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
Fonds pertains to 3 photograph prints of members of the St. Elias expedition in the Yukon, a large-format black and white print of a mountain range [possibly including St. Elias], 11 typed letters to Wright from W.E. (Smoke) Blanchard dated January-May 1965 discussing the expedition, 2 typed one-pa…
1 cm of textual records (18 pages ; 21.6 x 27.9 cm) ; 4 photographs : b&w and col. ; 29.2 x 21.8 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
Dr. Gerald Wright (1917-2007) grew up in Brecon, South Wales, and studied medicine in Wales and London, England, throughout the 1940s. He served in the British Army in the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1942-1946 in North Africa and Italy.
In 1951 Wright moved to Lethbridge, Alberta, due to its close proximity to the Canadian Rockies, where he maintained a general practice as a member of the Hunt Clinic. He went on to serve as Chief of Medicine at St. Michael's Hospital and the Lethbridge Municipal Hospital until his retirement in 1988.
Shortly after arriving in Canada he became a member of the Alpine Club of Canada and attended many annual camps, often as camp doctor. He also participated in ACC expeditions to Mount St. Elias (1967, unsuccessful), Mount Alberta (1967, successful as part of the Alberta Team), and Mt. Waddington (1969). He also successfully summited Mt. Robson on his third attempt at the mountain. Wright hiked extensively throughout Nepal, Switzerland, South America, and New Zealand in addtion to the Rockies.
He was also a member of the Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies and was a founding member of the Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition, where he served on the Board of Directors, helping to plan and lead many annual hiking trips.
Scope & Content
Fonds pertains to 3 photograph prints of members of the St. Elias expedition in the Yukon, a large-format black and white print of a mountain range [possibly including St. Elias], 11 typed letters to Wright from W.E. (Smoke) Blanchard dated January-May 1965 discussing the expedition, 2 typed one-page summaries of the attempt on the mountain [one written by Blanchard and includes a hand-drawn map of the area around the mountain], a Xerox copy of a letter written on University of Oregon Medical School letterhead listing the members of the St. Elias party and recommended medical tests to have completed prior to the expedition, a two-page typed list of gear & equipment, and a hand-written list of expedition members and the University of Oregon Medical School doctor and their contact information.
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 report from the incoming President for 1968, the meeting minutes of the Board of Management meetings in July and September 1968, as well as the meeting minutes of the 63rd Annual General Meeting held at Lake O'Hara Summer Camp on July 28th, 1968; as well as the 64th Annual Genera…
File consists of a report from the incoming President for 1968, the meeting minutes of the Board of Management meetings in July and September 1968, as well as the meeting minutes of the 63rd Annual General Meeting held at Lake O'Hara Summer Camp on July 28th, 1968; as well as the 64th Annual General Meeting that took place at the Clubhouse in Banff, on July 27th, 1969. Also included are the agenda and meeting minutes from Board meetings in February, July, and October 1969.
File consists of the Finance Committee's report on the Recommendations as to 'Specific Fund Reserves' from 1968, a report Re: Budgetary Estimates and Club Operation 1969, and the Audited Financial report for 1967. Also includes statements for the Camp Revenue and Expenses for 1969 and the Audited B…
File consists of the Finance Committee's report on the Recommendations as to 'Specific Fund Reserves' from 1968, a report Re: Budgetary Estimates and Club Operation 1969, and the Audited Financial report for 1967. Also includes statements for the Camp Revenue and Expenses for 1969 and the Audited Balance Sheet for 1969, and an Analysis of the ACC 1970 Budget report.
File includes a report from the Scientific Research Committee on funding and a report outlining the Goals, Structure, Function and what the Scientific Research Committee does.
File includes a report from the Scientific Research Committee on funding and a report outlining the Goals, Structure, Function and what the Scientific Research Committee does.
File consists of reports to the Board of Management from President Dave Fisher; reports involve discussions and decisions made at Board meetings, the Proposed Long Range Study on Membership, Administration, and External Relations. Also includes a report on the Study of Membership and Sections.
File consists of reports to the Board of Management from President Dave Fisher; reports involve discussions and decisions made at Board meetings, the Proposed Long Range Study on Membership, Administration, and External Relations. Also includes a report on the Study of Membership and Sections.
File consists of a Safe-Keeping Receipt and Agreement - Securities record, and updates on Club Investments, Hut Insurance Policies, and Expeditions supports.
File consists of a Safe-Keeping Receipt and Agreement - Securities record, and updates on Club Investments, Hut Insurance Policies, and Expeditions supports.
File consists of notes on Specific Funds and Trusts Funds, a report on Huts Construction, Expeditions, Income and Expense Statements and Management Expenses from June 1971. Also includes correspondence about a bequest in October 1982, and more reports on the Hut Construction Fund, including the 198…
File consists of notes on Specific Funds and Trusts Funds, a report on Huts Construction, Expeditions, Income and Expense Statements and Management Expenses from June 1971. Also includes correspondence about a bequest in October 1982, and more reports on the Hut Construction Fund, including the 1981-1982 Huts Committee Budgets and Statements.
File includes the Agenda and detailed notes on the Board of Management Meeting on February 12 & 13th, 1972, Action Requirements from the February 26 & 27 meeting, as well as the agenda and further information on the Board Meeting on October 14 & 15, 1972. Also includes a report Re: Proposed Expedit…
File includes the Agenda and detailed notes on the Board of Management Meeting on February 12 & 13th, 1972, Action Requirements from the February 26 & 27 meeting, as well as the agenda and further information on the Board Meeting on October 14 & 15, 1972. Also includes a report Re: Proposed Expedition to Mt. Everest and a report: Nominations for Awards.