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
File consists of one DVD containing a video of Ben and Will Gadd skiing and hiking near Wapta Icefield. Footage was published in a program by National Geographic.
File consists of one DVD containing a video of Ben and Will Gadd skiing and hiking near Wapta Icefield. Footage was published in a program by National Geographic.
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
Notes
Contents of individual folders in file:
M590 / I / C / 144 : Robson Provincial Park
M590 / I / C / 145 : "Rocks in the River"
M590 / I / C / 146 : Torry Schultz
M590 / I / C / 147 : Sewage and Treatment
M590 / I / C / 148 : Sierra Legal Defense Fund
M590 / I / C / 149 : Skiing
M590 / I / C / 150 : Ski Areas
M590 / I / C / 151 : Society for Technical Communication
M590 / I / C / 152 : State of the Parks Meetings
M590 / I / C / 153 : Superwood
M590 / I / C / 154 : Surveys, Opinion Polls
M590 / I / C / 155 : Timoney, Kevin
M590 / I / C / 156 : Tonquin Valley
M590 / I / C / 157 : Chris Townsend
M590 / I / C / 158 to 160: Townsite Issues [Files 1 to 3 of 3]
This is the story of climbing on Yamnuska, the prominent wall of yellow limestone rising above the Trans Canada Highway between Calgary and Banff. All the tales of adventure are here, from the first pioneering climbs by Hans Gmoser and his companions in the early 1950s to the new routes of today.
Over the years many of the great climbers of the Rockies have been associated with this cliff: Brian Greenwood, Don Vockeroth, Lloyd MacKay, Billy Davidson, Urs Kallen, John Lauchlan, Dave Cheesmond, Jeff Marshall, Steve DeMaio and Andy Genereux. Also included in the book is a guide to the hike up the back side trail to the summit, detailing the flora and fauna you will see along the way.
Scope & Content
Series consists of sound recordings pertaining to interviews used in the creation and publication of The Yam.
Notes
Series consists of eighteen sound recordings:
S47 / XI / 1 & 2 : Hans Fuhrer and Lilo Fuhrer
S47 / XI / 3 : Leo Gillmair
S47 / XI / 4 : Dick Howe
S47 / XI / 5 & 6 : John Martin
S47 / XI / 7 & 8 : Urs Kallen
S47 / XI / 9 & 10 : Chris Perry
S47 / XI / 11 : Isabel Spreat
S47 / XI / 12 & 13 : Don Vockeroth
S47 / XI / 14 : Tim Auger
S47 / XI / 15 & 16 : Leo Gillmair
S47 / XI / 17 : Klaus Hahn
S47 / XI / 18 : Franze Dopf, K. Pawson, Ken Pawson
This is the story of climbing on Yamnuska, the prominent wall of yellow limestone rising above the Trans Canada Highway between Calgary and Banff. All the tales of adventure are here, from the first pioneering climbs by Hans Gmoser and his companions in the early 1950s to the new routes of today.
Over the years many of the great climbers of the Rockies have been associated with this cliff: Brian Greenwood, Don Vockeroth, Lloyd MacKay, Billy Davidson, Urs Kallen, John Lauchlan, Dave Cheesmond, Jeff Marshall, Steve DeMaio and Andy Genereux. Also included in the book is a guide to the hike up the back side trail to the summit, detailing the flora and fauna you will see along the way.
Scope & Content
Series consists of research records pertaining to the book The Yam.
Notes
Series consists of one sub-series:
M57 / XI / A: Research records
This is the story of climbing on Yamnuska, the prominent wall of yellow limestone rising above the Trans Canada Highway between Calgary and Banff. All the tales of adventure are here, from the first pioneering climbs by Hans Gmoser and his companions in the early 1950s to the new routes of today.
Over the years many of the great climbers of the Rockies have been associated with this cliff: Brian Greenwood, Don Vockeroth, Lloyd MacKay, Billy Davidson, Urs Kallen, John Lauchlan, Dave Cheesmond, Jeff Marshall, Steve DeMaio and Andy Genereux. Also included in the book is a guide to the hike up the back side trail to the summit, detailing the flora and fauna you will see along the way.
