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 five 16mm film reels with visual content pertaining to skiing in Banff, Lake Louise and Chile.
Films included in fonds:
"Herman Godner and Party ski in Rockies (Old B&W Silent)"
"Banff and Lake Louise Skiing (Silent and Colour) Old Ski- Banff and Lake Louise- Temple, Skoki area"…
Douglas Sinclair was a film producer whose work primarily focused on topics related to Canadian wildlife and landscapes, skiing, national parks, and the Canadian Rockies.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of five 16mm film reels with visual content pertaining to skiing in Banff, Lake Louise and Chile.
Films included in fonds:
"Herman Godner and Party ski in Rockies (Old B&W Silent)"
"Banff and Lake Louise Skiing (Silent and Colour) Old Ski- Banff and Lake Louise- Temple, Skoki area"
"Skiing in Portillo Chile Sound and Colour Running Time 18 min"
"Ski Material at Grey Rockes Enos at Banff with Merm and Wurtle Twins" (Silent, B&W)
"Let's Go Skiing with Lucile Wheeler at Banff"
Notes
Further information about films provided by donor Dianne Wheeler, available in Douglas Sinclair case file.
Fonds consists of photographs, published booklets and film reels which belonged to William Royle. Content pertains to the Banff Boy Scouts: local events, including Banff Winter Carnival, Banff Indian Days and Banff's Centennial Parade in 1967; hiking, camping, skiing and other recreational activiti…
ca.348 photographs (204 b&w and col. prints, 144 col. transparencies) -- 0.5 cm of textual records -- 7 film reels
History / Biographical
William "Bill" Royle (1905-1980) moved to Banff from Lethbridge in 1952 with his mother (Mary Elizabeth) and two young sons (Bernard and Walter), following the death of his wife. William started the business Banff Plumbing and Heating Ltd., which he operated until his death. William and his brother, John J. Royle, were also involved with a laundromat business in Banff. From its inception in 1953, William also worked as director and president of the Banff Park Savings and Credit Union (now Bow Valley Credit Union). In his spare time, William volunteered with the Banff Boy Scouts, as well as St. Mary's Church in Banff, the Seniors' Society and the Alberta Council of the Aging.
William's son, Bernard, tragically passed away in a plane crash in 1969 while searching for new heliskiing routes in British Columbia with his friend, John Gow, who survived.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of photographs, published booklets and film reels which belonged to William Royle. Content pertains to the Banff Boy Scouts: local events, including Banff Winter Carnival, Banff Indian Days and Banff's Centennial Parade in 1967; hiking, camping, skiing and other recreational activities; Bernard Royle and friends; the Banff High School curling team; natural views and wildlife in Alberta and British Columbia; and other related subjects.
Includes three visual series: I - Prints ; II - Motion pictures ; III - Transparencies. Series I includes five sub-series: A - Boy Scouts [includes o.s. items] ; B - Banff Indian Days ; C - Banff Winter Carnival ; D - St. Mary's Baptist Church ; E - Misc.
File pertains to 43 b&w prints of various accidents around Banff National Park and the Banff townsite. Includes car collisions, train derailments, a small plane crash, and the Banff Bus Depot fire.
File pertains to 43 b&w prints of various accidents around Banff National Park and the Banff townsite. Includes car collisions, train derailments, a small plane crash, and the Banff Bus Depot fire.
Notes
Caution: some images include disturbing content, viewer discretion is advised.
File pertains to 51 b&w prints of various accidents and rescue missions around Banff National Park and the Banff townsite. Includes a forest fire, the Standish Hardware store fire, skiing rescue missions, and climbing/mountaineering rescue missions.
File pertains to 51 b&w prints of various accidents and rescue missions around Banff National Park and the Banff townsite. Includes a forest fire, the Standish Hardware store fire, skiing rescue missions, and climbing/mountaineering rescue missions.
Notes
Caution: some images include disturbing content, viewer discretion is advised.
File pertains to 38 b&w prints of people skiing. Includes action shots of people skiing at Norquay, Lake Louise, and Sunshine, the Norquay parking lot, ski jumping, ski racing, and an unidentified person paragliding on skis at Norquay.
File pertains to 38 b&w prints of people skiing. Includes action shots of people skiing at Norquay, Lake Louise, and Sunshine, the Norquay parking lot, ski jumping, ski racing, and an unidentified person paragliding on skis at Norquay.
Sub-series pertains to 84 b&w and colour prints depicting assorted activities and events around Banff National Park. Includes pack trips, skiing, backcountry huts [Abbot Pass Hut and Bow Hut], community events, shops, a Canada Day Parade, the Canadian Centennial in 1967, a Royal visit in 1959, chur…
84 photographs : b&w and col. ; 25.1 x 20.1 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
Sub-series pertains to 84 b&w and colour prints depicting assorted activities and events around Banff National Park. Includes pack trips, skiing, backcountry huts [Abbot Pass Hut and Bow Hut], community events, shops, a Canada Day Parade, the Canadian Centennial in 1967, a Royal visit in 1959, churches, school programs, the 1967 Mount Royal Hotel fire, Banff Indian Days, high altitude mountaineering, conferences, boating on the Bow River, and rodeos.
