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).
Image of Fern Brewster holding two sets of antlers - "Want you to have a look at the heads of the Moose and Cariboo I shot --" written on the back in black ink by Fern, Catharine Whyte has written Fern's name in pencil as well
Image of Fern Brewster holding two sets of antlers - "Want you to have a look at the heads of the Moose and Cariboo I shot --" written on the back in black ink by Fern, Catharine Whyte has written Fern's name in pencil as well
This triptych features three women on a journey. What appears to be Mount Fuji is in the background of the first panel, and all three panels are divided in half by a watery background and a yellow sandy foreground; the first panel is the only with trees but has no figures in it. A figure on a hor…
This triptych features three women on a journey. What appears to be Mount Fuji is in the background of the first panel, and all three panels are divided in half by a watery background and a yellow sandy foreground; the first panel is the only with trees but has no figures in it. A figure on a horse and one standing to the left of the horse make up the second panel, in the third panel a lone figure stands, facing the women in the second panel who’s heads are turned to the left.
Image of Mrs. Nellie MacGregor Unwin (formerly Mrs. Reggie Holmes) wearing a long checkered coat and dark cap standing beside thin aspen trees and a chainlink fence with Tunnel Mountain visible in the background
Image of Mrs. Nellie MacGregor Unwin (formerly Mrs. Reggie Holmes) wearing a long checkered coat and dark cap standing beside thin aspen trees and a chainlink fence with Tunnel Mountain visible in the background
Image of Mrs. Nellie MacGregor Unwin (formerly Mrs. Reggie Holmes) standing in front of a bunch of thin aspen trees with a church in the background - written on the back in pencil by Catharine Whyte: "Mrs Holmes now Mrs Unwin Bear St. was meant to be Main St. Presbyterian Church & original belfry -…
Image of Mrs. Nellie MacGregor Unwin (formerly Mrs. Reggie Holmes) standing in front of a bunch of thin aspen trees with a church in the background - written on the back in pencil by Catharine Whyte: "Mrs Holmes now Mrs Unwin Bear St. was meant to be Main St. Presbyterian Church & original belfry - with bell - The bell had an outside rope with a clang for fire. Inside rope a ding dong for church service. Only fire signal in town. Log bldg on right was original Gov't. stables - on lot next to Ike Mills & later blacksmith. Lot 30."
This triptych is a summer scene made up of mostly greens and reds. The three panels all feature groups of women. There is a lake in the background. The first panel contains a group of three women,2 standing and one crouching, in the foreground. In the background are 3 more women immersed in the…
Viewing of Chrysanthemums at the Temporary Imperial Palace
Date
1888
Medium
woodblock on paper
Dimensions
37 x 74 cm
Description
This triptych is a summer scene made up of mostly greens and reds. The three panels all feature groups of women. There is a lake in the background. The first panel contains a group of three women,2 standing and one crouching, in the foreground. In the background are 3 more women immersed in the flowers. In the trc os a building on an overhang. The second panel features 4 women clustered in front of large flowers. The third panel also contains 4 women. In the tlc is a gazebo of sorts with flowers all around.