Fonds consists of materials pertaining to Ben Gadd's personal life and career as an environmental researcher, educator, interpretive guide, publisher, public speaker and author, ca.1956-2018. Fonds includes maps, research materials, publication notes/drafts, correspondence, contracts, photographs, …
ca. 7.9 metres of textual records -- ca. 274 maps -- 29 VHS tapes -- ca.15 discs with digital files -- 21 cassettes -- photographs -- oversized materials -- USB stick with 15 sldeshows
History / Biographical
Ben Gadd (1946-) is a retired naturalist, guide, geologist, instructor, freelance writer and award-winning author based in the Canadian Rockies.
Ben was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1946. He met his wife, Cia (Langdon) Gadd at Colorado College in 1965, and the couple married four weeks later. Ben and Cia had two sons, Will and Toby. Ben and his family relocated to Jasper in the late 1960s. Ben later attended the University of Lethbridge and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Earth Science in 1972.
Between 1976 and 1980, Ben taught classes at Mount Royal College and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology; he later taught additional classes at Grant MacEwan College and Lakeland College. From 1981, Ben also worked as a seasonal naturalist/guide for Parks Canada. Ben left Parks Canada in 1985 to start an independent naturalist guiding business with Cia based in Jasper and other parts of the Canadian Rockies, which the couple continued to operate for over two decades.
Ben published his best-known work, "Handbook of the Canadian Rockies", through his publishing company Corax Press in 1986. The second edition of "Handbook of the Canadian Rockies" received multiple awards after its release in 1995. Ben's fiction book, "Raven's End" won the title of Best Canadian Rockies Book at the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival in 2001 and became a Canadian bestseller. Overall, Ben has authored or co-authored 11 books and received nearly one dozen awards for his achievements as a writer, researcher and guide.
Ben continued to lead guided hikes and school programs until his retirement in 2016.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of materials pertaining to Ben Gadd's personal life and career as an environmental researcher, educator, interpretive guide, publisher, public speaker and author, ca.1956-2018. Fonds includes maps, research materials, publication notes/drafts, correspondence, contracts, photographs, video and sound recordings, and other related material. Materials donated in 2024 include one USB stick containing
Notes
Ben Gadd fonds arrangement:
Series I : Personal records
- Subseries A : Travel guides and maps
- Subseries B : Education and early writings
- Subseries C : Personal interest files
- Subseries D : Other personal and collected
Series II : Research and publication records
- Subseries A : Handbook of the Canadian Rockies
- Subseries B : Other publications
Series III : Professional records
- Subseries A : Parks Canada Records
- Subseries B : Interpretive guiding
- Subseries C : Teaching records
- Subseries D : Other contracts and projects
Series IV : Legal and financial records
- Subseries A : Legal records
- Subseries B : Financial records
File consists of printed photographs compiled by Ben Gadd pertaining to his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Images depict mountain views and geological formations in the Canadian Rockies; a compass and a map of Banff National Park; Ben Gadd working as a naturalist/interpreter; artist Matthe…
File consists of printed photographs compiled by Ben Gadd pertaining to his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Images depict mountain views and geological formations in the Canadian Rockies; a compass and a map of Banff National Park; Ben Gadd working as a naturalist/interpreter; artist Matthew Wheeler creating illustrations for the book; the construction of commercial buildings in Jasper; Cia Gadd comparing colour swatches; and deer grazing, possibly outside of the Gadd family home in Jasper.
Material Details
Photographs were originally stored in Tekarra Color Lab envelope
File consists of negative photographs compiled by Ben Gadd pertaining to his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Images depict mountain views and geological formations in the Canadian Rockies; a compass and a map of Banff National Park; Ben Gadd working as a naturalist/interpreter; artist Matth…
File consists of negative photographs compiled by Ben Gadd pertaining to his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Images depict mountain views and geological formations in the Canadian Rockies; a compass and a map of Banff National Park; Ben Gadd working as a naturalist/interpreter; artist Matthew Wheeler creating illustrations for the book; the construction of commercial buildings in Jasper; Cia Gadd comparing colour swatches; and deer grazing, possibly outside of the Gadd family home in Jasper.
Material Details
Photographs were originally stored in Tekarra Color Lab envelope
File consists of photographs taken or collected by Ben Gadd between 1983 and ca.1990. Images pertain to unnamed friends at Maligne Canyon; and views of Wisconsin, South Dakota and other regions of the United States.
12 photographs : col. prints ; 10 x 15 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs taken or collected by Ben Gadd between 1983 and ca.1990. Images pertain to unnamed friends at Maligne Canyon; and views of Wisconsin, South Dakota and other regions of the United States.
File consists of five photographs used in posters and other promotional material pertaining to Ben and Cia Gadd's guiding company, Front Range Outings, in 1976. Images depict three unidentified climbers resting on a rock surface, and views of unidentified mountains obscured partly by clouds.
5 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of five photographs used in posters and other promotional material pertaining to Ben and Cia Gadd's guiding company, Front Range Outings, in 1976. Images depict three unidentified climbers resting on a rock surface, and views of unidentified mountains obscured partly by clouds.
File consists of photographs used in posters and other promotional material pertaining to Ben and Cia Gadd's guiding company, Front Range Outings, in 1976.
20 photographs : 5 b&w negative film strips ; 35 mm -- 2 photographs : b&w negatives ; 13 x 10 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs used in posters and other promotional material pertaining to Ben and Cia Gadd's guiding company, Front Range Outings, in 1976.