File pertains to 40 black and white photographs of animals including the camp cat and dog, moose, mule deer, elk, big horn sheep, bison, beavers, and bears. Some photos were purchased from a studio in Jasper, others were taken by Placido Monachello, annotated, and sent to his [then] fiance Leona in…
File pertains to 40 black and white photographs of animals including the camp cat and dog, moose, mule deer, elk, big horn sheep, bison, beavers, and bears. Some photos were purchased from a studio in Jasper, others were taken by Placido Monachello, annotated, and sent to his [then] fiance Leona in Hamilton, Ontario.
File consists of 31 postcards collected by Annie (Creagh) Wiseman between ca.1920-1940. Postcards pertain to natural views and tourist attractions in Banff, Lake Louise, the Great Divide, Kicking Horse Canyon and other nearby areas. Some postcards are annotated with correspondence sent between Anni…
Annie (Creagh) Wiseman (1891-1972) was born in Deptford, England, where she married Stanley Wilfred Ernest Wiseman. The couple had one daughter, Ethel, before moving to Winnipeg. The family returned to England following the outbreak of World War I, in which Stanley served as a Private in the 61st Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Annie and Ethel later returned to Winnipeg, where Stanley joined them following a serious injury which he sustained in active duty. In Winnipeg, Annie and Stanley had two more children: a daughter (Hilda) and a son (Stanley).
Stanley Sr. worked as a foreman for Canadian Pacific Railway, which enabled Annie to travel throughout the Canadian Rockies and other regions by train for free or a reduced price. Annie collected postcards from her travels, which included numerous visits to Banff National Park. Annie, Stanley Sr. and their two youngest children permanently settled in Victoria, B.C. in 1935.
Scope & Content
File consists of 31 postcards collected by Annie (Creagh) Wiseman between ca.1920-1940. Postcards pertain to natural views and tourist attractions in Banff, Lake Louise, the Great Divide, Kicking Horse Canyon and other nearby areas. Some postcards are annotated with correspondence sent between Annie, her children (including Hilda and Ethel), and friends of the Wiseman family.
Item consists of one 16 mm motion picture pertaining to the construction of a bridge [possibly over Forty Mile Creek near the base of Mount Norquay]. Footage includes a group of military personnel [possbily scouts or cadets] constructing two steel and wood bridges by hand over a small creek.
The or…
1 motion picture (1 film reel: 200'): 16 mm, original, b&w, silent
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
Item consists of one 16 mm motion picture pertaining to the construction of a bridge [possibly over Forty Mile Creek near the base of Mount Norquay]. Footage includes a group of military personnel [possbily scouts or cadets] constructing two steel and wood bridges by hand over a small creek.
The original label on the case reads "200 ft, Date 1965?, 5 minutes, Army Bailey Bridge."
Item consists of one 16 mm motion picture pertaining to construction of the Icefield Parkway between Banff and Jasper. Includes scenic shots of viewpoints along the way, as well as construction of the road itself and bridges over various rivers and waterfalls up to the Columbia Icefield Discovery C…
1 motion picture (1 film reel: 255'): 16 mm, original, b&w, silent
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
Item consists of one 16 mm motion picture pertaining to construction of the Icefield Parkway between Banff and Jasper. Includes scenic shots of viewpoints along the way, as well as construction of the road itself and bridges over various rivers and waterfalls up to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre.
The original label on the case reads "Title Asphalt Over the Top, Camera B. Engler, Date 1961, Footage 225ft Time 7 min, For TV tape VHS."
File pertains to 62 b&w prints of various avalanche control operations around Banff National Park, usually along highways and around ski hills. Also includes photographs from a rescue operation and accompanying news clippings pertaining to that rescue.
File pertains to 62 b&w prints of various avalanche control operations around Banff National Park, usually along highways and around ski hills. Also includes photographs from a rescue operation and accompanying news clippings pertaining to that rescue.
Notes
Photographs included in this entry were originally housed in a photo paper box identified by Bruno Engler prior to accessioning.
File pertains to 6 boards with b&w negative contact sheets adhered to them depicting various areas prone to avalanches taken from a plane or helicopter. Includes views of ski areas and roads.
File pertains to 6 boards with b&w negative contact sheets adhered to them depicting various areas prone to avalanches taken from a plane or helicopter. Includes views of ski areas and roads.
Notes
File came from box XVI, separate from alphabetised boxes
Sub-series of hut registers from the Balfour (Rob Ritchie) Hut produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1966 and 2019. Registers include entries from visitors to the huts which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while staying at the hut…
According to the Alpine Club of Canada's website:
"The Rob Ritchie Hut, also known as the Balfour Hut, is found on low, rocky hills at the toe of the Vulture Glacier, approximately 28 km northwest of the town of Lake Louise, AB. It is east of Balfour Pass and the Continental divide, just inside the Banff National Park boundary.[...]
