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 includes seven series: I. Personal and professional, 1884-1959; II. Business and financial, ca.1910-1959; III. Professional photography, 1900-1955; IV. Writing, 1906-1957; V. Natural history, 1904-1954; VI. Other interests, 1913-1956; VII. Riggall family, ca.1865-1959. Personal and pro…
ca.13,100 photographs: ca.7080 prints, ca.5310 negatives, ca.700 transparencies. -- 9 photograph albums. -- ca.2 m textual records, print material and graphic records. -- 33 cartographic records
History / Biographical
Frederick Herbert (Bert) Riggall, 1884-1959, was a mountain guide, outfitter, hunter, trapper, rancher, naturalist, photographer, writer and gunsmith/loader in southern Alberta. Born in 1884 at Gayton-le-Wold Grange, Lincolnshire, his family moved to Grimsby where his father was an auctioneer and, in 1905, served as Mayor. In England, Riggall was an athlete, avid sportsman and naturalist. He was exposed to alpine country on school holidays in Switzerland and, determined to visit Canada, left for North America in 1904.
Upon arriving in western Canada, Riggall worked for a year at Craighurst Farm near Calgary. There he met Dorothea (Dora) Williams, 1877-1951, an Irish Quaker ranch cook who had emigrated with her sister Anna in 1902. In 1905, Bert worked on the Correction Land Survey in southwestern Alberta and explored Waterton Lakes. Bert and Dora married in 1906 and until 1946 they homesteaded and ranched adjacent to Waterton Lakes National Park.
Initially, Bert and partner Jack Hazzard built boats and guided fishing parties on Waterton Lakes. In 1909, with partner Cyril Watmough, the Riggalls began guiding and outfitting summer and fall hunting and fishing trips for numerous repeat clients, especially, after 1913, four Minneapolis, Minnesota families: Bovey, Crosby, Bennett and McKnight. Hunts involved Big Horn Sheep, goats, black and grizzly bears. Bert served as chief guide and Dora as camp cook. Prior to 1911, the Riggalls worked at Gloyne's oil camp and Oil City to supplement their income. In 1911, Bert and partner Cyril Watmough made a 1000 mile (1600 km) exploratory trip from Fort Steele, B.C. to the Yellowhead Pass and beyond. Following that trip, Riggall concentrated guiding activities on the continental divide as far north as the Highwood region, but primarily in the upper Oldman River Valley and Gap in the Livingstone Range. Their outfit grew to include numerous saddle and pack horses.
Of five children, only two daughters survived infancy. Kay Riggall (Russell), 1909-1984, and Doris (Babe) Riggall (Burton), 1910-1999, were both able riders, markswomen and packtrain workers. They accompanied their parents on summer back country trips starting in 1918. Bert Riggall was renowned for his knowledge of botany, geology, zoology, wilderness life and lore as well as literature and current affairs. He was especially endeared to his clients for his skill as a raconteur and campfire storyteller. He wrote articles for magazines such as: Arms and the Man, American Rifleman, Field and Stream and the Boone and Crockett Club's book: North American Big Game. Riggall was an accomplished semi-professional photographer who specialized in wildlife studies, panoramic landscapes, Dufaycolor and later Kodachrome transparencies. His photographs appear in Department of Interior Reports and other publications.
Bert's heart problems forced the Riggalls to move to Pincher Creek in 1947. Daughter Kay and son-in-law Andy Russell continued the packtrain and guiding business until 1960. After Dora's death, Bert experienced medical problems and lived with or close to Doris.
Scope & Content
Fonds includes seven series: I. Personal and professional, 1884-1959; II. Business and financial, ca.1910-1959; III. Professional photography, 1900-1955; IV. Writing, 1906-1957; V. Natural history, 1904-1954; VI. Other interests, 1913-1956; VII. Riggall family, ca.1865-1959.
Personal and professional series consists of diaries and notes, correspondence and personal papers.
Business and financial series consists of guiding and ranching records, gunsmithing, shooting and loading records; and legal and financial records.
