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 cartoon drawings by Dermot Kennedy pertaining to construction of the Banff Windermere Highway. Textual item is mock-up of booklet titled Camp 51, prepared by J. R. Webb, 1974
Dermot Kennedy was born in Ireland, ca.1930, and came to work for the Canada Department of Public Works at Camp 51 on the Banff-Windermere Highway in 1956. He worked under J. R. (Jim) Webb, Resident Engineer, and gave Webb some of the numerous cartoons of survey life he sketched. Kennedy left the area in 1958 to work for Disney Enterprises and returned to Ireland, ca.1960
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of cartoon drawings by Dermot Kennedy pertaining to construction of the Banff Windermere Highway. Textual item is mock-up of booklet titled Camp 51, prepared by J. R. Webb, 1974
Fonds includes D. D. Galletly and Galletly family papers and photographs. Textual records consist of David Galletly papers and Galletly family music. David Galletly papers include manuscripts, n.d., 1914; correspondence 1888-1907; and personal papers n.d., 1902 re early life in Canmore and Banff an…
ca.5 cm of textual records. -- 56 photographs : prints, tintype. -- 1 photograph album (266 prints)
History / Biographical
The Galletly family were residents of Canmore and Banff, Alberta, Canada. David Drummond Galletly, 1838-1916, served as caretaker and guide for the Cave and Basin hot springs, 1897-ca.1910. Previously he worked on the construction of the Banff Springs Hotel and operated a hotel in Canmore. At the Cave and Basin, Galletly conducted tours and became known for his Scottish humor. Other family members included wife Ethel, daughters Viva and Ethel (Fulscher), son-in-law Fred Fulscher, and grandchildren Ronald and Adelina Fulcher.
Scope & Content
Fonds includes D. D. Galletly and Galletly family papers and photographs.
Textual records consist of David Galletly papers and Galletly family music. David Galletly papers include manuscripts, n.d., 1914; correspondence 1888-1907; and personal papers n.d., 1902 re early life in Canmore and Banff and the Cave and Basin. The manuscripts include scripts of Galletly's cave tours. Family music includes published sheet music and hand-drawn items. Fonds also includes newsclippings and postcards pertaining to the Galletly family, 1939-[ca.1960]; and drawing of exterior of dwelling on Lot 32, Cave and Basin Avenue, 1912, signed by D. D. Galletly, 4 p.: photocopy.
Photographs pertain to Galletly family and friends, activities, Banff views; most are unidentified.
Fonds consists of 27 limited edition prints of pen and pencil drawings by Glen Boles, 1994-2002. Content of prints include Mt. Assiniboine, Mt. Fay, Mt. Louis, Mt. Alberta, Abbot Pass & Victoria Glacier, Snowpatch Spire, Howser Spires, Mt. Finger, Three Sisters, Tower of Babel, Eisenhower Tower, Mt…
Glen Boles (1934-2022), was born in St. Stephen, New Brunswick and moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1953. In 1957 he was persuaded to climb with co-worker and mountain guide Heinz Kahl, a native Bavarian. Heinz Kahl and English climber Brian Greenwood introduced Boles to more difficult climbing. Boles has climbed extensively in the Rockies, summiting over 400 peaks including many new routes and first ascents. He has also climbed in the Interior Ranges of British Columbia as well as the St. Elias Range of Alaska and the Alps. Boles is also an avid skier and spent 13 years on the Canadian Ski Patrol System and is a member of the Ski Friends program in Lake Louise.
Boles retired from the City of Calgary Waterworks Engineering Division in 1991 after thirty-five years employment. Boles and his wife (married in 1965) reside in Cochrane, Alberta. From his mountain experiences, Glen has developed an interest in photography, drawing and writing and has co-authored "The Climbing Guide to the Canadian Rockies-South" and "Place Names of the Canadian Alps" with Bill Putnam and Roger Laurilla.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of 27 limited edition prints of pen and pencil drawings by Glen Boles, 1994-2002. Content of prints include Mt. Assiniboine, Mt. Fay, Mt. Louis, Mt. Alberta, Abbot Pass & Victoria Glacier, Snowpatch Spire, Howser Spires, Mt. Finger, Three Sisters, Tower of Babel, Eisenhower Tower, Mt. Stephen, Bugaboos, Bighorn Sheep, Cougar, Timber Wolf, Grizzly Bear, Mt. Robson, Berg Lake, and Yamnuska. Fonds also includes approximately 40 diaries, ca. 1967-2021 and 16.5 cm. of correspondence 1987-2010
Notes
27 drawing prints moved to Oversize infofile storage under title "Artists - Glen Boles"
Fonds consists of 1900 b&w photographs in 5 photograph albums, 1931-1942. [untitled], 1931-1942, ca. 250 prints pertaining to townsite of Banff, including Cascades of Time Garden, Cave and Basin, Upper Hot Springs, Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls, and aerial view of Banff. Also includes images of u…
Miss Grant Kimball, of 2200 Block 14 A St. S.W. Calgary, Alberta, worked for the government seed sorting and grading office, which may have had offices in the old Post Office Building, 8 Ave. & 1st St. S.E. Calgary. Kimball never married, she was Rosicrusian and occasionally travelled to group headquarters in California for annual picnics. Her father worked for CPR and she had one sister, June Kimball.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of 1900 b&w photographs in 5 photograph albums, 1931-1942.
