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 textual records, postcards, drawings and one photograph album pertaining to Mary (Molly) Wright Adams (1868-1909); transcripts of Molly's original letters which were compiled by Molly's sister, Catharine Elkin (nee Adams) between ca.1939 and 1941; and transcriptions of letters sen…
Some materials produced by Catharine (Adams) Elkin
Date Range
[ca.1844 - 1909]
[ca.1939 - 1944]
1980 - 1981
2014
Physical Description
21 cm of textual records -- 16 postcards -- 3 drawings -- 1 photograph album : 107 b&w photographs
History / Biographical
Mary Wright (Molly) Adams was born on 15 October 1868. in Ridgefield Connecticut. She was the third of five children born to Cornelia Ann Cook (1830-1902) and Daniel Lucius Adams (1814 - 1899) She died in Kobe, Japan on 23 January 1909 and was buried there.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual records, postcards, drawings and one photograph album pertaining to Mary (Molly) Wright Adams (1868-1909); transcripts of Molly's original letters which were compiled by Molly's sister, Catharine Elkin (nee Adams) between ca.1939 and 1941; and transcriptions of letters sent between Molly's extended family members [including members of the Adams, Cook and Wright families], ca.1844 and 1866.
Textual records primarily consist of correspondence sent between Molly Adams and various friends and family members [ca.1891-1909].
Notes
Fonds consists of two series:
Series I : Correspondence [contains two sub-series: I / A : Molly Wright Adams ; I / B : Extended family]
Series II : Personal and collected records
File consists of 2 books; one 18th century, one 20th century stamp book. Includes 1723 copy of ‘A Life of Mahomet’ by Humphrey Prideaux; missing front/back covers, replaced with plain brown paper covers. Handwritten title ‘Mahomet’ written on front cover and side binding in different handwritings; …
Humphrey Prideaux (1648-1724) was born in Cornwall and eventually became a Doctor of Divinity. Prideaux was an author of multiple textual works pertaining to faith and particularly Christianity. He was the Dean of Norwich from 1702 until his death in 1724.
Scope & Content
File consists of 2 books; one 18th century, one 20th century stamp book. Includes 1723 copy of ‘A Life of Mahomet’ by Humphrey Prideaux; missing front/back covers, replaced with plain brown paper covers. Handwritten title ‘Mahomet’ written on front cover and side binding in different handwritings; front believed to be by Nicholas Morant (?), side unknown. Also includes book of Japanese stamps collected by Nicholas Morant; many not dated, various designs and sizes, annotated on covers with Nicholas Morant's personal ink stamp.
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 75 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 91
File consists of information pamphlets and a bound reference handbook. Content pertains to an exhibition at Heinz Ocean Pier in New Jersey featuring the painting "Custer's Last Rally" by artist John Mulvaney; the Kihn-Ten Eyck Art School in Stamford, Connecticut; the art collections of the Henry E.…
1 cm of textual records (5 items ; 15 x 30.5 cm and smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of information pamphlets and a bound reference handbook. Content pertains to an exhibition at Heinz Ocean Pier in New Jersey featuring the painting "Custer's Last Rally" by artist John Mulvaney; the Kihn-Ten Eyck Art School in Stamford, Connecticut; the art collections of the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery in California; "This is the Place Monument" in Salt Lake City; and various community events and a state fair in Minot, North Dakota.
Notes
Handbook is signed "N.K. Luxton" inside front cover
File consists of two souvenir books pertaining to the British Royal Family. Includes one copy of "Souvenir of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee" [1897] pertaining to the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's coronation, and one copy of "Berrow's Coronation Souvenir" book pertaining to the coronation of 13…
0.5 cm of textual records (2 volumes ; 30.5 x 43 cm and 30 x 42 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of two souvenir books pertaining to the British Royal Family. Includes one copy of "Souvenir of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee" [1897] pertaining to the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's coronation, and one copy of "Berrow's Coronation Souvenir" book pertaining to the coronation of 13 British monarchs between 1690 and 1953, including Queen Elizabeth II.
