Fonds consists of organizational records including photographs, brochures, correspondence and other documents which are divided into five series [see Content Details]. Content pertains to the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies, including the organization's history, members and staff, trail rides …
ca.340 cm of textual records -- 1191 photographs (691 prints, 312 transparencies, 188 negatives) -- 11 photograph albums -- 4 motion pictures -- 7 discs (1,214 digital images, 1 slideshow)
History / Biographical
The Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies is a trail riding organization based in Calgary, Alberta. The organization was established in 1923 with the support of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The first ride was held in 1924, and annual summer trail rides and pow-wows attracted fifteen hundred members by 1929. Many notable residents of the Bow Valley, including members of the Brewster and Moore families, Catherine Robb and Peter Whyte, and Carl Rungius have participated in trail rides. Support from the Canadian Pacific Railway ended in 1961. As of 2020, the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies remains an active organization.
LISTING OF TRAIL RIDE LOCATIONS:
1924 : Yoho Valley
1925 : Marble Canyon, Wolverine Plateau, Goodsir Plateau, Lake O'Hara, Lake Wapta, Sun Dance Lodge
1926 : Baker Lake, Shaki, Molar Peak, Bow Lake, Mosquito Creek, Ptarmigan Valley
1927 : Mountain Assiniboine, Brewster Creek, Magag Lake, Sunshine Camp, Simpson Pass; Jasper, Portal Creek, Maccarib Pass, Tonquin Valley, Meadow Creek, Calendone River
1928 : Lake of Hanging Glaciers; Horse Thief Creek, Windermere
1929 : Egypt Lake, Shadow Lake, Twin Lake; Lake Louise, Columbia Icefields
1930 : Red Earth Creek, Hawk Creek, Floe Lake, Wolverine Pass, Marble Canyon
1931 : Bankhead, Cascade River, Stewart Canyon, Stoney Creek, Baker Creek, Sawback Lake
1932 : Mount Assiniboine and Banff Springs Hotel terrace (Pow-wow)
1933 : Mosquito Creek, Bow Lake, Isabella Lake, Pipestone River, Lake Louise
1934 : Leanchoil, Shining Beauty camp, Goodsir mountain, Wolverine Plateau, Marble Canyon
1935 : Windy Camp, Snow Creek Pass, Scotch Cabin, Baker Lake, Ptarmigan Valley, Lake Louise Station (pow-wow)
1936 : Johnston Canyon, Pulsatilla Mountain, Badger Pass, Forty Mile Creek, Hillsdale Meadows
1937 : Mount Assiniboine, Lake Magog, Valley of the Rocks, Simpson Pass, Healy Creek
1938 : Carrot Creek, Lake Minnewanka, Middle Lake, Devil Gap, Ghost River, Mount Aylmer, Aylmer Pass
1939 : Healy Creek, Egypt Lake, Scarab Lake, Shadow Lakes, Twin Lakes, Taylor Lake, Moraine Lake
1940 : Marble Canyon, Helmet Creek, Ottertail River, Lake McArthur, Chateau Lake Louise
1941 : Mount Assiniboine, Canmore, spray Lakes, Valley of Rocks, Simpson Summit, Rock Isle Lake, Healy Creek
1942 : Larix Lake, Egypt Lake, Twin Lakes, Storm Mountain
1943 : Healy Creek warden's cabin, Brewater Creek, Fatigue Pass, Quartz hill, Simpson Summit, Sunshine Lodge, Eohippus lake, Mount Assiniboine
1944 : Healy Creek, Brewster Creek, Quartz Hill, Lake Eohippus, Red Earth Creek
1945 : Baker Lake
1946 : Panther River (Windy Camp), Snow Creek, Harrison Lake, Panther Falls
1947 : Monard Mountain, Healy Creek, Redearth Creek
1948 : Sunshine and Simpson River
1949 : Molar Mountain area
1950 : Palliser Pass
1951 : Goodsirs
1952 : Harvey Pass, Healy Creek, Egypt Lake
1953 : Baker Lakes
1954 : Mount Assiniboine, Magog Lake
1955 : Pulsatilla Pass area
1956 : Pipestone area
1957 : Panther River, Windy Camp, Dormer Pass, Snow Creek
1958 : Mount Assiniboine
1959 : Palliser Pass area [Bunny Robinson paints new teepee designs]
1960 : Pipestone area, north of Lake Louise
1961 : Goodsirs Mountains, McArthur Creek, Wolverine Pass [Volume 102, CPR publication last issue - CPR pulls sponsorship of association]
1962 : Pipestone and Skoki Valley areas
1963 : Simpson Summit, Healy Creek, Harvey Pass, Egypt Lake
1964 : Bryant Creek Meadows, Mount Assiniboine
1965 : Palliser Pass
1966 : Ptarmigan Valley, north of Lake Louise
1967 : Palliser Pass
1968 : Bryant Creek Meadows, Mount Assiniboine
1969 : Pulsatilla Pass
1970 : Egypt Lake area
1971 : Pipestone region
1972 : Shadow Lakes
1973 : Palliser Pass [50th anniversary]
1974 : Pulsatilla Pass area, Johnson Creek Meadows
1975 : Pipestone River area : Molar Glacier, Skoki Lakes, Merlin Lakes, hector Plateau, Fish Lakes
1976 : Cascade Valley region : Elk Lake summit, Stoney Creek, Dormer Pass
1977 : Mount Assiniboine
1978 : Palliser Pass area : Upper Spray River
