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
Fonds consists of three sous-fonds: M573 / V797 / S60.
M573 consists of three series, 26 cm of textual records, 1924-2005. Series I: Personal Papers, 19 cm, ca.1930-2005 (including notebooks and drafts of various talks that Jean delivered and records related to her participation in the Trail Rider…
26 cm of textual records.-- 109 photographs (42 prints, 67 lantern slides). -- 2 sound recordings.
History / Biographical
Jean Alexandra Hembroff was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on April 5, 1908 to Walter B. Hembroff (d. 1945) and Sarah Jane Hembroff (d.1952). Jean was accepted to the MacPhail School of Music and Dramatic Art at the University of Minnesota, from which she graduated in 1927. She returned to Winnipeg to begin teaching courses in speech arts and drama. To establish herself, she first volunteered as the "story lady" at the Williams Avenue Public Library and quickly became known as an excellent speaker sought by many different organizations. She taught at St. Mary's Academy and the Evening Institute at the University of Manitoba, as well as offered private sessions. Many of her students used the skills they learned from Jean as they entered radio, television, politics, and business. Jean was also very active in organizing and adjucating Speech Arts festivals in Manitoba, often going to inaccessible places to give workshops. Her teaching, broadcasting, adjucating, coaching, and speaking career spanned more than 50 years.
Jean was hired by the Canadian Pacific Railway's promotions manager to give presentations and broadcast interviews across Canada and the United States. In 1937, Jean joined the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies and participated in their summer trail ride in the same year. For that year's issue of the Trail Rider's Bulletin Jean wrote an article - and became the first woman to ever do so. In 1938, during her lecture titled "Trail Riding in the Rockies" on January 18, 1938 at the Royal Alexandra Hotel, Jean met John David (Jack) MacDonald. Jack and Jean were married on June 18, 1938, and the couple had one son, Bruce Walter James MacDonald (August 28, 1946-August 25, 2016).
Jean participated in several trail rides with the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies and the Sky Line Trail, and produced articles reflecting her experiences. Jean loved to travel and visited places all around Canada and the United States, Borneo, Tangier, Montevideo, Stockholm, New Delhi, and Tonga. At the age of 102, Jean passed away on February 2, 2011 and is buried in Winnipeg.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of three sous-fonds: M573 / V797 / S60.
M573 consists of three series, 26 cm of textual records, 1924-2005. Series I: Personal Papers, 19 cm, ca.1930-2005 (including notebooks and drafts of various talks that Jean delivered and records related to her participation in the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies and the Sky Line Hikers of the Canadian Rockies, particularly 1937-1939). Series II: Correspondence and Newspaper Clippings, 4 cm, 1924-2000 (including correspondence with John Murray Gibbon, former students, and attendees at various talks, as well as newspaper articles that Jean wrote about various subjects and articles of her achievements). Series III: Collected Materials and Ephemera, 3 cm, ca.1930-1950 (including a variety of collected poems and ephemera, as well as a copy of The Beaver Magazine from 1940, for which Jean wrote an article titled "On the Trail of Sir George").
V797 consists of two series, 24.5 cm of visual records, ca.1928-1939. Series I: Photograph Prints, 3 cm, ca.1928-1939 (includes personal photographs of Jean and her family and friends as well as photographs of Jean and Jack's visit to Lake Louise in 1939). Series II: Lantern Slides, 21.5 cm, ca.1937-1939 (Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies official ride of 1937 to Mt. Assiniboine; Sky Line Hikers of the Canadian Rockies official ride of 1939 to Ptarmigan Valley and Skoki; collection of trail ride songs).
S60 consists of two sound recordings, 1 cm, 2004 and 2007 (Winnipeg at Christmas, narrated by Jean, broadcasted on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).
File consists of summit notes from Mount Fay produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1998 and 1999. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildl…
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
1998-1999
Physical Description
0.5 cm of textual records
History / Biographical
Mount Fay is located along the Continental/Great Divide, along the Alberta and British Columbia border. Mount Fay is part of the Canadian Rockies.