[untitled], 1931-1942, ca. 250 prints pertaining to townsite of Banff, including Cascades of Time Garden, Cave and Basin, Upper Hot Springs, Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls, and aerial view of Banff. Also includes images of unidentified people in homes in [Calgary?].
[untitled], 1942-ca.1945, ca.400 prints, includes Waterton, Revelstoke, Field, Bridal Veil Falls, Banff: Sulphur Mountain cabin, observatory, Cascades of Time Garden and picnic grounds, Tunnel Mountain fire look-out, Lake Minnewanka, Lake Louise, C.P.R. mountain views from the line.
[untitled], 1943-1945, 1950, ca.500 includes sisters June and Grant Kimball, Banff area including Cascades of Time Garden, Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, group photo Becker's Bungalows, brewery gardens in Calgary; Los Angeles and Victoria; also includes hand-drawn portrait of Grant Kimball, 1950.
[untitled], 1946-1949, ca.500 prints, includes Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper area and Banff including Cascades of Time Garden; predominently United States trips.
"The Story of Anna" 1950, ca.250 prints, pertains to the travels of Anna [the car, bought in 1950], and includes Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper areas.
Fonds consists of papers, photographs and sound recording produced by and pertaining to Jimmy Simpson and the Simpson family. Material is arranged in seven series. I. Jimmy Simpson Sr. papers and photographs, ca.1901-1972, ca.74 cm of textual records, 23 photograph albums (ca.2875 prints), 425 tra…
2.5 m textual records. -- ca.1605 photographs: ca.755 prints, 410 negatives, ca.430 transparencies. -- 29 photograph albums (ca.3000 prints). -- 1 sound recording: audio disc
History / Biographical
Justin James McCarthy (Jimmy) Simpson, 1877-1972, was a trapper, guide and outfitter and lodge owner at Banff and Bow Lake, Alberta, Canada. Born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, Simpson was sent to Canada by his family in 1896. He worked briefly at Laggan (Lake Louise), Alberta for the Canadian Pacific Railway, travelled extensively and returned to the Rockies to work on the trail and trap. By the early 1900s, he was a successful guide and outfitter with Carl Rungius and the Alpine Club of Canada as clients. Starting in 1920, Simpson began building Num-Ti-Jah Lodge at Bow Lake as a base for hunting and climbing parties. Simpson and Williamina (Billie) Ross Reid, 1891-1968, married in 1916 and had three children. The lodge was run mainly by Billie Simpson and in 1945 the business was turned over to Jimmy Simpson Jr., 1922-2003 . Daughters Margaret Simpson, 1917-1941, and Mary Simpson (Hallock), 1919-2002, were internationally-famous figure skaters.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of papers, photographs and sound recording produced by and pertaining to Jimmy Simpson and the Simpson family. Material is arranged in seven series.
I. Jimmy Simpson Sr. papers and photographs, ca.1901-1972, ca.74 cm of textual records, 23 photograph albums (ca.2875 prints), 425 transparencies. Includes business and personal correspondence, business records and subject files, 1903-1972; literary papers, 1912-1972; and other papers, 1903- 1957. Business records pertain mainly to guiding, outfitting and hunting operations. Correspondents include Carl Rungius, J. Monroe Thorington, L. S. Amery, Louis Agassiz Fuertes, William S. Ladd, C. Hart Merriam, Allan Brooks and others; also federal and provincial government departments, Canadian Pacific Railway, etc., regarding hunting, game regulations, park boundaries, licences, permits, horses, etc. Albums pertain mainly to hunting trips, including those with Carl Rungius, Caroline Hinman and McAleenan family, ca.1901-ca.1920, 23 items. Transparencies pertain to McAleenan family trips.