1979 : Pulsatilla Pass area : Indian Paint Pots, Johnston Creek Meadows
1980 : Panther River region
1981 : Red Deer River region : Divide Creek, Tyrell Creek, Horseshoe Lake, Panther Ridge
1982 : Bryant Creek, Og Pass, Owl and Marvel Lakes, Allenby Pass, Assiniboine Pass, Lake Magog
1983 : Upper Pipestone River region: Red Deer Lake, Skoki Lakes, Hector Plateau, Singing Meadows [60th Anniversary]
1984 : Panther River region
1985 : Palliser Pass : Goat Ridge, Tumble Creek Falls, Spray Lakes, Birdwood Mountain, Leman Lake, White Man Pass
1986 : Johnston Creek, Badger Pass and Pulsatilla Pass; Safari expeditions: Kananaskis Country, Pipestone River , Front Range, Clearwater, Kootenay Plains
1987 : Red Deer River
1988 : Pipestone River
1989 : Panther River
1990 : Palliser Pass
1991 : Red Deer River
1992 : Bryant Creek
1993 : Pipestone River
1994 : Johnston Creek
1995 : Palliser Pass
1996 : Red Deer River
1997 : Bryant Creek
1998 : Panther River
1999 : Pipestone River
2000 : Johnston Creek
2001 : Palliser Pass
2002 : Yamnuska and Ghost Mountain
2003 : Bryant Creek
2004 : Cascade Valley and Mystic Lake
2005 : Sundance and Halfway Lodge
2006 : Waterton Park
2007 : Clearwater River
2008 : Kananaskis
2009 : Johnston Creek
2010 : Stoney Creek and Flint's Valley
2011 : Rock Lake and Solomon Creek
2012 : Kananaskis
2013 : Bryant Creek
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of organizational records including photographs, brochures, correspondence and other documents which are divided into five series [see Content Details]. Content pertains to the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies, including the organization's history, members and staff, trail rides and other events, publications and advertising, finances, and administration.
Notes
Fonds has been reorganized by Processing Archivist Kate Skelton and content from all accessions prior to 2019 has been integrated into new series. Content from accessions 5757 and 5939 have been renumbered; storage of files adjusted to accommodate most recent donations [accn. 8235 & accn. 2014.8277]
Some files contain personal contact information including full names, home addresses, email addresses and phone numbers [see file-level entries under M545/V635 for specific contents and restrictions]
Series I - Events and Activities: Records include ride notes and summaries [1968-2009], songs and poems performed during trail rides, documents and images pertaining to the Townsend Trophy photograph competition, and materials related to other events including trail ride anniversary events and round-ups.
Series II - Members, Staff, Personal Content : Records include lists of trail ride participants, documents from camp coordinators and other trail ride staff, personal photographs, committee notes, personal correspondence and trail ride surveys from 1958-2009
Series III - Published Records : Records include newsletters, brochures, promotional material, news articles and other published content
Series IV - Financial Records : Records include tax records, income statements, expense notes, receipts, payment information for members, budgets, price lists and funding applications
Series V - Administrative Records : Records include administrative notes, inventories and checklists, meeting minutes and agendas, legal and administrative forms, and agreements with outfitting and supply companies
Fonds consists of transparency slides, maps, handwritten notes and club records, song books, and scrapbooks pertaining to Margaret Ruth Oliver and the Tuesday Hikers club.
28 photographs : col. slides -- 1.5 m of textual records (3 binders -- 1 record book -- 10 song books -- maps, annotated -- 11 scrapbooks)
History / Biographical
Margaret Ruth Oliver was born on December 19, 1927 to parents Edgar and Gladys (Brazier) Hammett in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Margaret's siblings include Dorothy (1922), Muriel "Miv" (1923), John (1929), and Jean (1933). Margaret graduated from United College (Winnipeg) in 1949 with a B.Sc. degree, and worked as an Assistant Librarian at the University of Manitoba afterwards. Margaret later enrolled in a Laboratory Technician program at the University of Manitoba Medical College. Margaret married Thomas Albert Oliver, a fellow University of Manitoba alumnus, on September 25, 1954. The couple moved to Calgary for work (Thomas taught at the University of Calgary, and Margaret worked for a geophysical company). Margaret travelled extensively following the death of her husband in 1997, visiting places such as Nepal, Cambodia, Russia, Egypt and Greenland.