File consists of published research material collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to the study of Geomorphology and the Pleistocene Epoch. File includes one photograph print sent to Ben Gadd depicting a boulder [in file M590/II/A/32].
12 cm of textual records -- 1 photograph : col. print
Scope & Content
File consists of published research material collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to the study of Geomorphology and the Pleistocene Epoch. File includes one photograph print sent to Ben Gadd depicting a boulder [in file M590/II/A/32].
Storage Range
Materials stored in two file boxes: M590/II/A/26 to 32 and M590/II/A/33 to 38
File consists of published research material collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to stratigraphy and fossils. File includes one print photograph depicting a fossil found near Mt. Stephen, British Columbia [in folder M590/II/A/27] and one print depicting a geological feature in Jasper National Park.
Photographs produced by Christian W. Gronau of Whaletown, B.C. and Ron Kratochvil
Date Range
[1980-2012]
Physical Description
10 cm of textual records -- 2 photographs : col. prints ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of published research material collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to stratigraphy and fossils. File includes one print photograph depicting a fossil found near Mt. Stephen, British Columbia [in folder M590/II/A/27] and one print depicting a geological feature in Jasper National Park.
Notes
Some items in file are annotated by Ben Gadd
Material Details
Photographs stored in file with textual records to maintain original order
File consists of photographs depicting interior and exterior views of the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre in Jasper National Park, following renovations to the property in 1998.
File consists of photographs depicting interior and exterior views of the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre in Jasper National Park, following renovations to the property in 1998.
Material Details
Original photo envelope annotated in black marker: "Icefield Ctr. 1998 Photos by Ben with Jill Seaton's camera"
File consists of photographs depicting interior and exterior views of the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre in Jasper National Park, following renovations to the property in 1998.
30 photographs : 8 col. negative film strips ; 35 mm
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs depicting interior and exterior views of the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre in Jasper National Park, following renovations to the property in 1998.
Material Details
Original photo envelope annotated in black marker: "Icefield Ctr. 1998 Photos by Ben [Gadd] with Jill Seaton's camera"
File consists of photographs taken or collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to rock formations and other geological features near Meadow Creek and Miette in Jasper National Park. File also includes four photographs from Jim Aitken and the Geological Survey of Canada (Calgary, Ottawa).
Produced by Ben Gadd, Jim Aitken, Geological Survey of Canada
Date Range
[ca.1990-1995]
Physical Description
24 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 20 x 15 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs taken or collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to rock formations and other geological features near Meadow Creek and Miette in Jasper National Park. File also includes four photographs from Jim Aitken and the Geological Survey of Canada (Calgary, Ottawa).
Notes
Most photographs are annotated on back by Ben Gadd. Photos V810/II/A/PA-10 and 162 accompanied in file by corresponding notes/textual records
Material Details
Original storage envelopes (annotated) stored in folder with prints
File consists of photographs taken or collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to rock formations and other geological features near Meadow Creek and Miette in Jasper National Park.
File consists of photographs taken or collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to rock formations and other geological features near Meadow Creek and Miette in Jasper National Park.
Material Details
Original storage envelope (annotated) stored in folder with prints V810 / II / A / PA - 139 to 162
File consists of two compact discs photographs pertaining to Ben's work as an interpretive guide in Jasper National Park in 2002 and 2005. First disc is titled "The Strongest Link: Discover, Dream, Design, Deliver, Jasper 2002" and contains 29 digital files, including JPG images and HTML links; sec…
File consists of two compact discs photographs pertaining to Ben's work as an interpretive guide in Jasper National Park in 2002 and 2005. First disc is titled "The Strongest Link: Discover, Dream, Design, Deliver, Jasper 2002" and contains 29 digital files, including JPG images and HTML links; second disc contains 63 image files produced by Jon Shields, pertaining to a guided hike led by Ben Gadd in July 2005.
File consists of photographs taken by Ben Gadd during a trip to Jackman Flats Provincial Park in 1997. Images depict a dog, and measurements of a geological artifact.
25 photographs : 7 col. negative film strips ; 35 mm
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs taken by Ben Gadd during a trip to Jackman Flats Provincial Park in 1997. Images depict a dog, and measurements of a geological artifact.
File consists of photographs taken by Ben Gadd during a trip to Jackman Flats Provincial Park in 1997. Images depict unidentified individuals posing next to interpretive signs; hiking trails; a truck driving through sand; and measurements of a geological artifact.
File consists of photographs taken by Ben Gadd during a trip to Jackman Flats Provincial Park in 1997. Images depict unidentified individuals posing next to interpretive signs; hiking trails; a truck driving through sand; and measurements of a geological artifact.
File consists of photographs photographs taken by Ben Gadd and various participants during hikes which he led between 1990 and 2000, through the Jasper Institute. Images in file were kept for potential use as promotional material for future trips and programs.
9 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs photographs taken by Ben Gadd and various participants during hikes which he led between 1990 and 2000, through the Jasper Institute. Images in file were kept for potential use as promotional material for future trips and programs.
File consists of photographs pertaining to outdoor educational programming and hikes led by Ben Gadd in 1989 and 1990 through the Jasper Institute; and views of the Palisades Center during winter, 1991.
25 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm -- 1 photograph : col. negative ; 25 x 20 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs pertaining to outdoor educational programming and hikes led by Ben Gadd in 1989 and 1990 through the Jasper Institute; and views of the Palisades Center during winter, 1991.