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 one full draft of Ben Gadd's autobiography, An Orogenous Life, which contains handwritten corrections and notes by Ben's wife, Cia Gadd.
"Ben [Gadd]’s memoir tells the story of how a skinny, myopic and cowardly kid grew into the mountaineer who wrote [Handbook of the Canadian Rockies and Raven's End] and received the Banff Centre’s coveted Summit of Excellence award in 2014.
There’s a lot more to this memoir than just biography. Interleaved with the personal history are 36 readings from Ben’s favorite written work. These essays, magazine articles, stories and book excerpts will have you chuckling in some places, touched in others. All this plus hundreds of color illustrations."
- Quoted from Ben Gadd's website, May 4th, 2022
Scope & Content
File consists of one full draft of Ben Gadd's autobiography, An Orogenous Life, which contains handwritten corrections and notes by Ben's wife, Cia Gadd.
File consists of one manuscript of a publication titled "In Search of Ancient Alberta" by Barbara Huck and Doug Whiteway, with edits and corrections by Ben and Cia Gadd. File also includes a letter sent to the Gadds from Barbara Huck, thanking them for their help.
File consists of one manuscript of a publication titled "In Search of Ancient Alberta" by Barbara Huck and Doug Whiteway, with edits and corrections by Ben and Cia Gadd. File also includes a letter sent to the Gadds from Barbara Huck, thanking them for their help.
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 letters and postcards sent to Ben Gadd between 1968 and 1971, as well as copies of letters which Ben sent to various people and organizations during the same time period. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards sent to Ben Gadd between 1968 and 1971, as well as copies of letters which Ben sent to various people and organizations during the same time period. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards sent to Ben Gadd between 1972 and 1984, as well as copies of letters which Ben sent to various people and organizations during the same time period. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards sent to Ben Gadd between 1972 and 1984, as well as copies of letters which Ben sent to various people and organizations during the same time period. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards sent to Ben Gadd between 1985 and 1986, as well as copies of letters which Ben sent to various people and organizations during the same time period. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards sent to Ben Gadd between 1985 and 1986, as well as copies of letters which Ben sent to various people and organizations during the same time period. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards exchanged between Ben Gadd and various people and organizations in 1987. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards exchanged between Ben Gadd and various people and organizations in 1987. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards exchanged between Ben Gadd and various people and organizations in 1988. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards exchanged between Ben Gadd and various people and organizations in 1988. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards exchanged between Ben Gadd and various people and organizations in 1989. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards exchanged between Ben Gadd and various people and organizations in 1989. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
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 several draft copies of Ben Gadd's book, "Canadian Rockies: Geology Road Tours". Drafts were produced between December 2007 and July 2008. Includes drafts edited by Ben's wife, Cia, and a sample bound copy printed by Friesens printing company, June 2008.
File consists of several draft copies of Ben Gadd's book, "Canadian Rockies: Geology Road Tours". Drafts were produced between December 2007 and July 2008. Includes drafts edited by Ben's wife, Cia, and a sample bound copy printed by Friesens printing company, June 2008.
Notes
Contents of individual files:
M590 / II / B / 17 : Draft, December 2007
M590 / II / B / 18 to 19 : "Cia's First Edit", April 2008
M590 / II / B / 20 : Draft, June 2008
M590 / II / B / 21 to 23 : "Final Draft" copies, July 2008
File consists of records pertaining to a dispute between Ben Gadd and publishing company McClelland & Stewart Ltd. concerning royalty payments and sales for Ben's book, Raven's End. File includes correspondence between Ben and representatives from McClelland & Stewart Ltd.; correspondence between B…
File consists of records pertaining to a dispute between Ben Gadd and publishing company McClelland & Stewart Ltd. concerning royalty payments and sales for Ben's book, Raven's End. File includes correspondence between Ben and representatives from McClelland & Stewart Ltd.; correspondence between Ben and his wife, Cia Gadd, discussing possible settlement negotiations; a final settlement agreement; a letter from the Writers' Union of Canada responding to a request by Ben to change regulations concerning publication royalties and financial statements; and other related materials.
File contains slides showing various cities and towns, scenes of nature including waterfalls, mountains, and fields, figures on horseback, dining rooms, a map of Canada and the Canadian Pacific Railway, ships, trains among mountains, and grand buildings. File also includes labels from the original …
File contains slides showing various cities and towns, scenes of nature including waterfalls, mountains, and fields, figures on horseback, dining rooms, a map of Canada and the Canadian Pacific Railway, ships, trains among mountains, and grand buildings. File also includes labels from the original storage box.
File contains slides showing various cities and towns, scenes of nature including waterfalls, mountains, and fields, figures on horseback, dining rooms, a map of Canada and the Canadian Pacific Railway, ships, trains among mountains, and grand buildings. File also includes labels from the original …
File contains slides showing various cities and towns, scenes of nature including waterfalls, mountains, and fields, figures on horseback, dining rooms, a map of Canada and the Canadian Pacific Railway, ships, trains among mountains, and grand buildings. File also includes labels from the original storage box.
File consists of published materials produced by Ben Gadd between 1989 and 1992. File includes various newspaper articles pertaining to wildlife and the environment in Jasper National Park and other areas of the Canadian Rockies; letters by Ben Gadd sent to various newspaper editors pertaining to e…
File consists of published materials produced by Ben Gadd between 1989 and 1992. File includes various newspaper articles pertaining to wildlife and the environment in Jasper National Park and other areas of the Canadian Rockies; letters by Ben Gadd sent to various newspaper editors pertaining to environmental issues and industrial development; and copies of a speech written by Ben summarizing how he and his wife Cia met and describing their wedding day in 1965, which Ben presented in honour of their 25th wedding anniversary.
File consists of correspondence sent to Ben Gadd pertaining to his book, Raven's End. File includes thank you letters from elementary school students, as well as letters, cards and printed copies of emails sent to Ben and his wife, Cia, from various readers.
File consists of correspondence sent to Ben Gadd pertaining to his book, Raven's End. File includes thank you letters from elementary school students, as well as letters, cards and printed copies of emails sent to Ben and his wife, Cia, from various readers.
Material Details
One card in file is decorated with glued pieces of orange and white tissue paper, and three star shaped paper cut-outs