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 a scrapbook of newspaper clippings pertaining to the life and career of Andy Russell. Also includes an invitation presented to Russell from the Winnipeg Game and Fish Association and newspaper clippings pertaining to Cleo Mowers' career.
3 cm of textual records (28 pages ; 31.5 x 35.5 cm)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File consists of a scrapbook of newspaper clippings pertaining to the life and career of Andy Russell. Also includes an invitation presented to Russell from the Winnipeg Game and Fish Association and newspaper clippings pertaining to Cleo Mowers' career.
File consists of a draft of "Banff National Park of Canada Management Plan" produced by Parks Canada and dated October 26, 2009. File also includes drafts of "Key Strategy" documents and an "Environmental Impact Assessment" for the regions of Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, Yoho and Kootenay [Parks Can…
File consists of a draft of "Banff National Park of Canada Management Plan" produced by Parks Canada and dated October 26, 2009. File also includes drafts of "Key Strategy" documents and an "Environmental Impact Assessment" for the regions of Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, Yoho and Kootenay [Parks Canada]. Contents pertain to natural resources, tourism, townsite development and other related issues within Canadian Rockies national parks.
File consists of a planning scenario draft, response form and information sheet, draft of possible implications, meeting notes and comments, and correspondence between Parks Canada and the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. Content pertains to the Four Mountain Parks Program implemented by Parks…
File consists of a planning scenario draft, response form and information sheet, draft of possible implications, meeting notes and comments, and correspondence between Parks Canada and the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. Content pertains to the Four Mountain Parks Program implemented by Parks Canada between 1984 and 1985, and related changes adapted by the Trail Riders. Topics include wildlife and resource management, trail use and maintenance, townsite development, hunting and fishing, and other related subjects within Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks.
Notes
Planning scenario draft has annotations on front cover, annotations and illustrations on second interior page
File consists of handwritten notes by Ben Gadd describing his thuoghts and concerns pertaining to the Four Mountains Parks Planning Program led by Parks Canada.
File consists of handwritten notes by Ben Gadd describing his thuoghts and concerns pertaining to the Four Mountains Parks Planning Program led by Parks Canada.
File consists of loose notes, pamphlets, newspaper clippings and other textual records which were collected or produced by Ben Gadd between 1968 and 1989. Some materials are annotated with sketches, maps and diagrams drawn by Ben.
File consists of loose notes, pamphlets, newspaper clippings and other textual records which were collected or produced by Ben Gadd between 1968 and 1989. Some materials are annotated with sketches, maps and diagrams drawn by Ben.
Notes
Contents of file folders:
M590 / I / D / 8 : Other notes/collected, 1968-1971
M590 / I / D / 9 : Other notes/collected, 1972-1984
M590 / I / D / 10 : Other notes/collected, 1985-1986
M590 / I / D / 11 and 12 : Other notes/collected, 1987-1989
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 / 57 : Federation of Alberta Naturalists
M590 / I / C / 58 : Firesmart, Forestwise
M590 / I / C / 59 : Fishing, Boats
M590 / I / C / 60 : Flanagan, Rory
M590 / I / C / 61 : Forest Fires
M590 / I / C / 62 to 63 : Four Mountain Parks and Waterton [Files 1 and 2 of 2]
M590 / I / C / 64 : Four Mountain Parks Planning Review, Other
M590 / I / C / 65 : Free Trade, GATT, NAFTA
M590 / I / C / 66 : Friends of Wells Gray Park
M590 / I / C / 67 : Grassi Lakes Geology
M590 / I / C / 68 : GSC
M590 / I / C / 69 : Global Warming
M590 / I / C / 70 : Green Party
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 / 71 : Guitar
M590 / I / C / 72 : "Grizzlies Need Friends, Too"
M590 / I / C / 73 : Heli-Hiking
M590 / I / C / 74 : Hemp
M590 / I / C / 75 : Horses
M590 / I / C / 76 : Icefield Centre Redevelopment
M590 / I / C / 77 : Interpretation Canada
M590 / I / C / 78 : JPC Expansion, Other CP Hotel
M590 / I / C / 79 : Jasper Environmental Association
M590 / I / C / 80 : Jasper Management Plan Forum
M590 / I / C / 81 : JNP Issues - Not Tours
M590 / I / C / 82 : Jeeps, ATVs, etc.
M590 / I / C / 83 : Kananaskis Country"
File consists of published materials produced by Ben Gadd between 1989 and 1992. File includes various newspaper articles pertaining to wildlife and the environment in Jasper National Park and other areas of the Canadian Rockies; letters by Ben Gadd sent to various newspaper editors pertaining to e…
File consists of published materials produced by Ben Gadd between 1989 and 1992. File includes various newspaper articles pertaining to wildlife and the environment in Jasper National Park and other areas of the Canadian Rockies; letters by Ben Gadd sent to various newspaper editors pertaining to environmental issues and industrial development; and copies of a speech written by Ben summarizing how he and his wife Cia met and describing their wedding day in 1965, which Ben presented in honour of their 25th wedding anniversary.