Scope & Content
Series consists of 13 CD's with scanned images pertaining to book The Yam : 50 Years of Climbing on Yamnuska by Chic Scott, Dave Dornian and Ben Gadd.
File consists of five discs containing video files and three VHS tapes, which were collected by Ben Gadd. Videos pertain to mountaineering and mountain sports; documentary footage about Mount Robson and other regions in the Canadian Rockies; icebergs; ice climbing in Maligne Canyon; and a talk abou…
File consists of five discs containing video files and three VHS tapes, which were collected by Ben Gadd. Videos pertain to mountaineering and mountain sports; documentary footage about Mount Robson and other regions in the Canadian Rockies; icebergs; ice climbing in Maligne Canyon; and a talk about the Association of Mountain Parks Protection and Enjoyment (AMPPE) presented in the Jasper Chamber of Commerce.
Notes
Individual contents in file:
V810 / I / D / NV - 1 : "A Life Ascending" [produced by Stephen Grynberg]
V810 / I / D / NV - 2 : "Mt. Robson: Giant of Canadian Rockies"
V810 / I / D / NV - 3 : "Aweberg!" [video about icebergs, attributed to Ben Gadd]
V810 / I / D / NV - 4 : "The Rockies: A two-part documentary by Stefan Tolz in cooperation with Fritz Pleitgan and Gerd Ruge" [Ben and Will Gadd appear in video]
V810 / I / D / NV - 5 : "Queen of Maligne Feb. '06" [video of Ben and Will Gadd ice climbing in Maligne Canyon]
V810 / I / D / NV - 6 : "Northlands 12/6/88" [wildlife footage with commentary]
V810 / I / D / NV - 7 : "The Rockies - Fine Cut" [n.d., no audio; footage of wildlife, landscapes, etc.]
V810 / I / D / NV - 8 : Dave Day / Jasper Chamber of Commerce [n.d.; discussing AMPPE and membership, issues in Banff National Park]
File consists of one DVD containing a copy of "Jasper National Park: 360 Degrees of Inspiration". Content pertains to wildlife, natural views, whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking and other related subjects. Video features Ben Gadd discussing the role of national parks.
File consists of one DVD containing a copy of "Jasper National Park: 360 Degrees of Inspiration". Content pertains to wildlife, natural views, whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking and other related subjects. Video features Ben Gadd discussing the role of national parks.
Notes
Ben Gadd appears in video at 2 min. 2 sec.; total running time 18 min. 36 sec.
Sub-series consists of textual records and photographs collected by Ben Gadd. Content pertains to various research subjects, current events and other topics of interest, including: environmental science; wildlife; sports and recreation; Parks Canada; clubs, charities and organizations; natural hist…
ca.180 cm of textual records -- 5 CDs with digital image files -- 1 floppy disk -- ca.122 photograph prints : b&w and col. -- 2 negatives : b&w ; 6 x 7.5 cm -- 26 film strips : col. negatives ; 35 mm
Scope & Content
Sub-series consists of textual records and photographs collected by Ben Gadd. Content pertains to various research subjects, current events and other topics of interest, including: environmental science; wildlife; sports and recreation; Parks Canada; clubs, charities and organizations; natural history; and conservation.
Notes
Subjects are arranged alphabetically by title. Original titles and arrangement of materials by Ben Gadd has been preserved. See file-level descriptions for content details.
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
File consists of personal interest materials, including newspaper clippings, research articles, loose notes, and other textual records collected by Ben Gadd. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject title.
Notes
Contents of individual folders in file:
M590 / I / C / 37 to 38 : Climbing [Files 1 and 2 of 2]
M590 / I / C / 39 : Collection Permits
M590 / I / C / 40 : Community Tourism Action Plan
M590 / I / C / 41 : Computers Ben and Cia Have Owned
M590 / I / C / 42 to 43 : Computers - TRS 80 [Files 1 and 2 of 2]
M590 / I / C / 44 to 45 : Computers - Packard-Bell Machine + Suit [Files 1 and 2 of 2]