Professional photography series consists of standard photographs, panoramas, transparencies and textual records
Writing series contains manuscripts, published magazines, book outlines, newspaper articles and letters to the editor
Natural history series contains bird and plant records, and other natural history papers
Other interests series consist of clippings, annotated books and collected material
Riggall family series contains Bert and Dora Riggall family papers and photographs, Williams family photographs, Frederick W. and Fanny Riggall papers and photographs, and Allan Riggall papers and photographs. Negatives and transparencies pertain to Andy Russell as a young man with Bert Riggall.
Notes
Some transparencies in V110 Dick Russell are marked Andy Russell, some marked 64 dup; V110 - original transparencies have full set of duplicates (2 sets were made, 1 for Dick Russell and the other is part of this accession)
Fonds consists of photographic business records of professional photographer Bill Gibbons in three series: I. Commercial black and white series, ca.1945-ca.1958, ca.5400 photographs; II. Canadian Rockies colour series, ca.1945-ca.1990, predominant ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.8000 photographs; III. Other …
Fonds consists of the private business records of Bill Gibbons. Some photographs may have been made by employees.
Date Range
[ca.1945-ca.1990]
Physical Description
ca.13,404 photographs: negatives, prints, transparencies, albums, postcards. -- 2.5 cm textual records
History / Biographical
W. J. L. "Bill" Gibbons, 1914-1994 , was a professional photographer at Banff, Alberta, Canada from 1945 until 1959. Gibbons came to Canada in 1941 and settled in Banff after the war with his wife, Ella Mae (Becker), a Banff native. He established British Photographic Laboratories, with partners Lou Crosby and Jack Anderson, in the basement of the Mount Royal Hotel, moving later to street-level. Bill and Ella Mae Gibbons travelled throughout the mountain parks photographing views for sale in the Banff shop. These were offered as hand-coloured prints, with much of the colouring done or supervised by Ella Mae.
Later the business expanded to include colour postcards and slide sets. Gibbons employed other photographers, such as Bruno Engler, for specialty work, such as ski photography, and the Banff studio also did portraiture. Gibbons himself did most of the 4 x 5 format landscape work and made extensive use of models, many of who were young women employed by his Banff store. In 1959, Gibbons sold his business to a group of Banff businessmen and moved to Vancouver. In subsequent years, he continued to be active as a photographer and in publishing, working in different areas of the world. He made several photographic trips through the mountain parks, ca.1966-1972.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of photographic business records of professional photographer Bill Gibbons in three series: I. Commercial black and white series, ca.1945-ca.1958, ca.5400 photographs; II. Canadian Rockies colour series, ca.1945-ca.1990, predominant ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.8000 photographs; III. Other black and white series, ca. 1947, 4 photographs.
I. Commercial black and white series consists of six sub-series: A. Portraits and documentary views, 1945-1950, 2437 negatives (individual and group portraits, weddings, conferences, events, buildings, facilities and places; Banff and area); B. Banff School of Fine Arts, ca.1949, 277 negatives (privately produced views of classes, group portraits, activities, buildings and facilities); C. "S" sub-series, ca.1950, 1220 negatives (scenic views in the vicinity of Banff, Lake Louise, Banff-Jasper Highway, Jasper National Park, Radium and Columbia Valley, British Columbia and Pacific Coast, First Nations views); D. "T" sub-series, ca.1950, 482 negatives (scenic and commercial views, mainly Jasper, Banff-Jasper Highway and Lake Louise areas); E. Rolliflex and panorama negatives, 1949-1958, 584 negatives (Banff Winter Carnival, Banff School of Fine Arts, and Banff and area); F. Other, ca.1945-1951, 364 items (material similar to that in other series, some unidentified). Accompanied by small number of prints and postcards; also, publication: "Photographing the Canadian Rockies" by Bill J. L. Gibbons, 1948.
II. Canadian Rockies colour series consists of four sub-series: A. CR1 to CR84, ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.260 prints; B. CR1 to CR443, ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.5130 photographs; C. CR35-2 to CR35-81, ca.1966-ca.1972, ca.2310 photographs; D. Other photographs, ca.1945-ca.1990. Series consists primarily of commercial colour negatives and corresponding proof prints pertaining to Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks, also some transparencies and oversize display prints.
III. Other black and white series. Series consists of 2 black and white prints of crash landing at Sunshine with Al Gaetz and Dick Pike, 1947 and two copy negatives with prints of Bruno Engler and Ella Mae Gibbons, ca.1947.
