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 two sous-fonds: M521 and V75.
M521 consists of four series, 154 cm, ca.1870-2002. Series I: Dorothy Wardle Personal Papers, 69.5 cm, ca.1870-2002 (includes Dorothy's written work and research and notes related to Banff). Series II: Wardle Family, 32.5 cm, 1872-1998 (including cor…
154 cm of textual records. -- 1304 photographs (1190 prints, 95 negatives, 19 transparencies). -- 6 photograph albums.
History / Biographical
The Wardle family was comprised of husband and wife, James Morey Wardle (June 26,1888 - May 18,1971) and Maud Leette (Roney) Wardle (May 24,1889 - December 1,1969), and their one child, Dorothy Hope Wardle (May 23,1919 - July 20,2003).
James Wardle, born in Chiliwack, British Columbia, was a civil engineer and public servant. He was the Superintendent of Banff National Park from 1918-1921, Chief Engineer for Parks Canada from 1921-1935, and Deputy Minister of the Interior from 1935-1936. He is primarily known as a highway design engineer, particularly for building the Banff-Windermere, Banff-Lake Louise, and Banff-Jasper highways. He was a councillor for the Municipality of Rockcliffe Park in Ontario and he was the President of the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies in Banff from 1925-1929. Mount Wardle in Vermillion was named after him in 1921. James married Leette on November 4, 1913, with whom he had one child, Dorothy.
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Dorothy (also known as Dot and Dorie) grew up in Banff, Alberta and Ottawa, Ontario, due to her father's position with the federal government. She was educated at the Mountain School in Banff and at the Elmwood School in Ottawa. All three family members were graduates of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. James graduated in 1912 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Leette graduated with a Bachelor's degree, and in 1942, Dorothy also earned a Bachelor's degree. Dorothy was prominent in student life and active in athletics. In 1941, Dorothy became the first woman elected as President of the Alma Mater Society and during her academic career, Dorothy was a member of the Levana Intercollegiate Debative, University Centenary Committee, and Queen’s War Aid Commission.
Dorothy spent her career as a freelance writer however, upon graduation she served as the first Secretary-In-Charge of Records at Carleton College (now Carleton University) from 1942-1944 in Ottawa and in the mid-1950s worked as a secretary for the Glenbow Foundation in Calgary. Dorothy pursued a lifelong interest in traveling, art, and antiques. Although she was fiercely proud and protective of Banff and the Park, and remained a volunteer and patron of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Dorothy eventually settled in Sidney, British Columbia and shared an apartment with Sheila Iris Ritchie, with whom Dorothy travelled extensively. After her death in 2003, Dorothy, "Dorie," was laid to rest alongside her parents in the Old Banff Cemetery.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of two sous-fonds: M521 and V75.
M521 consists of four series, 154 cm, ca.1870-2002. Series I: Dorothy Wardle Personal Papers, 69.5 cm, ca.1870-2002 (includes Dorothy's written work and research and notes related to Banff). Series II: Wardle Family, 32.5 cm, 1872-1998 (including correspondence with Carl Rungius and Mrs. Helen Brett, and Christmas and other greeting cards from Peter and Catharine Whyte). Series III: Queen's University, 7.5 cm, 1911-1980 (including graduation certificates for each family member and records pertaining to Dorothy's participation on the Alma Mater Society). Series IV: Travel, 44.5 cm, ca.1950-1988 (includes hand-written notebooks meticulously detailing their travels).
V75 consists of two series, 79.5 cm, ca. 1912-2001. Series I: Wardle Family, ca. 1912-1971, 6 albums, 31 cm of photograph prints and negatives (including family trips, trail rides in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and family gatherings). Series II: Dorothy Wardle, 1972-2001, 34 cm of photograph prints, negatives, and transparencies (including Dorothy's travels in Alberta and British Columbia, overseas, and various outings with friends).
Fonds consists of transparency slides, maps, handwritten notes and club records, song books, and scrapbooks pertaining to Margaret Ruth Oliver and the Tuesday Hikers club.
