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.
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 one VHS tape containing a recorded episode of "Take an Alberta Break!" featuring Ben Gadd and cave tours which he led through Cadomin Cave. Ben discusses bat habitats, cave crawling, and vandalism issues.
File consists of one VHS tape containing a recorded episode of "Take an Alberta Break!" featuring Ben Gadd and cave tours which he led through Cadomin Cave. Ben discusses bat habitats, cave crawling, and vandalism issues.
Notes
Running time is approx. 3 minutes [episode], followed by recorded advertisements
File consists of notes, a production quote and a proposal form pertaining to a potential contract between Ben Gadd and the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Contract included the design and production of interpretive trail signs near Carp Lake, British Columbia.
File consists of notes, a production quote and a proposal form pertaining to a potential contract between Ben Gadd and the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Contract included the design and production of interpretive trail signs near Carp Lake, British Columbia.
Notes
Original storage folder included a handwritten note by Ben Gadd:
"Carp Lake - didn't get contract but have some info"
File consists of recorded interviews and discussions with Ben Gadd which were broadcast by CBC Radio. Content pertains to wildlife preservation, Ben's book "Handbook of the Canadian Rockies", Cadomin Cave and other related subjects.
File consists of recorded interviews and discussions with Ben Gadd which were broadcast by CBC Radio. Content pertains to wildlife preservation, Ben's book "Handbook of the Canadian Rockies", Cadomin Cave and other related subjects.
Notes
Contents of file:
S61 / III / D / 1 : Ben Gadd interviewed by Peter Gzowski on CBC "Morningside" Apr. '87 [discusses desktop publishing and Handbook of the Canadian Rockies]
S61 / III / D / 2 : Interview with Peter Gzowski, CBC Radio "Morningside", April 21, 1987
S61 / III / D / 3 : Ben Gadd on CBC openline show, 12/87
S61 / III / D / 4 : Ben Gadd on CBC Radio, Edmonton '87-88
S61 / III / D / 5 : Trip to Cadomin Cave, CBC Radio 1988
S61 / III / D / 6 : "Caged Wilderness", CBC Radio 22 ix 91 [September 22, 1991]
S61 / III / D / 7 : "Caged Wilderness" - Sunday Morning, 22 Sep 91, CBC national program
S61 / III / D / 8 : Ben Gadd debating Randy Mitchell on CPS privatization, 10 xii 92 [October 10, 1992] Wild Rose Country, CBC Edmonton/Calgary
S61 / III / D / 9 : Ben on Morningside [CBC broadcast], 7 iv 95 [April 7, 1995]
S61 / III / D / 10 : "Ben on Ice", [CBC] World at 6, 21 Jul '95
S61 / III / D / 11 : CBC interview on charging for rescues, 16 Nov 95 ; CBC commentary 10 Jun 96 ; CBC interview on harlequin ducks vs rafts, 29 Mar '98
S61 / III / D / 12: Raven's End interview with Ben Gadd by Judy Hamill, on Daybreak, CBC Alberta, 11 Mar. '01
S61 / III / D / 13 : Ben reading short nature items Recorded CBC Edmonton, June 2003
File consists of correspondence, drafts and other documents pertaining to an article written by Ben Gadd about the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park, which was published by Explore Magazine in 1996.
File consists of correspondence, drafts and other documents pertaining to an article written by Ben Gadd about the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park, which was published by Explore Magazine in 1996.
File consists of notes, drafts, sample illustrations and other materials pertaining to an interpretive trail guide which Ben Gadd produced for the Forest Technology School in Hinton, Alberta in 1992. File includes sample images taped together and annotated with additional information. FIle also inc…
File consists of notes, drafts, sample illustrations and other materials pertaining to an interpretive trail guide which Ben Gadd produced for the Forest Technology School in Hinton, Alberta in 1992. File includes sample images taped together and annotated with additional information. FIle also includes a pressed plant sample, stored in an envelope titled "Rhytidiadelphus triquetris (Shaggy moss)".
File consists of photographs taken or collected by Ben Gadd between 1983 and ca.1990. Images pertain to unnamed friends at Maligne Canyon; and views of Wisconsin, South Dakota and other regions of the United States.
12 photographs : col. prints ; 10 x 15 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs taken or collected by Ben Gadd between 1983 and ca.1990. Images pertain to unnamed friends at Maligne Canyon; and views of Wisconsin, South Dakota and other regions of the United States.
File consists of one VHS tape containing episode 32 of the series "Great Canadian Parks", featuring Mount Robson Provincial Park. Ben Gadd appears in the video, discussing the mountain's elevation and first impressions from tourists.
File consists of one VHS tape containing episode 32 of the series "Great Canadian Parks", featuring Mount Robson Provincial Park. Ben Gadd appears in the video, discussing the mountain's elevation and first impressions from tourists.
Notes
Ben Gadd appears in video at 6 min. 35 sec.; total running time 23 min. 5 sec.
