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
The Dorothy Cranstone fonds consists of papers, clippings, photographs and ephemera. Textual records include cards and letters from Peter and Catharine Whyte, 1947-1966; visitors to the Moore House, 1975-1981; Moore House visitors book, 1974-1983; transcript of Philip Moore 1903 trip diary (hologra…
ca.400 photographs : prints, copy negatives. -- 3 photograph albums (430 prints). -- 15 cm textual records
History / Biographical
Dorothy Cranstone, 1904-1996, was a businesswoman and hotel worker at Banff, Alberta. Cranstone worked at the Banff Springs Hotel, 1929-1940, as Assistant Housekeeper, and later as Housekeeper at the Mount Royal Hotel. She went on to operate a gift shop in the Mount Royal Hotel. For many years, Cranstone was companion to Pearl (Brewster) Moore and later to Pat Brewster. She also worked for the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies as custodian of the Moore Home and as museum hostess.
Scope & Content
The Dorothy Cranstone fonds consists of papers, clippings, photographs and ephemera.
Textual records include cards and letters from Peter and Catharine Whyte, 1947-1966; visitors to the Moore House, 1975-1981; Moore House visitors book, 1974-1983; transcript of Philip Moore 1903 trip diary (holograph and typescript) by Dorothy Cranstone; clippings, 1937-1983, re Pat Brewster, Dorothy Cranstone, Mount Royal Hotel fire and Jim Brewster home; ephemera regarding events attended by Cranstone, including Royal Visit to the Banff Springs Hotel, 1939, Gracie Fields Concert at the Banff Springs Hotel, 1940, and H. R. H. Princess Margaret Rose's visit, 1958. Textual records also include business/financial records for the gift shop operated by Cranstone, 1949-1974; records related to the publication and distribution of Pat Brewster's books, 1983-1987; correspondence records, 1962-1996; legal and business records concerning power of attorney as well as the dispersal of Cranstone's property and estate, 1980-1998. Miscellaneous items pertaining to Pat Brewster include clippings and interview transcripts.
Photographs pertain to Dorothy Cranstone, Pat Brewster, family, friends and associates, travels and activities, and to Banff Springs Hotel staff and guests. Includes photographs of Dorothy Cranstone and Pat Brewster, ca.1900-1985; travel in Europe and Asia, 1964; a trip to Hawaii; artworks by J. Crumine and Nicholas de Grandmaison, 1945, 1940s-1950s; Moore house, 1950s to 1970s; and photographs given to Cranstone by friends.
Albums pertain to Banff Springs Hotel staff and celebrity guests, including the 1939 royal visit, ca.1929-1940; family photographs and Cranstone's life in England ca. 1920-1940.
File consists of correspondence between Barb Horn and Dorothy Cranstone's family friends. The correspondence pertains to Dorothy Cranstone's health and living arrangements and later regarding her death and the management of her estate. Also included are donation and thank you letters from the Whyte…
File consists of correspondence between Barb Horn and Dorothy Cranstone's family friends. The correspondence pertains to Dorothy Cranstone's health and living arrangements and later regarding her death and the management of her estate. Also included are donation and thank you letters from the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.
Notes
Barbara Horn is Dorothy's niece who spent time with Dorothy in her late years and managed Dorothy's estate after she passed.
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 three account books for the Curio store Dorothy Cranstone ran in the Mount Royal hotel. Also included is the contract for the sale of the Curio Store to Brewster Transport in November 1974.
File consists of three account books for the Curio store Dorothy Cranstone ran in the Mount Royal hotel. Also included is the contract for the sale of the Curio Store to Brewster Transport in November 1974.
File consists of documents pertaining to Ben Gadd's financial assistance and other university records. File includes Ben's student ID cards for the University of Colorado, University of Calgary, and University of Lethbridge; grade reports, tuition receipts, student loan cheques and invoices; schola…
File consists of documents pertaining to Ben Gadd's financial assistance and other university records. File includes Ben's student ID cards for the University of Colorado, University of Calgary, and University of Lethbridge; grade reports, tuition receipts, student loan cheques and invoices; scholarship and student loan application forms; school registration forms; and other related documents.
File consists of various scientific journal articles which were collected and used as research materials by Ben Gadd during the creation of his book "Geology Road Tours". Articles pertain to Canadian and North American geological history, and related subjects.
File consists of various scientific journal articles which were collected and used as research materials by Ben Gadd during the creation of his book "Geology Road Tours". Articles pertain to Canadian and North American geological history, and related subjects.
File consists of published research materials collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to trees, plant identification and growth patterns, gardening and related subjects. File includes handwritten notes produced by Ben.
File consists of published research materials collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to trees, plant identification and growth patterns, gardening and related subjects. File includes handwritten notes produced by Ben.