28 photographs : col. slides -- 1.5 m of textual records (3 binders -- 1 record book -- 10 song books -- maps, annotated -- 11 scrapbooks)
History / Biographical
Margaret Ruth Oliver was born on December 19, 1927 to parents Edgar and Gladys (Brazier) Hammett in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Margaret's siblings include Dorothy (1922), Muriel "Miv" (1923), John (1929), and Jean (1933). Margaret graduated from United College (Winnipeg) in 1949 with a B.Sc. degree, and worked as an Assistant Librarian at the University of Manitoba afterwards. Margaret later enrolled in a Laboratory Technician program at the University of Manitoba Medical College. Margaret married Thomas Albert Oliver, a fellow University of Manitoba alumnus, on September 25, 1954. The couple moved to Calgary for work (Thomas taught at the University of Calgary, and Margaret worked for a geophysical company). Margaret travelled extensively following the death of her husband in 1997, visiting places such as Nepal, Cambodia, Russia, Egypt and Greenland.
In 1971, Margaret formed a hiking group within the University Faculty Women's Club (F.W.C.) through the University of Calgary. In 1976, this group became a private club called the Tuesday Hikers, which no longer held any affiliation to the F.W.C. Trips included weekly hikes and/or ski trips, as well as longer backpacking excursions.The club is still active as of 2022.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of transparency slides, maps, handwritten notes and club records, song books, and scrapbooks pertaining to Margaret Ruth Oliver and the Tuesday Hikers club.
Notes
Materials are unprocessed and stored in three boxes:
Box 1: 1 envelope "T. Hikers' Slides" - 28 film transparencies and printed notes; various maps with handwritten notes
Box 2: 1 record book "T.H. Record Book" - handwritten lists and statistics of trips, attendance, miles; 2 binders with handwritten notes, titled "National Parks - Banff and Assiniboine" and "Nat'l Parks - Glacier + Jasper"
Box 3: 1 binder titled "Tues. Hikers- Past Members and Guests"; 10 song books; trail, park and road maps; 11 scrapbooks, 1971-2010
File consists of notes, contracts, correspondence and other documents pertaining to travel and hiking brochure projects which Ben Gadd produced for Parks Canada.
File consists of notes, contracts, correspondence and other documents pertaining to travel and hiking brochure projects which Ben Gadd produced for Parks Canada.
File consists of newspaper articles, notes and published research materials collected by Ben Gadd, pertaining to the provenance of place names, the history of human settlement and regional populations in the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of newspaper articles, notes and published research materials collected by Ben Gadd, pertaining to the provenance of place names, the history of human settlement and regional populations in the Canadian Rockies.
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 1 cm of textual records, 10 x 23.5 cm or smaller. File pertains to ski trail maps of Jasper Marmot Basin and ski area created by Murray Hay. File includes three brochures promoting the ski runs at Marmot Basin that each include a reproduced map by Hay.
File consists of 1 cm of textual records, 10 x 23.5 cm or smaller. File pertains to ski trail maps of Jasper Marmot Basin and ski area created by Murray Hay. File includes three brochures promoting the ski runs at Marmot Basin that each include a reproduced map by Hay.
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
Notes
Contents of individual folders in file:
M590 / I / C / 71 : Guitar
M590 / I / C / 72 : "Grizzlies Need Friends, Too"
M590 / I / C / 73 : Heli-Hiking
M590 / I / C / 74 : Hemp
M590 / I / C / 75 : Horses
M590 / I / C / 76 : Icefield Centre Redevelopment
M590 / I / C / 77 : Interpretation Canada
M590 / I / C / 78 : JPC Expansion, Other CP Hotel
M590 / I / C / 79 : Jasper Environmental Association
M590 / I / C / 80 : Jasper Management Plan Forum
M590 / I / C / 81 : JNP Issues - Not Tours
M590 / I / C / 82 : Jeeps, ATVs, etc.
