Arthur Oliver Wheeler
b. 1 May 1860 — Kilkenny, Ireland
d. 20 May 1945 — Banff, Alberta
Immigrating to Canada at the age of 16, Wheeler became a land surveyor and surveyed large areas of western Canada, including photo-topographical surveys of the Selkirk Mountains. He was the British Columbia representative on the Alberta-British Columbia Boundary Commission, which surveyed the boundary along the Continental Divide through the Canadian Rockies west to the 120th meridian.
In 1906 he and journalist Elizabeth Parker [1856–1944] were the principal founders of the Alpine Club of Canada. He was its first president, from 1906 to 1910, and editor of the Canadian Alpine Journal from 1907 to 1930. He remained Honorary President of the ACC from 1926 until his death in 1945.
Works pertinent to the Mount Robson region of which Wheeler was author or co-author:
- — Whyte Museum Archives. A. O. Wheeler diaries (1885–1944).
- — “Report of 1909 Camp [Lake O’Hara].” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2 (1910):147–159. Alpine Club of Canada [accessed 4/2/2025]
- — Whyte Museum Archives. Letter to Kinney (1910).
- — “Report on Mountaineering [1910 camp, Consolation Valley].” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 3 (1911):134-139. Alpine Club of Canada [accessed 4/2/2025]
- — “The Mountains of the Yellowhead Pass.” Alpine Journal, Vol. 26, No.198, London, England (1912):382
- — and Smithsonian Institution [founded 1846]. “The Alpine Club of Canada’s expedition to Jasper Park, Yellowhead Pass and Mount Robson region, 1911.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 4 (1912):9-80. Alpine Club of Canada [accessed 4/2/2025]
- — and Smithsonian Institution [founded 1846]. “Topographical Map Showing Mount Robson and Mountains of the Continental Divide North of Yellowhead Pass to accompany the Report of the Alpine Club of Canada’s Expedition 1911. From Photographic Surveys by Arthur O. Wheeler; A.C.C. Director.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 4 (1912):8-81. Alpine Club of Canada [accessed 4/2/2025]
- — “The Mount Robson Camp of the Alpine Club of Canada.” Alpine Journal, 27 329, London, England (1913)
- — Boundary survey between the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Victoria: Government of British Columbia, 1913
- — Boundary survey between the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Victoria: Government of British Columbia, 1914
- — “The camps of the Alpine Club of Canada in 1913 and Mr. A.O. Wheeler’s exploratory work.” Alpine Journal, Vol. 28, No.198, London, England (1914):78
- — Boundary survey between the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Victoria: Government of British Columbia, 1915
- — “Report of Mt. Robson camp (1913).” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 6 (1914–1915):179–180
- — “Report of Cathedral Mt. Camp (1913).” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 6 (1914–1915):175-
- — “Robson Glacier.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 6 (1914–1915):104-107
- — “Report of Upper Yoho (1914).” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 6 (1914–1915):181-187
- — Survey of the boundary between the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Victoria: Government of British Columbia, 1916
- — “Report of Ptarmigan Lake Camp.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 7 (1916):89-96
- Cautley, Richard William, D.L.S., A.L.S., C.E. [1873–1953], and — Report of the Commission Appointed to Delimit the Boundary between the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Part I: From 1913 to 1916. Ottawa: Office of the Surveyor General, 1917
- — Survey of the boundary between the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.. Victoria: Government of British Columbia, 1917
- — “The location of Mts. Brown and Hooker.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 12 (1921–1922):123-129
- — and Lambart, Howard Frederick John F. [1880–1946]. “Mountain reconnaissance by airplane.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 13 (1923):112-118
- Cautley, Richard William, D.L.S., A.L.S., C.E. [1873–1953], and — Report of the Commission appointed to delimit the boundary between the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Part II. 1917 to 1921. From Kicking Horse Pass to Yellowhead Pass.. Ottawa: Office of the Surveyor General, 1924. Whyte Museum
- Cautley, Richard William, D.L.S., A.L.S., C.E. [1873–1953], and — Report of the Commission Appointed to Delimit the Boundary between the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Parts IIIA & IIIB, 1918 to 1924. From Yellowhead Pass Northerly. Ottawa: Office of the Surveyor General, 1925. Whyte Museum
- Cautley, Richard William, D.L.S., A.L.S., C.E. [1873–1953], and — Report of the Commission Appointed to Delimit the Boundary between the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia – Part III – from 1918 to 1924. Atlas. Ottawa: Office of the Surveyor General, 1925
- — “A. L. Mumm — An Appreciation.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 16 (1927–1927):173-175
- — “Passes of the Great Divide.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 16 (1927–1927):117-135
- — “Mounts Brown and Hooker.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 17 (1928):66-68
- — “Professor Charles E. Fay, Litt. D.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 19 (1930):113
- — “In Memorian: ‘Curly’ Phillips.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 25 (1937):117
- — Banff: Whyte Museum Archives. M106/47 (1938).
- — “Stanley Hamilon Mitchell [In Memoriam}.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 27 (1939):92-95
Wheeler is credited with naming the following places
(also see places named by the Alberta-British Columbia Boundary Commission)
(also see places named by the Alberta-British Columbia Boundary Commission)
Events in the Mount Robson region in which Wheeler was involved:
- Mount Robson attempt proposed 1912 ACC organized
- 1909 ACC Camp – Lake O’Hara
- 1911 Wheeler re Summit City
- 1911 Alpine Club of Canada–Smithsonian Robson Expedition
- 1913 Interprovincial Boundary Commission
- 1913 Alpine Club of Canada Camp at Mount Robson
- 1914 ACC Camp – Upper Yoho Valley
- 1917 Boundary Comission Survey Yellowhead Pass
- 1922 Lambart survey
- 1923 Boundary Comission Survey completed to Robson
- 1924 Alberta-BC boundary monument Robson Pass
- 1924 ACC Camp – Mount Robson
References:
- “Arthur O. Wheeler. Details of his career.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 27 (1940)
- Wikipedia. Arthur Oliver Wheeler