File consists of photographs taken by Ben Gadd and Jurgen Deagle pertaining to illegal bush camping near Jasper. Photographs were collected as part of discussions with Parks Canada concerning the arming of certified Park Wardens with firearms and added law enforcement duties for some Parks Canada s…
File consists of photographs taken by Ben Gadd and Jurgen Deagle pertaining to illegal bush camping near Jasper. Photographs were collected as part of discussions with Parks Canada concerning the arming of certified Park Wardens with firearms and added law enforcement duties for some Parks Canada staff.
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
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 photographs depicting Ben Gadd reading from his book, Raven's End, to primary school students in Chilliwack, B.C. in 2005; Ben reading an excerpt of Raven's End and celebrating the first printing of the book in 2001; and four photographs of paintings by artist Ursula Reynolds which…
11 photographs : col. prints ; 15 x 10 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs depicting Ben Gadd reading from his book, Raven's End, to primary school students in Chilliwack, B.C. in 2005; Ben reading an excerpt of Raven's End and celebrating the first printing of the book in 2001; and four photographs of paintings by artist Ursula Reynolds which were inspired by Raven's End. Images of paintings were gifted to Ben in 2001, accompanied by an invitation to an annual painting sale at Ursula's studio.
V810/II/B/PA-1 and 2: Ben Gadd reading Raven's End to Richard Quiring's elementary school students in CHilliwack, BC, April 2005
V810/II/B/PA-3 to 7: Ben and friends at an event celebrating the first printing of Raven's End at the Maligne Canyon Hostel in Jasper, February 8, 2001
V810/II/B/PA-8 to 11: images of paintings by Ursula Reynolds of Cochrane, AB, which were inspired from Raven's End
File consists of published research material collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to stratigraphy and fossils. File includes one print photograph depicting a fossil found near Mt. Stephen, British Columbia [in folder M590/II/A/27] and one print depicting a geological feature in Jasper National Park.
Photographs produced by Christian W. Gronau of Whaletown, B.C. and Ron Kratochvil
Date Range
[1980-2012]
Physical Description
10 cm of textual records -- 2 photographs : col. prints ; 10 x 15 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of published research material collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to stratigraphy and fossils. File includes one print photograph depicting a fossil found near Mt. Stephen, British Columbia [in folder M590/II/A/27] and one print depicting a geological feature in Jasper National Park.
Notes
Some items in file are annotated by Ben Gadd
Material Details
Photographs stored in file with textual records to maintain original order
File consists of published research material collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to the study of Geomorphology and the Pleistocene Epoch. File includes one photograph print sent to Ben Gadd depicting a boulder [in file M590/II/A/32].
12 cm of textual records -- 1 photograph : col. print
Scope & Content
File consists of published research material collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to the study of Geomorphology and the Pleistocene Epoch. File includes one photograph print sent to Ben Gadd depicting a boulder [in file M590/II/A/32].
Storage Range
Materials stored in two file boxes: M590/II/A/26 to 32 and M590/II/A/33 to 38
File consists of research notes, illustration drafts and printed sample pages from geological publications. Contents were used as reference material during the production of fossil and other geological illustrations for Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of research notes, illustration drafts and printed sample pages from geological publications. Contents were used as reference material during the production of fossil and other geological illustrations for Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of hand-drawn illustrations and descriptions pertaining to insect species in the Canadian Rockies. Contents were used during the production of Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
ca.54 drawings : illustration, marker ; 27.5 x 21 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of hand-drawn illustrations and descriptions pertaining to insect species in the Canadian Rockies. Contents were used during the production of Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
Notes
Illustrations in file processed as textual records to maintain original order
File consists of research notes, scanned sample pages and illustrations pertaining to various mammal species and their footprints. Materials were collected or produced by Ben Gadd as reference material for his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of research notes, scanned sample pages and illustrations pertaining to various mammal species and their footprints. Materials were collected or produced by Ben Gadd as reference material for his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of research notes, sample drafts, photo lists and other materials collected or produced by Ben Gadd while working on illustrations for his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of research notes, sample drafts, photo lists and other materials collected or produced by Ben Gadd while working on illustrations for his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of printed photographs compiled by Ben Gadd pertaining to his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Images depict mountain views and geological formations in the Canadian Rockies; a compass and a map of Banff National Park; Ben Gadd working as a naturalist/interpreter; artist Matthe…
File consists of printed photographs compiled by Ben Gadd pertaining to his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Images depict mountain views and geological formations in the Canadian Rockies; a compass and a map of Banff National Park; Ben Gadd working as a naturalist/interpreter; artist Matthew Wheeler creating illustrations for the book; the construction of commercial buildings in Jasper; Cia Gadd comparing colour swatches; and deer grazing, possibly outside of the Gadd family home in Jasper.