Scope & Content
File consists of summit notes from Mount Fay produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1998 and 1999. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
File:
M200 / V / A / 156: [100 YR SWISS CENTENNIAL CLIMB 1999: Faye Summit notes. Bow Hut OCT - DEC 1998]
File consists of a summit record from Arête Peak produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between around 1994 and 2016. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the su…
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
ca. 1994-2016
Physical Description
0.5 cm of textual record
1 volume
History / Biographical
Arête Peak is located in Yoho National Park, British Columbia. Nearby are Mount des Poilus and Isolated Peak.
Scope & Content
File consists of a summit record from Arête Peak produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between around 1994 and 2016. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
File:
M200 / V / A / 137: ARÊTE [ca. 1994-2016]
File consists of 4 prings : col. 35.1 x 24.8 cm or smaller and 4 maps (2 paper, 2 overlays) : col., on mylar ; 60.4 x 30. cm or smaller. File pertains to aerial views of Banff National Park, showing the towns of Banff and Lake Louise, ski hills (Norqay Ski Hill, Sunshine Village, and Lake Louise Sk…
4 maps (2 paper, 2 overlays) : col., annotations, on mylar ; 60.4 x 30. cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 4 prings : col. 35.1 x 24.8 cm or smaller and 4 maps (2 paper, 2 overlays) : col., on mylar ; 60.4 x 30. cm or smaller. File pertains to aerial views of Banff National Park, showing the towns of Banff and Lake Louise, ski hills (Norqay Ski Hill, Sunshine Village, and Lake Louise Ski Resort), as well as other georgraphic features. The mylar overlays contain various amounts of detail and annotations - one consists of a dark red sheet overlayed with place names in negative.
Files consist of summit notes and summit registers from Big Sister produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1994 and 2004. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred whil…
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
1994-1998
2000-2001
2003-2004
Physical Description
3 volumes
3 cm of textual records
History / Biographical
Big Sister peak is one of the Three Sisters Mountains near Canmore, AB, and is the highest mountain of the Three Sisters.
Scope & Content
Files consist of summit notes and summit registers from Big Sister produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1994 and 2004. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
Files include:
M200 / V / A / 65: Big Sister Summit Register May 8, 1994 - Sept. 5, 1998
M200 / V / A / 66: Big Sister [Canmore, 2000-2001]
M200 / V / A / 67: Summit Register - Big Sister, Sept 2003 - Sept. 2004
File consists of a summit record from Bluerock Mountain produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1989 and 1992. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the su…
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
1989-1992
Physical Description
0.5 cm of textual record
1 volume
History / Biographical
Mount Bluerock is located in Bluerock Wildland Provincial Park in Kananaskis, Alberta. Nearby are Mount Rose and Mount Ware.
Scope & Content
File consists of a summit record from Bluerock Mountain produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1989 and 1992. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
File:
M200 / V / A / 147: [Bluerock Mountain 1989-1992]
Originally, the CMC was the meeting point of Canada's top climbers who gathered together to plan expeditions, plot potential first ascents and discuss the advancement of their chosen sport. Today, it still provides this function but also serves as a means for new climbers to meet.
Scope & Content
Series consists of photographs pertaining to the Calgary Mountain Club and its activities.
Files consist of summit notes and summit registers from Castle Mountain produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1995 and 2010. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred…
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
1995-2003
2005-2010
Physical Description
3 volumes
3 cm of textual records
History / Biographical
Castle Mountain is located in Banff National Park. The mountain is named for the castle-like appearance due to erosion. From 1946 to 1979 it was known as Mount Eisenhower in honour of war veteran, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. The pinnacle on the mountain's southeastern side is called Eisenhower Tower or Eisenhower Peak.
Scope & Content
Files consist of summit notes and summit registers from Castle Mountain produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1995 and 2010. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
Files include:
M200 / V / A / 51: Castle Mountain Summit Register 1995 - 1998
M200 / V / A / 52: Castle Mountain Sep 26, 1998 - July 20, 2003
M200 / V / A / 53: Summit Reg. Castle Mtn. [2005 - 2010]
A history of West Castle to Castle Mountain Resort 1967 to 2007 : for skiing pleasure unlimited, 2014, Steven Kenworthy, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Archives Library, Call No: 08.3 K42h
53 discs with image files -- 6 cm of scanned photograph copies -- 62 reference slides : col. ; 35mm -- 27 reference photographs : col. prints
History / Biographical
Hans Gmoser played a major role in creating Canada’s vibrant mountain community. Although known internationally as the father of heli-skiing, he was much more than that: a talented rock climber, tireless expedition leader, a mountain guide, film maker and organizer.
