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 six series: 1. Business Correspondence; 2. Cheques, Receipts, Invoices; 3. Personal Documents; 4. Miscellaneous; 5. Blueprints; 6. Painting.
Series 1 consists of business related correspondence to various companies, individuals, and two branches of the Canadian Government. Govern…
David McDougall, son of George Millward McDougall and Elizabeth Chantler McDougall, was born on May 14, 1845 in Owen Sound, Ontario. David had four siblings: John, Eliza, Lubby, and Nellie. David married Annie McKenzie in 1871 in Manitoba. Together, they had six children, including their daughter named Georgina (Georgie) Elizabeth McDougall (1872-1965). Georgina was the wife of Norman Luxton and an active member in Banff and the mother of Eleanor Georgina Luxton (1908-1995).
David was an early pioneer of Calgary and Banff, who helped build both community life and their economies. While David’s father and brother were both members of the clergy and did missionary work in Morley, Alberta, David become a successful businessman. He established a general merchant store in Morley where he was a dealer in cattle, horses, furs, and curios. In addition to managing his own business block in Calgary, David also owned properties in Edmonton and Calgary. In Banff, David and Annie owned the Mount Royal Hotel for six years until they sold it to Jim Brewster in August 14, 1913.
David died in December 6, 1927 and Annie died in 1939.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of six series: 1. Business Correspondence; 2. Cheques, Receipts, Invoices; 3. Personal Documents; 4. Miscellaneous; 5. Blueprints; 6. Painting.
Series 1 consists of business related correspondence to various companies, individuals, and two branches of the Canadian Government. Government correspondence pertains to taxes and by-laws for McDougall’s properties. Series 2 contains invoices, receipts, cheques, and bank statements pertaining to McDougall’s business and properties. Series 3 contains personal letters and legal documents. Materials includes handwritten letters, property transactions and proof of ownership on properties. Series 4 contains cheque books, Dominion Travellers’ Hotel Guide, event program featuring Commissioner Coombs and “Safety First Guarantee” slip. Series 5 contains blueprints of Mount Royal Hotel and McDougall business block, Calgary 1911. The last series consist of a painting of George Noble photograph of Banff Ave, 1929.
Fonds consists of research papers and drafts, 1963-1964, and photographs, ca.1880-1930, pertaining to Walking Buffalo and Moral Rearmament, John MacLean, David McDougall, John McDougall, ranches, Andrew Sibbald and Stoney Indians. Research papers include correspondence, interview notes, narrative …
9 cm of textual records. -- 3 photographs : prints
History / Biographical
Hermann Hagedorn was an American writer who was known for his biographical works, particularly on Theodore Roosevelt, as well as poetry and novels. Late in life, Hagedorn became interested in Moral Rearmament. During a visit to the movement's headquarters on Mackinac Island, Michigan in 1958, he met George McLean (Chief Walking Buffalo of the Stoney Indians), an active proponent and traveller on behalf of Moral Rearmament. Intrigued by McLean's character and philosophy, Hagedorn wrote articles as well as drafts of a biography tentatively titled "A Chief in Two Worlds," but died before the work could be completed.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of research papers and drafts, 1963-1964, and photographs, ca.1880-1930, pertaining to Walking Buffalo and Moral Rearmament, John MacLean, David McDougall, John McDougall, ranches, Andrew Sibbald and Stoney Indians. Research papers include correspondence, interview notes, narrative notes, miscellaneous notes, notes from published sources, photocopies and maps. Drafts include an outline and incomplete draft of "A Chief in Two Worlds"; and drafts of "The Man Who Was Needed" article.
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 flyers, notes and correspondence, drafts and published advertisements pertaining to the promotion of Ben Gadd's work as an interpretive guide.
File consists of flyers, notes and correspondence, drafts and published advertisements pertaining to the promotion of Ben Gadd's work as an interpretive guide.
File consists of textual records pertaining to promotional work and advertising for Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. File includes correspondence between Ben Gadd and several individuals regarding advertising and other promotional work; notes and sample copies of advertisements, i…
File consists of textual records pertaining to promotional work and advertising for Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. File includes correspondence between Ben Gadd and several individuals regarding advertising and other promotional work; notes and sample copies of advertisements, including paste-ups; finished posters and flyers; booklets and brochures for companies and products involved with promotional material and marketing; newspaper clippings advertising Ben's book; and other related materials.
File consists of notes, contracts and correspondence pertaining to Ben Gadd's work producing text for interpretive signs along the Alaska Highway on behalf of the British Columbia Ministry of Parks.
File consists of notes, contracts and correspondence pertaining to Ben Gadd's work producing text for interpretive signs along the Alaska Highway on behalf of the British Columbia Ministry of Parks.
Notes
File includes a brochure containing a map and travel information for Mount Robson Berg Lake Trail, with a note by Ben Gadd. brochure was possibly used as research/reference material in the production of Alaska Highway signs text
File consists of 7 published paperback booklets. Contents include 3 copies of "Dr. A.W. Chase's Calendar Almanac" dated 1931, 1933 and 1934 respectively; 2 copies of "Dodd's Almanac and Household Hints" dated 1933 and 1934; one copy of "Things Worth Knowing: Reliable Recipes, Valuable Formulas and …
Published by Murray Printing Co. Ltd.; The Dodds Medicine Co. Ltd.; Dr. Williams Medical Co.; and The W.H. Comstock Co. Ltd
Date Range
[ca. 1895]
1908
1927
1931
1933
1934
Physical Description
2 cm of textual records
Scope & Content
File consists of 7 published paperback booklets. Contents include 3 copies of "Dr. A.W. Chase's Calendar Almanac" dated 1931, 1933 and 1934 respectively; 2 copies of "Dodd's Almanac and Household Hints" dated 1933 and 1934; one copy of "Things Worth Knowing: Reliable Recipes, Valuable Formulas and Methods of Home Treatment for Common Diseases", annotated on the back cover in blue/purple ink with recipe for a health drink.; and one copy of "Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills", stamped "D.C. McDougall Morley, AB" on the back cover.
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.
