories with friends and colleagues.
File consists of 16 typed accounts and recollections by Aileen Harmon of her life, work and travel experiences in the 1930's and 1940's. Content pertains to her early career with Parks Canada, trips throughout the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and personal memories with friends and colleagues.
Notes
Documents may have been used as notes/drafts of published material.
Dates provided for textual records are based on dates given in personal accounts. Date of production of physical notes unknown, but possibly between 1975 - 1990 [estimate by Processing Archivist based on similar documents in fonds]