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 textual and visual records pertaining to Malcolm Geddes, as well as his immediate family: wife Jennie (Waters) Geddes, and children Alvin and Enid Geddes; and extended family members. Fonds includes records related to Malcolm's work as a poet and author (including original drafts …
Some views are by Malcolm Geddes; many were obtained through other sources
Date Range
[1896-2013]
Physical Description
444 photographs: 385 b&w and col. transparencies, 59 b&w prints -- 1 album (28 b&w prints) -- 11 cm of textual records
History / Biographical
Malcolm Daniel Geddes, 1866-1927, was a journalist, publisher and mountaineer at Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Geddes was one of the founders of the "Farmers and Ranch Review" in 1904, and served as vice-president and editor until his death. He joined the Alpine Club of Canada in 1917, was active in ACC summer camps and served as Honorary Secretary from 1924 to 1926. Geddes was killed in a mountaineering accident on Mount Lefroy in 1927.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual and visual records pertaining to Malcolm Geddes, as well as his immediate family: wife Jennie (Waters) Geddes, and children Alvin and Enid Geddes; and extended family members. Fonds includes records related to Malcolm's work as a poet and author (including original drafts and publications), Malcolm's career in real estate, family letters, financial records, records of mountain ascents and hikes with the Alpine Club of Canada, family trees and genealogical research, and other related materials.
Notes
Fonds consists of three series:
Series I : Professional records
I / A : Published materials
I / B : Manuscripts and notes
I / C : Professional correspondence
Series II : Financial records
Series III : Personal and family records
III / A : Travel and mountain expeditions
III / B : Genealogy and research
III / C : Other personal and family records
Arrangement of fonds was redone by Processing Archivist Kate Skelton between December 2020 and March 2021 to accommodate unprocessed materials from accessions 7846, 2014.8306 and 2015.8558
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 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 consists of a pamphlet called "An Introduction to The Edmonton Section of The Alpine Club of Canada", a report to the Board of Management from the Expeditions Committee on the Feasibility of A Rescue Fund from 1980, and a response report Re: Halton Region Conservation Authority Plans from 1981…
File consists of a pamphlet called "An Introduction to The Edmonton Section of The Alpine Club of Canada", a report to the Board of Management from the Expeditions Committee on the Feasibility of A Rescue Fund from 1980, and a response report Re: Halton Region Conservation Authority Plans from 1981. Also includes a position statement for the Board Meeting in February 4 and 5, 1984.
Notes
Financials have been separated into M200 / II / A / 74 [1972-1984 Club Records, reports] acc. 6376.
File includes the first 2 pages of the Minutes of the 71st Annual General Meeting, a report from the Huts Committee in 1976 for the Board, a report from the Camps Committee from January 1977, and a report from the Summer Camps Committee to the Board of Management.
File includes the first 2 pages of the Minutes of the 71st Annual General Meeting, a report from the Huts Committee in 1976 for the Board, a report from the Camps Committee from January 1977, and a report from the Summer Camps Committee to the Board of Management.
File includes the agenda for the Board of Management meeting June 1981, the Timetable of Events for the Annual General Meeting 1981, the agenda for the 76th Annual General Meeting 1981, and the meeting minutes of the Board of Management meeting in February 1982.
File includes the agenda for the Board of Management meeting June 1981, the Timetable of Events for the Annual General Meeting 1981, the agenda for the 76th Annual General Meeting 1981, and the meeting minutes of the Board of Management meeting in February 1982.
Notes
Financial records have been separated into M200 / II / A: [1981-1982 Agendas and Board Meeting Mins.] accn. 6376.
For the former file M200 / I / A / 82: Banff Park Huts Proposal, file has been re-numbered and moved to Series I / D: Property Records accn. 6376, due to the subject matter of this file pertaining to the huts as properties of the ACC.
File consists of a Policy on Conservation report, a Draft Proposal on a Safety Fund, a Draft Proposal for Foreign Climbing Camps, and a Huts Committee Report to the Board. Also includes a follow up report to Parks Canada on plans for camps, a report on the UIAA Safety Commission meeting in 1982, an…
File consists of a Policy on Conservation report, a Draft Proposal on a Safety Fund, a Draft Proposal for Foreign Climbing Camps, and a Huts Committee Report to the Board. Also includes a follow up report to Parks Canada on plans for camps, a report on the UIAA Safety Commission meeting in 1982, and a Publications Report in 1982. Includes a Safety Committee Field Test Report 1982, a Mountain Management Committee report from 1982, and a UIAA report on the Commission For The Protection of the Mountains.
Notes
Financials have been separated in M200 / II / A / 79 [1981-1982 Records to the Board] accn. 6376 and M200 / II / B / 11 [1981-1982 Records to the Board] accn. 6376.
For Former M200 / I / A / 89 Club Meetings 82/83 16, 268(D) accn. 6376 see:
File M200 / I / D Club Meetings 82/83 16, 268(D) accn. 6376, as records from this file pertain to ACC huts as ACC properties; and
File M200 / I / H Club Meetings 82/83 16, 268(D) accn. 6376, as records fall under the Other Admin section not Club meeting minutes or reports.