File consists of brochures, souvenir booklets, travel guides and related materials pertaining to Canadian Pacific trips and destinations within North America. Locations include: Banff Springs Hotel and Banff National Park; the Empress Hotel in Victoria; British Columbia; Ontario and the the Great L…
File consists of brochures, souvenir booklets, travel guides and related materials pertaining to Canadian Pacific trips and destinations within North America. Locations include: Banff Springs Hotel and Banff National Park; the Empress Hotel in Victoria; British Columbia; Ontario and the the Great Lakes; Quebec; Alaska; and the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. File also includes a map of the Canadian Pacific rail system [1918] and a copy of "Empress of the Pacific" cruise magazine [1936].
Items divided into 3 files:
LUX/II/C4/15: Ontario, Quebec, Alaska and Canadian coastal guide books [ca. 1915-1920]
LUX/II/C4/16: Canadian Rockies guides and information booklets
LUX/II/C4/17: Other Canadian Pacific material
File consists of collected newspaper clippings and volumes published between 1907 and 1956. Content includes an early edition of the Crag and Canyon [August 24, 1907]; a scanned copy of a 1949 article from the New York Times discussing inflation rates between 1834 and 1949 [annotated]; a summer 195…
File consists of collected newspaper clippings and volumes published between 1907 and 1956. Content includes an early edition of the Crag and Canyon [August 24, 1907]; a scanned copy of a 1949 article from the New York Times discussing inflation rates between 1834 and 1949 [annotated]; a summer 1956 issue of "The Calgarian" signed on the cover by "Bessie L.[?] MacKay"; a loose article describing stretches and home exercises; and a four-page article from "Mining World" by Donald MacDonald discussing the construction of a coastal highway to Alaska.
Notes
New York Times scanned article has rough pencil sketch [possibly building layout?] on back side and math equations written on front in pencil
File consists of collected newspaper articles and other published materials. File includes a Trail Riders and Skyline Hikers bulletin [ca.1938] with an image of Maryalice and trail rider Steve Cody on the cover; several newspaper articles pertaining to Maryalice's career, hobbies, and friends (incl…
File consists of collected newspaper articles and other published materials. File includes a Trail Riders and Skyline Hikers bulletin [ca.1938] with an image of Maryalice and trail rider Steve Cody on the cover; several newspaper articles pertaining to Maryalice's career, hobbies, and friends (including Lorna Oliver and Reverend R. M. Bourke); and a journal article from the Nature Conservation Society of Japan.
File consists of two hand-written letters from Father Robert McGuinness to Alfred Roberts, comprising 7 sheets and 2 envelopes, H27.5 x W21 cm to H9.5 x W16.5. One letter is dated February 11, 1955. One letter is dated October 26, 1954. Topics discussed include: McGuinness' role as inspecting engin…
0.05 cm of textual records (9 pages ; 21 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of two hand-written letters from Father Robert McGuinness to Alfred Roberts, comprising 7 sheets and 2 envelopes, H27.5 x W21 cm to H9.5 x W16.5.
One letter is dated February 11, 1955.
One letter is dated October 26, 1954.
Topics discussed include: McGuinness' role as inspecting engineer for the Banff Springs Hotel expansion; McGuinness' travels and religious education in Rome and Wales; architecture (primarily the Norman Chateau style) of St. Mary's Parish, including sketches; traveling to Liverpool by ship; and material he used while presiding over a wedding service.
Notes
Letters were posted to Alfred V. Roberts in San Diego. McGuinness mentions in one of the letters that Alfred was also an engineer and that they were in Canada at some point together.
File consists of postcards and souvenir postcard booklets sent to members and friends of the Luxton family, including Eleanor, Norman and Georgina Luxton. Content pertains to locations and landmarks in various regions, including Canada, the United States, England, France and the Ivory Coast. File a…
ca. 250 prints : b&w and col. postcards ; 16 x 12 cm or smaller -- 1 b&w photograph : print ; 16 x 10.5 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of postcards and souvenir postcard booklets sent to members and friends of the Luxton family, including Eleanor, Norman and Georgina Luxton. Content pertains to locations and landmarks in various regions, including Canada, the United States, England, France and the Ivory Coast. File also includes one b&w photograph depicting a group of unidentified children.
Notes
Items in this file have been organized by geographical location. See "Content Details" entry field for contents of individual folders.