File pertains to 23 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 1 to October 8, 1934. Topics include travelling from Bali to Djokja [the Dutch name for present-day Yogyakarta] in Indonesia, travelling by car [via ferries] and by train, descriptio…
1.8 cm of textual records (87 pages ; 21 x 29.7 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 23 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 1 to October 8, 1934. Topics include travelling from Bali to Djokja [the Dutch name for present-day Yogyakarta] in Indonesia, travelling by car [via ferries] and by train, descriptions of the countrysides they travelled through and of local towns and villages, language barriers, descriptions of meals and various types of local dishes, travelling through the island of Java on the way to Sumatra, comments on and descriptions of other people encountered while travelling, weather, photography, developing films [photographs], people and events in Concord, travelling across Sumatra by car, volcanoes, local wildlife [mostly birds and monkeys], observations on local farms and farming techniques/products, books and magazines Pete and Catharine are reading, leaving Sumatra for France on the M.S. Sibajak in early September via the Suez Canal, descriptions of their cabin and the ship itself, life and activities aboard ship, comments and observations about other passengers, day trips on land along the way, going through the Canal, arriving in Marseille France and setting out for Swizerland by train in mid-September, travelling around Switzerland by train, meeting up with Edward Feuz while visiting Interlaken, exploring the local towns, architecture, skiing, exploring different ski areas and watching various races and events as they find them [also includes comparisons of slopes and snow conditions between the Alps and the Rockies], meeting other skiers, various dealings with banks, travelling through Austia to Munich Germany in late September-early October, visiting an area in Austria where the Olympics will be held in 1936, visiting museums and war memorials [WWI], attending Oktoberfest in Munich, travelling to Paris via Nuremburg and Cologne by train in early October, exploring Paris and visiting various city landmarks and churches [this was Pete's first trip to Paris], going to the movies, going to London and then Edinburgh with Jean Caird before sailing back to North America from London in mid-October.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous peoples of Indonesia used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Most letters are written on hotel/lodge letterhead.
Most letters have been numbered in red pencil in the upper margin for an unknown project.
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 have been numbered in pencil in the upper margin of the first page for an unknown project.
96 - 01 appears to be missing the last page[s].
96 - 06 page 11 contains a sketch of the layout of the hotel they stayed in.
96 - 18 appears to be missing the last page[s].