Textual records are record book, 1945-1953, 62 p; and book layout.
Fonds consists of 35mm colour transparencies taken by Bill Goodrich, 1950-1962 at Alpine Club of Canada annual camps. Camps include: Maligne, 1950; O'Hara, 1951; Assiniboine, 1952; Mt. Hooker and Edith Cavell, 1953; Goodsirs, 1954; Mt. Robson, 1955; Ramparts, 1957; Bugaboos, 1959; Maligne, part 1,…
William Osborne Goodrich, 1924-1999 was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A. He was a member of the Alpine Club of Canada and worked as a mathematician for the Allan Bradley Co. of Milwaukee as well as the Alpine Club of Canada.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of 35mm colour transparencies taken by Bill Goodrich, 1950-1962 at Alpine Club of Canada annual camps. Camps include: Maligne, 1950; O'Hara, 1951; Assiniboine, 1952; Mt. Hooker and Edith Cavell, 1953; Goodsirs, 1954; Mt. Robson, 1955; Ramparts, 1957; Bugaboos, 1959; Maligne, part 1, 1962. Transparencies are housed in 3 carousels, each with a note on its content.
Fonds consists of records pertaining to Bill Roberge's involvement in Banff municipal matters and includes 6 scrapbooks, 1961-1980 re Banff Advisory Council and Banff National Park Management. Also included are miscellaneous files, correspondence and reports re Banff Provisional Administration Boa…
William Robert Roberge was born in 1927 in Banff, Alberta and attended Banff schools. Roberge served in both the Royal Canadian Navy and the British Navy during the Second World War. Married in 1948 to Margot Sorensen, they have one son, Michael Brian. Bill Roberge is a member of the Calgary Naval Veterans Association, the Naval Museum of Alberta Society, a life member of the Royal Canadian Legion, #26 Col. Moore Branch and in 1995, was awarded the Legion Meritorious Service Medal. Roberge has served on the branch executive and numerous committees of the legion. He is a long-time member of the Kinsmen Association, serving as president of the Banff Kinsmen Club and as deputy-governor of the Kinsmen Association's District #5.
Bill Roberge served for six years on the Banff school board, three years as chairman. He served six years on the Banff Advisory Council, three years as chairman, and he served as trustee for two Banff Mineral Springs Hospital boards. In 1968, Roberge travelled to Rome as Banff's representative for the 1972 Winter Olympic Games for Canada bid. Since the town of Banff's incorporation, Roberge has served as councillor for two terms as well as holding membership on numerous committees each year.
Roberge is a life member of the Banff Ski Runners of the Canadian Rockies.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of records pertaining to Bill Roberge's involvement in Banff municipal matters and includes 6 scrapbooks, 1961-1980 re Banff Advisory Council and Banff National Park Management. Also included are miscellaneous files, correspondence and reports re Banff Provisional Administration Board, planning matters, and responsible local government.
Fonds consists primarily of predator study photographs by Bill Vroom, re grizzly bears and wolves in Banff National Park, ca.1974-ca.1980. Also includes textual records: The ecology of grizzly bear winter den sites in Banff National Park, Alberta / G. William Vroom, Stephen Herrero, R. T. Ogilvie :…
G. William (Bill) Vroom, 1931-1998, was a national park warden at Banff, Alberta, Canada from 1955 until 1988
Scope & Content
Fonds consists primarily of predator study photographs by Bill Vroom, re grizzly bears and wolves in Banff National Park, ca.1974-ca.1980. Also includes textual records: The ecology of grizzly bear winter den sites in Banff National Park, Alberta / G. William Vroom, Stephen Herrero, R. T. Ogilvie : [conference paper], 1977, 33 p.; personal income tax return, 1956; recorded slide show commentary for "Grizzly Bear Winter", 1976; and prints pertaining to grizzly bears, 1964, and Palliser cabin, 1970.