Material Details
Photographs were originally stored in Tekarra Color Lab envelope
File consists of negative photographs compiled by Ben Gadd pertaining to his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Images depict mountain views and geological formations in the Canadian Rockies; a compass and a map of Banff National Park; Ben Gadd working as a naturalist/interpreter; artist Matth…
File consists of negative photographs compiled by Ben Gadd pertaining to his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Images depict mountain views and geological formations in the Canadian Rockies; a compass and a map of Banff National Park; Ben Gadd working as a naturalist/interpreter; artist Matthew Wheeler creating illustrations for the book; the construction of commercial buildings in Jasper; Cia Gadd comparing colour swatches; and deer grazing, possibly outside of the Gadd family home in Jasper.
Material Details
Photographs were originally stored in Tekarra Color Lab envelope
File consists of photographs taken or collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to rock formations and other geological features near Meadow Creek and Miette in Jasper National Park. File also includes four photographs from Jim Aitken and the Geological Survey of Canada (Calgary, Ottawa).
Produced by Ben Gadd, Jim Aitken, Geological Survey of Canada
Date Range
[ca.1990-1995]
Physical Description
24 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 20 x 15 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs taken or collected by Ben Gadd pertaining to rock formations and other geological features near Meadow Creek and Miette in Jasper National Park. File also includes four photographs from Jim Aitken and the Geological Survey of Canada (Calgary, Ottawa).
Notes
Most photographs are annotated on back by Ben Gadd. Photos V810/II/A/PA-10 and 162 accompanied in file by corresponding notes/textual records
Material Details
Original storage envelopes (annotated) stored in folder with prints
File consists of photographs depicting bears, mountain views, geological formations, field work and related subjects. Photographs were given to Ben Gadd by John Winnier[?] and David McIntyre for use in the second edition of his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
38 photographs : col. prints ; 13 x 18 cm and 10 x 15 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs depicting bears, mountain views, geological formations, field work and related subjects. Photographs were given to Ben Gadd by John Winnier[?] and David McIntyre for use in the second edition of his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
Notes
Some contents in file depict nudity
Some items in file are annotated on back
Material Details
Photographs accompanied in file by original storage envelopes
File consists of photographs depicting bears, mountain views, geological formations, field work and related subjects. Photographs were given to Ben Gadd by John Winnier[?] and David McIntyre for use in the second edition of his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of photographs depicting bears, mountain views, geological formations, field work and related subjects. Photographs were given to Ben Gadd by John Winnier[?] and David McIntyre for use in the second edition of his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
Notes
Some contents in file depict nudity
Material Details
Original storage envelopes for stored with corresponding print photographs [see entry for V810/II/A/PA-163 to 200]
File consists of photographs photographs taken by Ben Gadd and various participants during hikes which he led between 1990 and 2000, through the Jasper Institute. Images in file were kept for potential use as promotional material for future trips and programs.
9 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs photographs taken by Ben Gadd and various participants during hikes which he led between 1990 and 2000, through the Jasper Institute. Images in file were kept for potential use as promotional material for future trips and programs.
File consists of photographs pertaining to outdoor educational programming and hikes led by Ben Gadd in 1989 and 1990 through the Jasper Institute; and views of the Palisades Center during winter, 1991.
25 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm -- 1 photograph : col. negative ; 25 x 20 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs pertaining to outdoor educational programming and hikes led by Ben Gadd in 1989 and 1990 through the Jasper Institute; and views of the Palisades Center during winter, 1991.
File consists of one compact disc containing one JPG file. Image pertains to an illustration drawn in pencil by Sally Wilson depicting a side profile of a ptarmigan. Image was used in the creation of a list of birds in Jasper National Park. File also includes a card from Sally Wilson giving written…
File consists of one compact disc containing one JPG file. Image pertains to an illustration drawn in pencil by Sally Wilson depicting a side profile of a ptarmigan. Image was used in the creation of a list of birds in Jasper National Park. File also includes a card from Sally Wilson giving written consent to use her drawing in future publications.
File consists of 22 photograph prints depicting researchers and geological surveys near Snaring Karst in 1982. Photographs pertain to a report about the Snaring Karst produced by Ben Gadd in 1983, on behalf of Parks Canada.
Produced by Department of Environment, Government of Canada
Date Range
1982
Physical Description
22 photographs : col. prints ; 9 x 12.5 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of 22 photograph prints depicting researchers and geological surveys near Snaring Karst in 1982. Photographs pertain to a report about the Snaring Karst produced by Ben Gadd in 1983, on behalf of Parks Canada.