Deep Powder and Steep Rock presents an intimate portrait of this charismatic man. Much of the story is told in Gmoser’s own words, gleaned from his diaries, expedition journals, film commentaries and personal correspondence. It is a unique tale of adventure, hard work, perseverance and ultimate success.
Scope & Content
Photograph series consists of discs with reference scans of photographs pertaining to the research and creation of Deep Powder and Steep Rock.
File consists of a summit record from Dolomite Peak produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1998 and 2004. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit…
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
1998-2004
Physical Description
1 volume
1 cm of textual record
History / Biographical
Dolomite Peak is located in the Bow Valley of Banff National Park, Alberta. It is near the Continental Divide/Great Divide, and is part of the Canadian Rockies. Nearby are Cirque Peak, Observation Peak, Peyto Lake, and Bow Lake.
Scope & Content
File consists of a summit record from Dolomite Peak produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1998 and 2004. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
File:
M200 / V / A / 205: Dolomite Peak July 30, 1998 - Sept. 6, 2004
File consists of 2 maps (1 base, 4 overlays) : col., annotations, on mylar ; 32 x 27 cm and 30 x 22 cm, and 2 prints : col. ; 35 x 28 cm. File pertains to Murray Hay's rendering of the ski hill at Fernie, British Columbia. File includes two reproduced drafts with mylar overlays (one held together b…
2 maps (1 base, 4 overlays) : col., annotations, on mylar ; 32 x 27 cm and 30 x 22 cm
2 prints : col. ; 35 x 28 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of 2 maps (1 base, 4 overlays) : col., annotations, on mylar ; 32 x 27 cm and 30 x 22 cm, and 2 prints : col. ; 35 x 28 cm. File pertains to Murray Hay's rendering of the ski hill at Fernie, British Columbia. File includes two reproduced drafts with mylar overlays (one held together by tape or glue, the other by masking tape), and two reproduced draft prints of the ski area.
Notes
Date range is approximate. The Timberland sub-division was developed between 1981-1991. The resort was known as Fernie Snow Valley until 1997.
File consists of summit notes from First Sister mountain, produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1986 and 1994. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the …
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
1986-1994
Physical Description
1 cm of textual records
History / Biographical
First Sister is one of the Three Sisters Mountains near Canmore, Alberta, in the Canadian Rockies. First Sister is also known as Little Sister.
Scope & Content
File consists of summit notes from First Sister mountain, produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1986 and 1994. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
File:
M200 / V / A / 211: First Sister [Canmore?]
Files consist of summit notes and summit registers from The Fist produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1989 and around 2010. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred…
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
1989-2005
ca. 2010
Physical Description
4 cm of textual records
4 volumes
History / Biographical
The Fist is located in Spray Valley Provincial Park, near Dead Man's Flats and Mount Smuts in Alberta.
Scope & Content
Files consist of summit notes and summit registers from The Fist produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1989 and around 2010. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
Files include:
M200 / V / A / 47: The Fist summit register Dec 3, 1989 - July 6, 1997
M200 / V / A / 48: The Fist Aug 8, 1997 - Jul 1, 2003
M200 / V / A / 49: The Fist July 23, 2003 - July 9, 2005
M200 / V / A / 50: [The Fist Summit Notes ca. 2010]
Files consist of summit notes and summit registers from Fortress Mountain produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1992 and 2005. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurr…
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
1992-1999
2002-2005
Physical Description
3 volumes
4 cm of textual records
History / Biographical
Fortress Mountain is located in Kananaskis Country, near Spray Valley, Banff National Park and Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. It was originally a mountain ski resort. The films, Inception, The Bourne Legacy, The Claim, The Revenant and others were filmed in the area. Canadian climate researchers have used the area of Fortress Mountain Resort to study the effects of climate change in the area.
