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 15 colour transparencies of unidentified people skiing at "Old Sunshine" and the Rimrock Resort in it's first year of opening [most likely 1959, when the hotel was moved from above the Hot Springs to below them and rebranded the Rimrock from the Upper Hot Springs Hotel]
File pertains to 15 colour transparencies of unidentified people skiing at "Old Sunshine" and the Rimrock Resort in it's first year of opening [most likely 1959, when the hotel was moved from above the Hot Springs to below them and rebranded the Rimrock from the Upper Hot Springs Hotel]
Image of a jeep parked on a mountain with people standing at left - Mount Assiniboine is visible in the distance - photo is blurry
Notes
This photograph may have been taken during a trip Peter and Catharine took from Sunshine Village towards Assiniboine with Fern Brewster - the trip was a survey for a potential scenic highway linking the Village to Assiniboine.
Image of two jeeps parked on a ridge with people standing around them - Mount Assiniboine visible in the distance
Notes
This photograph may have been taken during a trip Peter and Catharine took from Sunshine Village towards Assiniboine with Fern Brewster - the trip was a survey for a potential scenic highway linking the Village to Assiniboine.
File pertains to 51 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 2 to June 30, 1950. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, photography, painting, weather [including temperatures down to -50F (-45C) in January], the CPR test of the…
1.6 cm of textual records (93 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 51 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from January 2 to June 30, 1950. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, photography, painting, weather [including temperatures down to -50F (-45C) in January], the CPR test of their new diesel engines, events and people in Concord, world news, radio programs, the North American Ski Championship in February [for which Pete designed pins], the Banff Winter Carnival, installing fluorescent lights in the kitchen [prior to that they had "temporary" lights], purchasing a new Jeep stationwagon, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor visiting Banff in April, driving to Concord in May and back to Banff in June, plans for Banff Indian Days, a trip to Bow Lake, and Pete and Catharine's 20th wedding anniversary. Also includes postcards.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples 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 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 25 b&w prints of the Sunshine Village ski area, including the lodge [interior and exterior], people downhill skiing and ski touring, posed photos possibly for promotional purposes, and various transportation vehicles.
File pertains to 25 b&w prints of the Sunshine Village ski area, including the lodge [interior and exterior], people downhill skiing and ski touring, posed photos possibly for promotional purposes, and various transportation vehicles.
File pertains to 178 b&w & colour prints of mostly posed portraits of people. Includes close-ups, professionally staged portraits in a studio setting, shots of actors from various film projects, candid shots of people, and more. Includes shots of people swimming, hiking, climbing, and at parties; P…
178 photographs : b&w & col. ; 25.2 x 20.2 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to 178 b&w & colour prints of mostly posed portraits of people. Includes close-ups, professionally staged portraits in a studio setting, shots of actors from various film projects, candid shots of people, and more. Includes shots of people swimming, hiking, climbing, and at parties; Park Wardens, artists, politicians, musicians, businessmen, and more.
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.