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 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 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 business licenses, application forms and letters of approval sent between Parks Canada and Ben Gadd's guiding company, Ben Gadd Interpretive Services. File includes laminated and paper business license cards used by Ben Gadd between 1997 and 2016.
Produced by the Department of Canadian Heritage and Parks Canada
Date Range
1996-2017
Physical Description
4 cm of textual records
Scope & Content
File consists of business licenses, application forms and letters of approval sent between Parks Canada and Ben Gadd's guiding company, Ben Gadd Interpretive Services. File includes laminated and paper business license cards used by Ben Gadd between 1997 and 2016.
File consists of one copy of published text titled "Calgary Alberta Canada: Souvenir Edition 1914" [ed. B.S. White]. Pertains to the early settlement history, business development and expansion of Calgary, with articles featuring numerous local business owners, politicians and other professionals.
Produced by the Western Standard Publishing Company
Date Range
1914
Physical Description
0.7 cm of textual records (1 volume ; 26 x 36.5 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of one copy of published text titled "Calgary Alberta Canada: Souvenir Edition 1914" [ed. B.S. White]. Pertains to the early settlement history, business development and expansion of Calgary, with articles featuring numerous local business owners, politicians and other professionals.
Notes
First page annotated in pencil: "D. M.Dougall" [likely David McDougall]
File consists of one photograph album containing 54 photograph prints and 2 newspaper clippings pertaining to Norman Luxton winning a turkey shooting contest [ca. 1940] and an Old Timers Association event attended by Eleanor Luxton in Calgary in 1964. Photographs pertain to Eleanor Luxton as a baby…
1 album (54 b&w prints ; 9 x 14 cm or smaller -- 2 newspaper clippings)
Scope & Content
File consists of one photograph album containing 54 photograph prints and 2 newspaper clippings pertaining to Norman Luxton winning a turkey shooting contest [ca. 1940] and an Old Timers Association event attended by Eleanor Luxton in Calgary in 1964. Photographs pertain to Eleanor Luxton as a baby and young child with her parents, posing with chickens and a turkey on a farm, with other small children [unidentified] and standing by the Bow River; portrait photographs of Eleanor as a young girl [roughly ages 5 to 12 years old]; a wedding celebration [possibly that of Norman and Georgina Luxton in 1904]; and images of a pregnant woman and a man on a farm [likely Georgina Luxton and possibly her father, David McDougall, ca. 1908]
Notes
One photograph of Eleanor Luxton as a young child, posing alone and smiling in a dark dress, was moved to its current location from album LUX / III / A3 / PD - 2.
File consists of financial record books and invoice books belonging to Ben Gadd. Content pertains to Ben's personal and business expenses between 1981 and 2010.
File consists of financial record books and invoice books belonging to Ben Gadd. Content pertains to Ben's personal and business expenses between 1981 and 2010.
Notes
Files are arranged chronologically:
M590 / IV / B / 6 : 1981-1990
M590 / IV / B / 7 : 1990-1993 [contains one void cheque dated 2001]
M590 / IV / B / 8 : 1993-1997
M590 / IV / B / 9 : 1997-1999
M590 / IV / B / 10 : 1999-2001
M590 / IV / B / 11 : 2001-2003
M590 / IV / B / 12 : 2003-2006
M590 / IV / B / 13 : 2006-2010