M590 / I / C / 83 : Kananaskis Country"
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
Notes
Contents of individual folders in file:
M590 / I / C / 94 : Maligne Canyon Teahouse
M590 / I / C / 95 : Maligne Valley Caribou and Maligne Tours
M590 / I / C / 96 : Maligne Valley History
M590 / I / C / 97 to 99 : Maligne Valley Planning [Files 1 to 3 of 3]
M590 / I / C / 100 : Maligne Valley - Not Canyon
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
Notes
Contents of individual folders in file:
M590 / I / C / 101 : Marmot Basin Expansion
M590 / I / C / 102 : Military
M590 / I / C / 103 : Mining
M590 / I / C / 104 : Mission Statement, Policy
M590 / I / C / 105 : MLAs, MPs
M590 / I / C / 106 : Pat Morrow
M590 / I / C / 107 : Mountain Biking, New Jasper Trails Project
M590 / I / C / 108 : Mumm Creek
M590 / I / C / 109 : Nakimu Cave
M590 / I / C / 110 : National Party
M590 / I / C / 111 : National Parks
M590 / I / C / 112 : Natural Areas, Special Places 2000
M590 / I / C / 113 : Natural History Tours
M590 / I / C / 114 : Northern River Basins Study
M590 / I / C / 115 : Oldman Dam
M590 / I / C / 16 : Park Link
M590 / I / C / 117 : Parks for Tomorrow
M590 / I / C / 118 to 119 : Palisades Centre [Files 1 and 2 of 4]
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
Notes
Contents of individual folders in file:
M590 / I / C / 120 to 121 : Palisades Centre [Files 3 and 4 of 4]
M590 / I / C / 122 : Parks Canada funding
M590 / I / C / 123 to 126 : Parks Canada - General [Files 1 to 4 of 4]
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
Notes
Contents of individual folders in file:
M590 / I / C / 127 to 128 : Parks Canada Reorganization [Files 1 and 2 of 2]
M590 / I / C / 129 : Pipeline (Trans Canada, etc.)
M590 / I / C / 130 : Plans
M590 / I / C / 131 : Pocahontas (Maps, Plans)
M590 / I / C / 132 : Pole, Graeme
M590 / I / C / 133 : Poisons, Pesticides, Pollution
M590 / I / C / 134 : Population Explosion
M590 / I / C / 135 : Provincial Parks
M590 / I / C / 136 : Railways
M590 / I / C / 137 : Rapson, Dwight
M590 / I / C / 138 : RCMP
M590 / I / C / 139 : Resorts, Industrial Tourism
M590 / I / C / 140 : Roy Richards
M590 / I / C / 141 : Rivers, Flooding
M590 / I / C / 142 : Roads + Highways, Salting
M590 / I / C / 143 : Rocky Mountain Youth Initiative
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
Notes
Contents of individual folders in file:
M590 / I / C / 144 : Robson Provincial Park
M590 / I / C / 145 : "Rocks in the River"
M590 / I / C / 146 : Torry Schultz
M590 / I / C / 147 : Sewage and Treatment
M590 / I / C / 148 : Sierra Legal Defense Fund
M590 / I / C / 149 : Skiing
M590 / I / C / 150 : Ski Areas
M590 / I / C / 151 : Society for Technical Communication
M590 / I / C / 152 : State of the Parks Meetings
M590 / I / C / 153 : Superwood
M590 / I / C / 154 : Surveys, Opinion Polls
M590 / I / C / 155 : Timoney, Kevin
M590 / I / C / 156 : Tonquin Valley
M590 / I / C / 157 : Chris Townsend
M590 / I / C / 158 to 160: Townsite Issues [Files 1 to 3 of 3]
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
Notes
Contents of individual folders in file:
M590 / I / C / 161 : Trapping, Furs
M590 / I / C / 162 : Tri-Council JNP Study
M590 / I / C / 163 : U.S. Parks
M590 / I / C / 164 : User Fees
M590 / I / C / 165 : Vermont
M590 / I / C / 166 : Volunteering
M590 / I / C / 167 : Warden-Arming Issue
M590 / I / C / 168 : WCWC [Western Canada Wilderness Committee]
M590 / I / C / 169 : Weldwood
M590 / I / C / 170 to 171 : Whitehorse Wildland Park [Files 1 and 2 of 2]
M590 / I / C / 172 : Wildflower Survey
M590 / I / C / 173 : Willmore Wilderness Park
M590 / I / C / 174 : Wolves
M590 / I / C / 175 : Yellowstone to Yukon Biodiversity Strategy
File consists of published materials produced by Ben Gadd between 1993 and 2002. File includes various articles pertaining to hiking, tourism and cave exploration in Jasper National Park and other areas of the Canadian Rockies; French and English copies of a brochure titled "Day-hiker's Guide to Ja…
File consists of published materials produced by Ben Gadd between 1993 and 2002. File includes various articles pertaining to hiking, tourism and cave exploration in Jasper National Park and other areas of the Canadian Rockies; French and English copies of a brochure titled "Day-hiker's Guide to Jasper National Park"; and correspondence between Ben and several publishers pertaining to his article submissions..