In 1971, Margaret formed a hiking group within the University Faculty Women's Club (F.W.C.) through the University of Calgary. In 1976, this group became a private club called the Tuesday Hikers, which no longer held any affiliation to the F.W.C. Trips included weekly hikes and/or ski trips, as well as longer backpacking excursions.The club is still active as of 2022.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of transparency slides, maps, handwritten notes and club records, song books, and scrapbooks pertaining to Margaret Ruth Oliver and the Tuesday Hikers club.
Notes
Materials are unprocessed and stored in three boxes:
Box 1: 1 envelope "T. Hikers' Slides" - 28 film transparencies and printed notes; various maps with handwritten notes
Box 2: 1 record book "T.H. Record Book" - handwritten lists and statistics of trips, attendance, miles; 2 binders with handwritten notes, titled "National Parks - Banff and Assiniboine" and "Nat'l Parks - Glacier + Jasper"
Box 3: 1 binder titled "Tues. Hikers- Past Members and Guests"; 10 song books; trail, park and road maps; 11 scrapbooks, 1971-2010
Fonds consists of photographs pertaining to Placido Monachello and family; and a bound publication titled "Machinery's Handbook", 1943, which belonged to Placido. 12 photographs pertain to Placido's experiences at the Alternative Service Corps work camp at the Spray River Trail near Banff Springs H…
ca.172 photographs : b&w prints -- 3 digital files : col. JPG images -- 4 cm of textual records (1 volume)
History / Biographical
Placido Monachello (1920-2018) received a conscription notice to join the war effort between 1940-1941. Placido opposed the conscription notice, identifying himself as a Conscientious Objector who refused to participate in the war. After appealing his case in court, Placido was sentenced to one year of work in an internment/work camp. Placido completed his year of work at the Alternative Service Corps work camp, located near the Sunshine Road/Brewster Creek area (ASW Camp No. 1). While at the work camp, Placido aided in the clearing of land and road construction around Banff. Placido returned home to Hamilton, Ontario in 1942, where he worked odd jobs as a labourer and farm hand.
Placido married his partner, Leonarda "Leona" (Borsellino) Monachello (1920-2019) in 1944, with whom he later had two children, John and David. Placido sent numerous letters and photographs to Leona during his time at the ASW camp. While Placido was in Banff, Leona directly supported the war effort as an employee at Westinghouse in Hamilton, Ontario, where she produced high-tech military components. Placido and Leona ran two delicatessen businesses together after the war, one of which was initially funded by her parents. The couple sold their business in the 1970s, after which Placido worked for Stelco (a steel manufacturing company) until 1985. Placido and Leona took a trip to visit Banff together in 2010.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of photographs pertaining to Placido Monachello and family; and a bound publication titled "Machinery's Handbook", 1943, which belonged to Placido. 12 photographs pertain to Placido's experiences at the Alternative Service Corps work camp at the Spray River Trail near Banff Springs Hotel (ASW Camp No. 1). ca.160 photographs pertain to Placido's family and personal life, including his wedding to Leonarda (Leona) in 1944 and their children [ca.1950s]. Fonds also includes 3 digital images of Placido and Leona visiting Banff in 2010.
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 records, postcards, drawings and one photograph album pertaining to Mary (Molly) Wright Adams (1868-1909); transcripts of Molly's original letters which were compiled by Molly's sister, Catharine Elkin (nee Adams) between ca.1939 and 1941; and transcriptions of letters sen…
Some materials produced by Catharine (Adams) Elkin
Date Range
[ca.1844 - 1909]
[ca.1939 - 1944]
1980 - 1981
2014
Physical Description
21 cm of textual records -- 16 postcards -- 3 drawings -- 1 photograph album : 107 b&w photographs
History / Biographical
Mary Wright (Molly) Adams was born on 15 October 1868. in Ridgefield Connecticut. She was the third of five children born to Cornelia Ann Cook (1830-1902) and Daniel Lucius Adams (1814 - 1899) She died in Kobe, Japan on 23 January 1909 and was buried there.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual records, postcards, drawings and one photograph album pertaining to Mary (Molly) Wright Adams (1868-1909); transcripts of Molly's original letters which were compiled by Molly's sister, Catharine Elkin (nee Adams) between ca.1939 and 1941; and transcriptions of letters sent between Molly's extended family members [including members of the Adams, Cook and Wright families], ca.1844 and 1866.
Textual records primarily consist of correspondence sent between Molly Adams and various friends and family members [ca.1891-1909].
