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 textual records pertaining to trail rides led by the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies in 2005. File contains documents from 11 rides, including survey sheets, ride statistics, handwritten notes, correspondence, and ride registration cheque receipts.
File consists of textual records pertaining to trail rides led by the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies in 2005. File contains documents from 11 rides, including survey sheets, ride statistics, handwritten notes, correspondence, and ride registration cheque receipts.
Notes
Ride documents were not separated and reorganized into separate series, in order to retain the donor's original order. See "Content Details" for list of individual files and corresponding ride numbers.
File consists of handwritten notes, receipts and financial documents, surveys, rider lists and other assorted documents pertaining to 12 individual trail rides led by the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies in 2007.
File consists of handwritten notes, receipts and financial documents, surveys, rider lists and other assorted documents pertaining to 12 individual trail rides led by the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies in 2007.
Notes
Ride documents were not separated and reorganized into separate series, in order to retain the donor's original order. See "Content Details" for list of individual files and corresponding ride numbers.
File consists of receipts and invoices pertaining to Ben and Cia Gadd's guiding company, Front Range Outings. Includes supply invoices, account statements and other related materials.
File consists of receipts and invoices pertaining to Ben and Cia Gadd's guiding company, Front Range Outings. Includes supply invoices, account statements and other related materials.
File consists of a certificate of insurance covering Verdant Pass Ltd., as well as Ben and Cia Gadd, under the company Intact Insurance. Insurance agreement was filed by Carlton Insurance Brokers in Jasper.
File consists of a certificate of insurance covering Verdant Pass Ltd., as well as Ben and Cia Gadd, under the company Intact Insurance. Insurance agreement was filed by Carlton Insurance Brokers in Jasper.
File consists of records pertaining to a dispute between Ben Gadd and publishing company McClelland & Stewart Ltd. concerning royalty payments and sales for Ben's book, Raven's End. File includes correspondence between Ben and representatives from McClelland & Stewart Ltd.; correspondence between B…
File consists of records pertaining to a dispute between Ben Gadd and publishing company McClelland & Stewart Ltd. concerning royalty payments and sales for Ben's book, Raven's End. File includes correspondence between Ben and representatives from McClelland & Stewart Ltd.; correspondence between Ben and his wife, Cia Gadd, discussing possible settlement negotiations; a final settlement agreement; a letter from the Writers' Union of Canada responding to a request by Ben to change regulations concerning publication royalties and financial statements; and other related materials.
File consists of correspondence sent between Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies staff and members, and various other individuals, companies and organizations, including: Canadian Pacific Railway Company; Government of Alberta and Government of Canada; Dennis Orr; Gord Thompson; Penny Egeland; Dr.…
File consists of correspondence sent between Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies staff and members, and various other individuals, companies and organizations, including: Canadian Pacific Railway Company; Government of Alberta and Government of Canada; Dennis Orr; Gord Thompson; Penny Egeland; Dr. Barbara Rostron; Brewster Transport Company Ltd.; Calgary Area Outdoor Council; B.C. Provincial Parks Office; Terry Stowell; Paperchase Office Services Ltd.; Rick Godderis; Ben Bury; and Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies. Content pertains to trail ride coordination [accommodation, scheduling, etc.], supplies and budgeting, provincial and federal parks legislation, associated businesses including outfitters and transport companies, and other administrative topics.
Notes
Files are organized by date [see "Content Details"].
File consists of annotated diagrams, building instructions, price lists, inventory/condition report, order forms, and list of size requirements pertaining to teepees used by the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. Correspondence mostly pertains to teepee quotes by distributors and independent sel…
File consists of annotated diagrams, building instructions, price lists, inventory/condition report, order forms, and list of size requirements pertaining to teepees used by the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. Correspondence mostly pertains to teepee quotes by distributors and independent sellers, price inquiries, and teepee donations.