Fonds consists of Bo Holroyd warden journals for 1920 to 1947 (1928 journal missing). Journals present a personal record of work activities as Park Warden and Supervising Warden of Waterton Lakes National Park. Details pertain to patrols, horses, fire control, trail building and maintenance, searc…
John Charles (Bo) Holroyd, 1889-1974, was a national park warden and rancher at Waterton Lakes National Park and Twin Butte, Alberta, Canada. Born and raised in Prince Edward Island, Holroyd moved to Pincher Creek, Alberta in 1907. In 1920, following careers in ranching near Pincher Creek and soldiering in France and Belgium, he was appointed to the civil service as a Park warden. He began his twenty-seven year warden career in District #3, Pass Creek, Waterton Lakes National Park. In 1933 he became Supervising Warden of the park and moved to Lower Waterton Lake. He managed the Warden Service in Waterton until his retirement in 1947. For a further twenty-seven years, Holroyd raised livestock.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of Bo Holroyd warden journals for 1920 to 1947 (1928 journal missing). Journals present a personal record of work activities as Park Warden and Supervising Warden of Waterton Lakes National Park. Details pertain to patrols, horses, fire control, trail building and maintenance, search and rescue, fish and wildlife duties, law enforcement, supervision, administration, etc. They contain particularly valuable observations on ungulate populations, wildlife management, game, warden service duties and programs and human activity in the park.
Notes
Bo Holroyd warden journals are the subject of report : The Holroyd journals : chronicles of a park warden, 1919-1947 / Doug Eastcott (Parks Canada, Western Region, Calgary, Alberta, 1977)
Fonds consists of b&w and colour negatives, transparencies and prints pertaining to hiking in the Canadian Rockies, including trips with the Skyline Hikers and possibly Alpine Club of Canada. Also includes Canadian Hostel photographs. A 3.5" floppy disk with inventory listing in .wdb format and a…
Robert (Bob) Dwight Louden was born 1927 in Calgary, Alberta to Orley Dwight Louden and Anne Church Harding. Louden was educated at Stanley Jones Elementary School and Crescent Heights High School in Calgary. Louden began taking pictures at 10 years of age when he and his brother Don received a seventy-nine cent Agfa box camera from their parents before a family vacation to Victoria, B.C. and Seattle, WA. At sixteen years of age, Louden joined the Canadian Youth Hostels Association with his mother and brother and spent the next couple of years hiking with Mary and E. Catharine Barclay (the founder of Hostelling in Canada). Louden was a member of the Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies and the Alpine Club of Canada spending many weekends hiking and taking pictures. Louden met Betty Marie Christensen in the Hostelling Association and they married in 1952.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of b&w and colour negatives, transparencies and prints pertaining to hiking in the Canadian Rockies, including trips with the Skyline Hikers and possibly Alpine Club of Canada. Also includes Canadian Hostel photographs. A 3.5" floppy disk with inventory listing in .wdb format and a hard-copy of an inventory listing of the photographs was included with the records.
Fonds consists of personal photographs, biographical notes, memoir drafts and other collected materials pertaining to Robert Neville (Bob) Smith. Fonds also includes plans and maps pertaining to the development of land near Lake Minnewanka and the Cascade Power Plant project (1943).
ca.300 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 12 x 18 cm or smaller -- 7 cm of textual records -- 7 topographical maps/plans -- 8 postcards
History / Biographical
Robert Neville (Bob) Smith (1926-2021) was born in Banff. He was the only child of parents Enoch Smith and Laurene Smith (nee Munson). Bob grew up near Lake Minnewanka until 1941, when a hydro dam was installed resulting in the intentional flooding of the area. The family moved to Banff, where Bob met his future wife, Mary Parkinson. The couple were married in 1953 and moved to Seebe, where they raised two daughters, Marjory and Shirley.
Bob worked for Calgary Power Co. (later renamed TransAlta Utilities) from 1953 until his retirement in 1986. In his spare time, Bob founded the Bow Valley Camera Club and the Bow Valley Naturalists organization. In 1999, Bob was part of a successful project with the Bow Valley Naturalists to designate the Mount Yamnuska area as a Bow Valley Protected Area, following 25 years of lobbying with the Government of Alberta. Bob also formed the Meanderthals seniors hiking club in 1993 and led various local hiking trips in his later years.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of personal photographs, biographical notes, memoir drafts and other collected materials pertaining to Robert Neville (Bob) Smith. Fonds also includes plans and maps pertaining to the development of land near Lake Minnewanka and the Cascade Power Plant project (1943).