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 textual and visual records pertaining to Malcolm Geddes, as well as his immediate family: wife Jennie (Waters) Geddes, and children Alvin and Enid Geddes; and extended family members. Fonds includes records related to Malcolm's work as a poet and author (including original drafts …
Some views are by Malcolm Geddes; many were obtained through other sources
Date Range
[1896-2013]
Physical Description
444 photographs: 385 b&w and col. transparencies, 59 b&w prints -- 1 album (28 b&w prints) -- 11 cm of textual records
History / Biographical
Malcolm Daniel Geddes, 1866-1927, was a journalist, publisher and mountaineer at Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Geddes was one of the founders of the "Farmers and Ranch Review" in 1904, and served as vice-president and editor until his death. He joined the Alpine Club of Canada in 1917, was active in ACC summer camps and served as Honorary Secretary from 1924 to 1926. Geddes was killed in a mountaineering accident on Mount Lefroy in 1927.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual and visual records pertaining to Malcolm Geddes, as well as his immediate family: wife Jennie (Waters) Geddes, and children Alvin and Enid Geddes; and extended family members. Fonds includes records related to Malcolm's work as a poet and author (including original drafts and publications), Malcolm's career in real estate, family letters, financial records, records of mountain ascents and hikes with the Alpine Club of Canada, family trees and genealogical research, and other related materials.
Notes
Fonds consists of three series:
Series I : Professional records
I / A : Published materials
I / B : Manuscripts and notes
I / C : Professional correspondence
Series II : Financial records
Series III : Personal and family records
III / A : Travel and mountain expeditions
III / B : Genealogy and research
III / C : Other personal and family records
Arrangement of fonds was redone by Processing Archivist Kate Skelton between December 2020 and March 2021 to accommodate unprocessed materials from accessions 7846, 2014.8306 and 2015.8558
File consists of author's copies of multiple editions of Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Editions in file are annotated with notes and corrections by the author.
File consists of author's copies of multiple editions of Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Editions in file are annotated with notes and corrections by the author.
Series consists of textual records pertaining to the creation and publication of the Book of Mortimer, including manuscript drafts, correspondence and notes.
No one has volunteered more time and energy to Canada’s mountain community and to the Alpine Club of Canada than Mike and Heather Mortimer. Beginning their careers as newsletter editors of the Calgary Section of the ACC, Mike and Heather eventually became president and first lady of the UIAA (International Union of Alpine Associations).
Along the way they have organized Mountain Safety Conferences, built the Bow Hut on the Wapta Icefield and organized the Alpine Club of Canada’s Centennial Celebration. This book tells their story.
Scope & Content
Series consists of textual records pertaining to the creation and publication of the Book of Mortimer, including manuscript drafts, correspondence and notes.
Notes
Series consists of four sub-series:
M57 / IX / A: Manuscript Drafts
M57 / IX / B: Correspondence
M57 / IX / C: Interview Notes
M57 / IX / D: Research and Speech Notes
Series consists of notes, research materials, correspondence, newspaper clippings and other personal records collected by Chic Scott. Content pertains to publication projects, biographies, Chic Scott and Kathy Madill's wedding, and the 1982 Everest Expedition.
Series consists of notes, research materials, correspondence, newspaper clippings and other personal records collected by Chic Scott. Content pertains to publication projects, biographies, Chic Scott and Kathy Madill's wedding, and the 1982 Everest Expedition.
File consists of collected newspaper articles and other published materials. File includes a Trail Riders and Skyline Hikers bulletin [ca.1938] with an image of Maryalice and trail rider Steve Cody on the cover; several newspaper articles pertaining to Maryalice's career, hobbies, and friends (incl…
File consists of collected newspaper articles and other published materials. File includes a Trail Riders and Skyline Hikers bulletin [ca.1938] with an image of Maryalice and trail rider Steve Cody on the cover; several newspaper articles pertaining to Maryalice's career, hobbies, and friends (including Lorna Oliver and Reverend R. M. Bourke); and a journal article from the Nature Conservation Society of Japan.
Series consists of textual records, including notes, manuscripts and other related materials, pertaining to the creation of the book "Deep Powder and Steep Rock".
Hans Gmoser played a major role in creating Canada’s vibrant mountain community. Although known internationally as the father of heli-skiing, he was much more than that: a talented rock climber, tireless expedition leader, a mountain guide, film maker and organizer.
Deep Powder and Steep Rock presents an intimate portrait of this charismatic man. Much of the story is told in Gmoser’s own words, gleaned from his diaries, expedition journals, film commentaries and personal correspondence. It is a unique tale of adventure, hard work, perseverance and ultimate success.
Scope & Content
Series consists of textual records, including notes, manuscripts and other related materials, pertaining to the creation of the book "Deep Powder and Steep Rock".
Notes
Series consists of five sub-series:
M57 / V / A: Research files
M57 / V / B: Maps
M57 / V / C: Interviews
M57 / V / D: Photograph notes
M57 / V / E: Draft Manuscript
53 discs with image files -- 6 cm of scanned photograph copies -- 62 reference slides : col. ; 35mm -- 27 reference photographs : col. prints
History / Biographical
Hans Gmoser played a major role in creating Canada’s vibrant mountain community. Although known internationally as the father of heli-skiing, he was much more than that: a talented rock climber, tireless expedition leader, a mountain guide, film maker and organizer.
Deep Powder and Steep Rock presents an intimate portrait of this charismatic man. Much of the story is told in Gmoser’s own words, gleaned from his diaries, expedition journals, film commentaries and personal correspondence. It is a unique tale of adventure, hard work, perseverance and ultimate success.
Scope & Content
Photograph series consists of discs with reference scans of photographs pertaining to the research and creation of Deep Powder and Steep Rock.
File consist of correspondence, notes, printing samples and other documents pertaining to the design and production of the first edition of Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consist of correspondence, notes, printing samples and other documents pertaining to the design and production of the first edition of Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of several draft copies of Ben Gadd's book, "Canadian Rockies: Geology Road Tours". Drafts were produced between December 2007 and July 2008. Includes drafts edited by Ben's wife, Cia, and a sample bound copy printed by Friesens printing company, June 2008.
File consists of several draft copies of Ben Gadd's book, "Canadian Rockies: Geology Road Tours". Drafts were produced between December 2007 and July 2008. Includes drafts edited by Ben's wife, Cia, and a sample bound copy printed by Friesens printing company, June 2008.
Notes
Contents of individual files:
M590 / II / B / 17 : Draft, December 2007
M590 / II / B / 18 to 19 : "Cia's First Edit", April 2008
M590 / II / B / 20 : Draft, June 2008
M590 / II / B / 21 to 23 : "Final Draft" copies, July 2008