File consists of brochures and other published research materials collected by Ben Gadd, pertaining to guiding, climbing and skiing excursions, cycling, snowshoeing, and other recreational activities and tourism packages in the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of brochures and other published research materials collected by Ben Gadd, pertaining to guiding, climbing and skiing excursions, cycling, snowshoeing, and other recreational activities and tourism packages in the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of newspaper articles, notes and published research materials collected by Ben Gadd, pertaining to the provenance of place names, the history of human settlement and regional populations in the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of newspaper articles, notes and published research materials collected by Ben Gadd, pertaining to the provenance of place names, the history of human settlement and regional populations in the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of brochures and other published research materials collected by Ben Gadd, pertaining to hostels, cycling, ski huts and lodges (including Alpine Club of Canada huts), and paragliding in the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of brochures and other published research materials collected by Ben Gadd, pertaining to hostels, cycling, ski huts and lodges (including Alpine Club of Canada huts), and paragliding in the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of notes, drafts, published copies and related materials pertaining to hiking guides for Banff and Jasper National Park which Ben Gadd contributed to. Most brochures in file were produced on behalf of the Canadian federal government.
File consists of notes, drafts, published copies and related materials pertaining to hiking guides for Banff and Jasper National Park which Ben Gadd contributed to. Most brochures in file were produced on behalf of the Canadian federal government.
File consists of photographs depicting interior and exterior views of the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre in Jasper National Park, following renovations to the property in 1998.
File consists of photographs depicting interior and exterior views of the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre in Jasper National Park, following renovations to the property in 1998.
Material Details
Original photo envelope annotated in black marker: "Icefield Ctr. 1998 Photos by Ben with Jill Seaton's camera"
File consists of photographs depicting interior and exterior views of the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre in Jasper National Park, following renovations to the property in 1998.
30 photographs : 8 col. negative film strips ; 35 mm
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs depicting interior and exterior views of the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre in Jasper National Park, following renovations to the property in 1998.
Material Details
Original photo envelope annotated in black marker: "Icefield Ctr. 1998 Photos by Ben [Gadd] with Jill Seaton's camera"
File consists of notes, correspondence, pamphlets and other textual records pertaining to Ben Gadd's career as an interpretive guide and naturalist in the Canadian Rockies. File includes documents pertaining to Ben's work as an employee of Parks Canada (1984-1987) and as an independent guide (1987 …
File consists of notes, correspondence, pamphlets and other textual records pertaining to Ben Gadd's career as an interpretive guide and naturalist in the Canadian Rockies. File includes documents pertaining to Ben's work as an employee of Parks Canada (1984-1987) and as an independent guide (1987 onwards).
Notes
File folders are arranged chronologically:
M590 / III / B / 1 : "Interp. guiding 1987 and earlier"
M590 / III / B / 2 : "Interp. guiding, etc." [1988]
M590 / III / B / 3 : "Interp. guiding, etc." [1989]
M590 / III / B / 4 and 5 : "Interp. guiding, etc." [1990, files 1 and 2]
M590 / III / B / 6 : "Interp. guiding, etc." [1991]
M590 / III / B / 7 : "Interp. guiding, etc." [1992]
File consists of notes, correspondence, pamphlets and other textual records pertaining to Ben Gadd's career as an interpretive guide and naturalist in the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of notes, correspondence, pamphlets and other textual records pertaining to Ben Gadd's career as an interpretive guide and naturalist in the Canadian Rockies.
Notes
File folders are arranged chronologically:
M590 / III / B / 8 and 9 : "Interp. guiding, etc." [1993, files 1 and 2]
M590 / III / B / 10 and 11 : "Interp. guiding, etc." [1994, files 1 and 2]
M590 / III / B / 12 and 13 : "Interp. guiding, etc." [1995, files 1 and 2]
M590 / III / B / 14 : "Interp. guiding, etc." [1996]
File consists of notes, correspondence, pamphlets and other textual records pertaining to Ben Gadd's career as an interpretive guide and naturalist in the Canadian Rockies through his company, "Ben Gadd Interpretive Services". Includes documents pertaining to guides which Ben led in collaboration w…
File consists of notes, correspondence, pamphlets and other textual records pertaining to Ben Gadd's career as an interpretive guide and naturalist in the Canadian Rockies through his company, "Ben Gadd Interpretive Services". Includes documents pertaining to guides which Ben led in collaboration with the travel company Saga Holidays in 1998 and 1999.
Notes
File folders are arranged chronologically:
M590 / III / B / 15 and 16 : "Interp. guiding, etc." [1997, files 1 and 2]
M590 / III / B / 17 : "Interp. guiding, etc." [1998]
M590 / III / B / 18 : "Saga Holidays" [1998-1999]
M590 / III / B / 19 and 20 : "Interp. guiding, etc." [1999, files 1 and 2]
File consists of photographs taken by Ben Gadd during a trip to Jackman Flats Provincial Park in 1997. Images depict unidentified individuals posing next to interpretive signs; hiking trails; a truck driving through sand; and measurements of a geological artifact.
File consists of photographs taken by Ben Gadd during a trip to Jackman Flats Provincial Park in 1997. Images depict unidentified individuals posing next to interpretive signs; hiking trails; a truck driving through sand; and measurements of a geological artifact.