Fonds constitutes the principal resource for the study of the history of Canadian mountaineering. It provides a wealth of information on individual alpinists, expeditions, mountains, national parks, conservation, climbing, alpine organizations, publications, guiding, scientific study and the Alpin…
ca.42 m of textual records. -- ca.12,500 photographs: prints, stereographic prints, transparencies, slides, negatives, postcards. -- 85 photograph albums. -- 8 motion pictures: films, video recordings. -- 3 sound recordings
History / Biographical
The Alpine Club of Canada, the national mountaineering club, was co-founded in 1906 by A. O. Wheeler and Elizabeth Parker, and other like-minded climbers. The club espoused scientific study and exploration, cultivation of art, public education, acquisition of climbing skills, and preservation of natural areas within the mountainous regions of Canada. Through a national executive, local sections and volunteer committees, the club provided climbing camps, clubhouse, huts, and publications, including the Canadian Alpine Journal. ACC expeditions and projects resulted in pioneer exploration, first ascents, and included mountain warfare training during the Second World War. In recent years, the club's membership has increased dramatically with the popularity of climbing and its programs have evolved to serve the needs of unguided climbers using sophisticated technical aids.
Scope & Content
Fonds constitutes the principal resource for the study of the history of Canadian mountaineering. It provides a wealth of information on individual alpinists, expeditions, mountains, national parks, conservation, climbing, alpine organizations, publications, guiding, scientific study and the Alpine Club itself.
The fonds consists of four Sous-fonds: I. Alpine Club of Canada records; II. Mount Everest Expedition (1982) records; III. Personal papers and photographs; IV. Other material. Club administration records (series I.A.) pertain to executive positions; head office; finance; camps, climbing and treks; expeditions; huts and properties; clubhouses; library; publications; photography; other committees; other activities; and other. Other club records include section records (series I.B.), hut registers and summit records (series I.C.).
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 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 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 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 negative photographs which Ben Gadd contributed to a guidebook titled "Of Rocks, Mountains and Jasper" by Dr. Chris Yorath. Images depict scenic views of various mountains, caves, roads and glaciers near Jasper National Park, as well as close-up views of fossils and geological form…
107 photographs : 30 col. negative film strips ; 35 mm
Scope & Content
File consists of negative photographs which Ben Gadd contributed to a guidebook titled "Of Rocks, Mountains and Jasper" by Dr. Chris Yorath. Images depict scenic views of various mountains, caves, roads and glaciers near Jasper National Park, as well as close-up views of fossils and geological formations. Some images depict unidentified men climbing and posing in front of natural views.
Notes
Photographs in file accompanied by original storage envelope
File consists of photographs pertaining to geological formations and research, rock climbing, views of Cavell Glacier, hiking and mountain views. Photographs were produced and/or collected by Ben Gadd for use in the second edition of his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of photographs pertaining to geological formations and research, rock climbing, views of Cavell Glacier, hiking and mountain views. Photographs were produced and/or collected by Ben Gadd for use in the second edition of his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of photographs pertaining to geological formations and research, rock climbing, views of glaciers and mountains, historic figures from Banff and Morley [including the Beaver family, Conrad Kain, Mary Schaffer and others] and other related subjects. Photographs were produced and/or col…
38 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 21.5 x 14 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs pertaining to geological formations and research, rock climbing, views of glaciers and mountains, historic figures from Banff and Morley [including the Beaver family, Conrad Kain, Mary Schaffer and others] and other related subjects. Photographs were produced and/or collected by Ben Gadd for use in the second edition of his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. File includes duplicates of historic images from the Whyte Museum and other sources.
Notes
Photographs in file are accompanied by a list of image numbers with descriptions, sent to Ben Gadd by David and Martha McIntyre.
File consists of negative photographs depicting trails and interpretive signs in William A. Switzer Provincial Park. Ben Gadd worked as a consultant for the Government of Alberta in the production of updated interpretive signs in William A. Switzer Provincial Park between 1995 and 1996.
77 photographs : 22 col. negative film strips ; 35 mm
Scope & Content
File consists of negative photographs depicting trails and interpretive signs in William A. Switzer Provincial Park. Ben Gadd worked as a consultant for the Government of Alberta in the production of updated interpretive signs in William A. Switzer Provincial Park between 1995 and 1996.
File consists of negative photographs depicting landscape views of west central Alberta, which were used by Ben Gadd for the production of interpretive signs.
27 photographs : 7 col. negative film strips ; 35 mm
Scope & Content
File consists of negative photographs depicting landscape views of west central Alberta, which were used by Ben Gadd for the production of interpretive signs.