BUILDING A DREAM IN THE ROCKIES AT BANFF
BY JACKIE GOLD BANFF CRAG & CANYON STAFF
The number of talented individuals that have lived in Banff's community over the years have been immeasurable.
Painters, hikers, skiers, philanthropists - all have played a part in shaping Banff 's unique society.
Catharine Robb Whyte was one such individual, indeed she was all - hiker, skier, mountaineer, artist and historian, Catharine added texture to an already rich tapestry of life.
Born in 1906 Catharine was a New England debutant, raised in privilege, the heir and granddaughter to Edward Sylvester Morse, a highly recognized natural scientist and president of the American Association of Museums in 1911.
Catharine was naturally inclined towards the arts, having grown up helping her mother in her crafts business.
After attending art classes in Boston Catharine met her future husband, Peter Whyte. Peter had been born and bred in Banff and loved the mountainous landscapes, which is apparent to any who have seen his works in galleries.
Though the two met quite soon after they started school, love did not strike immediately. It was not until 1927 that love bloomed. The couple married three years later in 1930, after Peter took a trip around the world.
Returning to Banff after the wedding, Catharine fell in love with the scenery, and they quickly decided to move to the area, though not on a full-time basis.
In the warmer months, following the construction of their log cabin, the Whytes could often be found in the peaks surrounding Banff .
Together they painted Banff in its natural glory, each expressing their own unique view of the area.
In the winter and fall the Whytes would travel back to New England to spend time with Catharine's mother. In February 1932 the Whytes took over the Skoki Ski Lodge, previously run by Peter's brother Cliff and his friend Cyril Pans. They enjoyed the job immensely as well as the skiing. Peter had been a ski jumper in his younger years.
A tragic accident in 1933, involving the death of British mathematician R.E.A.C. Paley, marked the end of the Whytes' involvement in the lodge.
Despite Paley's death the couple remained in Banff , though they travelled extensively to various parts of the world.
After the Second World War broke out, Peter joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, but did not travel overseas, having been stationed at Tofino on Vancouver Island for the entirety of the war as a photo technician.
Following the war the Whytes winterized their home to make it habitable, foregoing their annual treks to New England for the snow covered beauty of the Rockies .
As their interest in the community grew so did their involvement with preserving aspects of Banff life for future generations.
On Sept. 3, 1958 they established what was then called the Wa-Che-Yo-Cha-Pa Foundation, and began collecting properties in the hopes of building an archive.
In the meantime they continued to gather pieces that they felt would be representative of Banff 's rich history though they were already in possession of a fairly extensive collection.
In October of 1965 they began the labour intensive project of moving their collection from their house into another property owned by the foundation.
Maryalice H. Stewart, the foundation's first director, oversaw the transfers and the upkeep of the collections, which was later called the Archives of the Canadian Rockies.
That same year Peter grew ill and though he lived to see the final plans for the archives, he died in 1966, two years before they were finished in July 1968.
The new building ranged over 15,000 square feet and encompassed the Banff library, the art gallery, the Peter Whyte Gallery which held the Whytes' personal collection of art among other things, as well as storage and additional gallery space.
After Peter's death Catharine immersed herself further in Banff community life, and travelled extensively as well, hiking in Nepal and the Rockies and participating in the annual Banff 's Veteran's Ski Race, winning the oldest competitor spot every year.
Catharine died in 1979 and the Whytes' home was turned into a public museum, allowing visitors a glimpse into the Whytes' vast memorabilia.
In the years after Catharine's death it became apparent that new quarters would be necessary in order to properly house the various collections the Foundation had collected.
The Whyte Centre, as the building had been renamed in 1971, was relocated in 1985 into a new building. To ensure that citizens and visitors did not become confused by the various aspects of the culture that the centre had to offer the building became known to all as the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.
Other improvements and expansions have been made in the years that followed, ensuring that enough space is available to constantly strengthen their collections.
The Whytes' dream to provide an outlet for Banff history and culture was achieved and surpassed, as the museum continues to gather strength each year, cultivating knowledge and interest, not just for the people of Banff , but for the world.
Catharine's efforts ensured that many aspects of history would not be lost to the youth of Banff, and in so doing enriched the culture of Banff immeasurably.
Sources: 200 Remarkable Alberta Women by Elda Hauschildt and Kay Sanderson
www.whyte.org/builtheritage/whyte.html www.whyte.org/
<<back |
