Maryalice Harvey Stewart, 1923-2001 – Archives PioneerMaryalice Harvey Stewart passed away on September 11, 2001 having lived a life devoted to the understanding of the Canadian Rockies. A native of Banff, Maryalice brought her family connections, mountain experiences and historical training to her position as the first Director and Archivist of the Archives of the Canadian Rockies, now the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. She was the organization’s focal point from 1965 to 1976. Through her mother Maryalice was related to the founding families of Banff: the McDougalls, Brewsters, Wilsons and Luxtons. Her strong character, her rich education in Margaret Greenham’s Mountain School and her numerous horse trips into the wilderness made Maryalice a Banff original. As a young adult she left Banff and gathered valuable insights and experience that would later serve her and her home town well. While living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Maryalice received
training at the Gilcrease Museum. She returned to Banff from the
United States in 1963. In 1965 she began collaborating with
Catharine Whyte, planning a research facility specializing in the
mountain regions of western Canada. Her blend of experience, wide
network of In 1966, in a residence on the Whytes’ beautiful Bow River property in the heart of Banff, the Archives of the Canadian Rockies and its companion, the Banff Public Library, began serving researchers. Meanwhile Maryalice, the Whytes, architects and others spent many hours envisioning a new facility, a purpose-built building of exceptional design to house archival and special library collections, an art gallery and a public library on the river property. On June 16, 1968, the new Archives of the Canadian Rockies was opened by pioneers Jimmy Simpson and Charlie Beil. Starting in 1965, Maryalice laid strong foundations for this regional archives and library. From the start, she applied standard tools, which we now take for granted, such as gift and accession records, location numbers and finding aids. The professionals who followed in her footsteps did not have to contend with some of the home-grown systems or violations of theory often committed by well meaning, but uninformed local history buffs. Maryalice received guidance and acceptance from other repositories in Alberta, throughout Canada and the United States, ensuring a continuity of professional archival and library practice. While Archivist, Maryalice negotiated the gift of the Vaux family fonds, including the vast photographic work of this famous Philadelphia family of scientists and artists. She was also a proponent of oral history and conducted many interviews with mountain pioneers. In 1971, the records and library of the Alpine Club of Canada were moved to Banff on the strength of her negotiations. Maryalice served on the boards of the National Museums and National Library and was active in the field of toponymy. She lectured on archives at the University of Alberta and was a proud member of the now legendary “Prairie Archivists.” Many young women saw her as a role model. After leaving the employ of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in 1976, Maryalice continued her work with geographic names and undertook an ambitious oral history project on national park wardens for Parks Canada. She was awarded life membership in the Museum in recognition of her pivotal role in its development. She is fondly remembered for her many talents; she was a voracious reader, a talented mezzo-soprano and a champion of historical accuracy. Ten years ago, Maryalice recalled her first years as the Archivist in Banff, years when a stream of archival treasures arrived at the new facility from enthusiastic donors: “It was great! Every day was Christmas Day!” Over the past eighteen years, I have frequently been amazed by the number of acquisition contacts she made while building up the collections. Some of the seeds she sowed and her successors tended are only now coming to fruition. My very last conversation with her centered around just such an acquisition success story, which she initiated thirty years ago. Banff and Alberta are greatly indebted to this Archives pioneer. – Don Bourdon, Archives &
Library
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Maryalice Harvey and Steve
Cody pose for a publicity photograph, ca. 1940.
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