Notes
Fonds consists of two series:
Series I : Correspondence [contains two sub-series: I / A : Molly Wright Adams ; I / B : Extended family]
Series II : Personal and collected records
Fonds consists of textual and photographic records, including society correspondence, memberships, advertising, newspaper clippings, photographs, albums and scrapbooks outlining the societies activities. textual records are organized through five series and visual records are organized under 2: M5…
Fonds consists of textual and photographic records, including society correspondence, memberships, advertising, newspaper clippings, photographs, albums and scrapbooks outlining the societies activities. textual records are organized through five series and visual records are organized under 2:
M580 / I : Programs, advertisements, posters, newsletters
M580 / II : Banff Precipice Society, Memberships, society information
Fonds consists of materials personally collected by Margaret Gmoser. Fonds includes photographs and textual records pertaining to Hans Gmoser, Robson Gmoser, and traverse trip with Chic Scott. Fonds also includes an original letter from Orville Wright regarding early helicopters.
4 cm textual records -- ca. 42 photographs -- 1 oversized poster
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of materials personally collected by Margaret Gmoser. Fonds includes photographs and textual records pertaining to Hans Gmoser, Robson Gmoser, and traverse trip with Chic Scott. Fonds also includes an original letter from Orville Wright regarding early helicopters.
Fonds consists of research materials, publications, ephemera, and other materials collected by Jon Whelan. Fonds includes three Canadian Pacific bell boy log books, 1970-1980; five bound scrapbooks with collected newspaper clippings, ca.1880-1890; and collected advertisements and articles pertainin…
Jon Whelan (1952-2022) was a researcher, historian, and collector based in Banff, Alberta. Jon had a special interest in topics related to Banff National Park and Canadian Pacific Railway Company. Jon conducted independent research, as well as research for various authors and historians, from the 1980s onwards. Jon was also an active participant in municipal politics in Banff.
"For most of Jon’s life, he was engaged in community affairs and fearless in voicing an opinion. He was successful in raising public awareness and his tenacity achieved a personal goal, which was to initiate the use of video for regular Town of Banff council meetings. He dedicated himself to the concerns of Banff residents."
-Barry Kelly, Rocky Mountain Outlook, July 30, 2022
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of research materials, publications, ephemera, and other materials collected by Jon Whelan. Fonds includes three Canadian Pacific bell boy log books, 1970-1980; five bound scrapbooks with collected newspaper clippings, ca.1880-1890; and collected advertisements and articles pertaining to Canadian Pacific, Banff, travel and tourism within Canada, and related subjects.
Fonds consists of: I. A selection of photographs by Frederick Pilcher Jr. taken on hikes and climbs, 1940-1947, some in the company of Leonard Leacock (V27/CD-1); II. A selection of photographs by son Frederick Pilcher taken on hikes and climbs, 1964-1997, some in the company of Lance Camp, Dave Mi…
Frederick Pilcher Jr., M.D., d.1954, and his son, Frederick Pilcher, were avid amateur photographers who visited Canada regularly. F. Pilcher Jr. made early use of Kodachrome in backcountry photography.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of: I. A selection of photographs by Frederick Pilcher Jr. taken on hikes and climbs, 1940-1947, some in the company of Leonard Leacock (V27/CD-1); II. A selection of photographs by son Frederick Pilcher taken on hikes and climbs, 1964-1997, some in the company of Lance Camp, Dave Mitchell and Timothy Pilcher (V27/CD-2,3,4). Areas includes Banff, Kootenay and Jasper National Parks and Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park.
Photographs include portraits of Tom Wilson, 1930s, and Bob Campbell, ca.1955; Vaux family landscape views, 1902; and Canadian Pacific Railway views, ca.1903. CPR views are four prints incorporated into one large framed item; views are of the Crow's Nest Pass, the Banff Springs Hotel and the Lake …
Robert (Bob) E. Campbell, 1871-1965, was a teacher, guide and outfitter, politician and soldier at Banff, Calgary, Peace River and Victoria. Campbell was born in Ontario and taught school in Saskatchewan from 1893 to 1896 before coming to Banff to teach at Tom Wilson's request. Beginning in 1897, he worked summers for Wilson as a trail hand. He then guided major clients, forming Wilson and Campbell in 1902 and buying the business in 1904. Campbell became involved in the Calgary Grain Exchange in 1908 and became the provincial MLA for Rocky Mountain in 1913. After serving in WWI, he ranched, guided and wrote a book of reminiscences, "I Would Do It Again: Reminiscences of the Rockies."
Scope & Content
Photographs include portraits of Tom Wilson, 1930s, and Bob Campbell, ca.1955; Vaux family landscape views, 1902; and Canadian Pacific Railway views, ca.1903. CPR views are four prints incorporated into one large framed item; views are of the Crow's Nest Pass, the Banff Springs Hotel and the Lake Louise Chalet, ca.1903. Textual items are invitation for Calgary Old Timers Association, 1908; and greeting cards, ca.1907.