Scope & Content
Files consist of summit notes and summit registers from Fortress Mountain produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1992 and 2005. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
Files include:
M200 / V / A / 34: Fortress Mountain Summit register Aug. 16, 1992 - Aug. 13, 1995
M200 / V / A / 35: [Fortress Mountain? 1995 - 1999]
M200 / V / A / 36: Fortress Mountain Sep 15, 2002 - Aug 13, 2005
Fortress Mountain and the false promise of public participation in Alberta, March 2020, Shaun Fluker, In Wildlands Advocate, Vol. 28, No.1, March 2020, p. 6 - 8, The Alberta Wilderness Association Journal.
Whyte Archives Library Call Number: P
File consists of a summit record from Haddo Peak produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1968 and 2001. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, w…
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
1968-2001
Physical Description
1 volume
1 cm of textual record
History / Biographical
Haddo Peak is located in the Lake Louise area of Banff National Park, Alberta. Haddo Peak is attached to Mount Aberdeen. Nearby is the Plain of the Six Glaciers Tea House, Lake Louise, Mount Victoria, Mount Lefroy and Mount Temple.
Scope & Content
File consists of a summit record from Haddo Peak produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1968 and 2001. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
File:
M200 / V / A / 212: Haddo [Peak]
Files consist of summit notes and summit registers from Hawk Mountain produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1995 and 2007. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred w…
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
1995 - 2007
Physical Description
2 volumes
2 cm of textual records
History / Biographical
Hawk Mountain is located in Jasper National Park, AB. Nearby are Mount Colin and the Jasper town site.
Scope & Content
Files consist of summit notes and summit registers from Hawk Mountain produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1995 and 2007. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
Files include:
M200 / V / A / 63: Hawk Mountain [1995-2001]
M200 / V / A / 64: Summit Register - Hawk Mountain, Sept 2001 - June 2007
File consists of a summit record from Heart Mountain produced by the Alpine Club of Canada in 1999. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife si…
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
1999
Physical Description
1 cm of textual record
1 volume
History / Biographical
Heart Mountain is located in the Bow Valley, near Exshaw, Alberta.
Scope & Content
File consists of a summit record from Heart Mountain produced by the Alpine Club of Canada in 1999. Summit record includes entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
File:
M200 / V / A / 132: Heart Mountain summit register May 9, 1999 - Sept 11/99
Series consists of hut registers produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between ca.1930-2020. Registers include entries from visitors to the huts, which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while staying at the huts; wildlife sightings; custodi…
Series consists of hut registers produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between ca.1930-2020. Registers include entries from visitors to the huts, which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while staying at the huts; wildlife sightings; custodial issues and updates; and related topics.
Series is separated at the sub-series level by individual huts:
M200 / IV / A : Abbot Pass Hut
M200 / IV / B : Elizabeth Parker Hut
M200 / IV / C : Wates-Gibson Hut
M200 / IV / D : A. O. Wheeler Hut
M200 / IV / E : Sydney Vallance (Fryatt) Hut
M200 / IV / F : Bow Hut
M200 / IV / G : Stanley Mitchell Hut
M200 / IV / H : Fay Hut
M200 / IV / I : Balfour Hut
M200 / IV / J : Peyto Hut/ Peter and Catharine Whyte Hut
M200 / IV / K : Elk Lakes Cabin
M200 / IV / L : Bon Echo Hut
M200 / IV / M : Bill Putnam / Fairy Meadows Hut
M200 / IV / N : Scott Duncan Hut
M200 / IV / O: Conrad Kain/Bugaboos Hut
M200 / IV / P: Neil Colgan Hut
M200 / IV / Q: Silver Spray Hut
M200 / IV / R: Asulkan Hut
M200 / IV / S: Mount Colin Hut
M200 / IV / T: Great Cairn Hut
M200 / IV / U: Other Huts [Registers]
Notes
See sub-series entries for chronological inventories of hut registers
Sub-series of identified summit registers and notes produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1930 and 2022. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit…
Summit Registers and Notes produced by Alpine Club of Canada
Date Range
1930-1931
1959-1968
1970-1989
1992 -2022
Physical Description
100 cm of textual records
223 volumes
Scope & Content
Sub-series of identified summit registers and notes produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1930 and 2022. Summit records include entries from visitors to the various summits which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while at the summit, wildlife sightings, trail updates, and related topics.
The sub-series is separated into individual identified summit records.
Notes
See file-level entries for inventories of identified summit registers and notes.