The Rob Ritchie Hut, also known as the Balfour Hut, is found on low, rocky hills at the toe of the Vulture Glacier, approximately 28 km northwest of the town of Lake Louise, AB. It is east of Balfour Pass and the Continental divide, just inside the Banff National Park boundary.
This is the half-way mark for the Wapta Traverse and is usually used in conjunction with the other huts in this chain while attempting this classic cross-glacier ski trip. Usual approach is from Bow Hut through the Olive/St. Nicholas Col then down the gentle and pleasant Vulture Glacier to Balfour Pass, where the hut sits on a section of moraine beneath the impressive bulk of Mt. Balfour.
Though most people will spend one night at the R.J. Ritchie (Balfour) Hut before continuing on to Scott Duncan, there is potential for good skiing here, especially on the Diableret Glacier which sits northwest of Mt. Balfour and makes for a fantastic run on a clear day! There is also an optional route to the summit of Mt. Gordon from this hut, which would be an excellent loop trip if combined with the normal route back towards Bow Hut. Use your imagination and some neat trip ideas will present themselves!"
Scope & Content
Sub-series of hut registers from the Balfour (Rob Ritchie) Hut produced by the Alpine Club of Canada between 1966 and 2019. Registers include entries from visitors to the huts which pertain to individuals' hiking and climbing trips; details of specific events which occurred while staying at the hut, wildlife sightings, custodial issues and updates, and related topics.
The sub-series is separated into individual hut registers, arranged by date:
M200 / IV / I / 1: Balfour Hut [Register] [1966-1971]
M200 / IV / I / 2: Balfour Pass Hut [1971-1972]
M200 / IV / I / 3: Balfour Pass Hut Register [1973-1974]
M200 / IV / I / 4: Balfour Pass Hut [register 1974-1982]
M200 / IV / I / 5: "Balfour Hut" [register] Sept. 2, 1982 - Nov. 17, 1989
M200 / IV / I / 6: Balfour Hut Journal Nov. 22, 1989 - Apr. 25, 1997
M200 / IV / I / 7: Balfour Hut Register [1997 -2001]
M200 / IV / I / 8: Balfour Hut Register 2007 - 2015
M200 / IV / I / 9: Balfour Hut register 2011 - 2019
File pertains to black and white and colour photographs of the Banff area, as well as group portraits of the Banff High School Ski Team, High School Curling Team, and the Association of Mountain Guides. Also includes scenic views around the Banff townsite as well as Banff National Park, bears, the …
53 photographs : b&w and col. ; 20.2 x 12.7 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to black and white and colour photographs of the Banff area, as well as group portraits of the Banff High School Ski Team, High School Curling Team, and the Association of Mountain Guides. Also includes scenic views around the Banff townsite as well as Banff National Park, bears, the Cave & Basin swimming pool, the Banff Winter Carnival, and unidentified First Nations people dressed in regalia as part of the Banff Indian Days parade. Group photographs have names written on the backs.
File consists of b&w photograph negatives of unidentified people interacting with black bears in Banff, exteriors of the Indian Trading Post, view from Mount Norquay Lookout, a canyon, and winter scenes.
14 photographs: b&w negatives; 9.5 x 6 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of b&w photograph negatives of unidentified people interacting with black bears in Banff, exteriors of the Indian Trading Post, view from Mount Norquay Lookout, a canyon, and winter scenes.
File pertains to 136 b&w & colour prints of various Banff community events, including Back to Banff 1985, unseasonable snowfall, mild flooding of area around the recreation grounds and Buffalo Nation Museum, summer traffic jams, an unidentified parade, the designation of Mt. Jimmy Simpson, Banff Wi…
136 photographs : b&w & col. ; 25.2 x 20.2 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
See fonds level description
Scope & Content
File pertains to 136 b&w & colour prints of various Banff community events, including Back to Banff 1985, unseasonable snowfall, mild flooding of area around the recreation grounds and Buffalo Nation Museum, summer traffic jams, an unidentified parade, the designation of Mt. Jimmy Simpson, Banff Winter Carnival, RCMP Musical Ride, Banff Triathlon, and filming at Norquay Ski Hill.
File pertains to 45 colour 35mm slides of Banff Indian Day events. Includes unidentified First Nations people dressed in regalia on horseback through the Banff townsite as part of the parade, dancing, and the Banff Indian Grounds with tepees - George McLean (Tatanga Mani)(Walking Buffalo) visible t…
File pertains to 45 colour 35mm slides of Banff Indian Day events. Includes unidentified First Nations people dressed in regalia on horseback through the Banff townsite as part of the parade, dancing, and the Banff Indian Grounds with tepees - George McLean (Tatanga Mani)(Walking Buffalo) visible throughout. Some images are dated 1959.