II. Simpson family papers, photographs and sound recording, ca.1900-1987, ca.1.5 m of textual records, ca.675 photographic prints, 6 photograph albums (ca.460 prints), 410 photographic negatives, 1 sound recording. Textual records include large series of alphabetical files, 1907-1987; correspondence, ca.1910-ca.1985; school records, 1923-1936; Num-Ti-Jah Lodge registers, 1939-1957; other material, 1929-1942. Photographs pertain to Jimmy Simpson and family; friends and guests; lodges and camps, including Num-Ti-Jah Lodge; Banff home and community; pack trips; scenic views; other.
III. Billie Simpson papers, 1913-1968, 6.5 cm of textual records. Includes Billie Simpson correspondence, literary and dramatic papers.
IV. Simpson Sisters professional papers and photographs, 1929-1955, ca.20 cm and 3 v. of textual material, ca.15 cm of print material, 86 photographic prints. Material pertains to the professional skating career of Margaret Simpson and Mary Simpson.
V. Mary Simpson Hallock papers, 1960-1955, 1.5 cm of textual records.
VI. Jimmy Simpson Jr. papers, 1947-1983, 1 cm of textual records.
VII. Other material, before 1970, 1 cm of textual records and art works.
Fonds consists of Tweedy's photographs of Alpine Club of Canada annual summer camps; ACC members and activities, 1928-1946; camp packing activities, 1935; military camps; Stanley H. Mitchell and Mitchell's grave stone. Album is photographs of Little Yoho Valley Military Instruction Camp, July-Augu…
71 photographs : prints. -- 1 photograph album (40 prints). -- 1 item of print material
History / Biographical
Major Wharton Richard Tweedy, 1889-1965, was a soldier, mountaineer, outfitter and packtrain operator, and served as secretary-treasurer and Camp Manager for the Alpine Club of Canada between 1929 and 1942. Tweedy was responsible for setting up the camp facility for the 1943 Military Instruction Camp at Little Yoho Valley
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of Tweedy's photographs of Alpine Club of Canada annual summer camps; ACC members and activities, 1928-1946; camp packing activities, 1935; military camps; Stanley H. Mitchell and Mitchell's grave stone. Album is photographs of Little Yoho Valley Military Instruction Camp, July-August 1943; mainly horse packing and snow and ice training views, some by the National Film Board of Canada (possibly Harry Rowed and Lt. Bell). Accompanied by reproduction of drawing of Stanley Mitchell Hut
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 includes Rev. F. G. Christmas scrapbook, 1888-1889, of sketches, poems and writings pertaining to social life among Christmas's circle of Banff friends, including Mollie Smith and Peter Ross. Scrapbook also contains several loose items. Fonds also includes letter, marriage license, wedding …
Scrapbook is also known as the Christmas scrapbook
Date Range
1888-1928
Physical Description
ca.6 cm of textual records
History / Biographical
Mollie E. Smith Ross, ca.1860-1897, and Peter Murray Ross, ca.1863-1928, lived at Banff and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Mary Emma Jane (Mollie) Smith was born in Jackson, Michigan, USA and came to Banff for health reasons, ca.1889. Among her friends in Banff were Anglican church minister Rev. F. Granville (Eric) Christmas, 1854-1931, and druggist Peter Ross. Mollie Smith and Peter Ross were married in 1892 by Rev. Charles W. Gordon and moved to Edmonton in 1893, where Ross continued in the pharmaceutical business and the couple raised a family. Rev. F. G. Christmas chronicled his admiration of Mollie Smith in a scrapbook that he later presented to her.
Scope & Content
Fonds includes Rev. F. G. Christmas scrapbook, 1888-1889, of sketches, poems and writings pertaining to social life among Christmas's circle of Banff friends, including Mollie Smith and Peter Ross. Scrapbook also contains several loose items. Fonds also includes letter, marriage license, wedding and death notices re Mollie Smith Ross and Peter Ross, 1891-1928, and photocopies of photographs of Smith and Ross.
Fonds consists of seven series : I. Philip Moore family series, ca.1882-1964, 42 cm., and contains three sub-series: A. Personal papers and photographs, 1897-1964 (college career, personal life, activities and estate); B. Professional papers and photographs, 1905-[ca.1950] (military career and re…
ca.1 m textual records. -- ca.3400 photographs: prints, transparencies, negatives. -- 10 photograph albums (ca.1000 prints). -- 24 motion pictures.
History / Biographical
The Moore family resided at Banff, Alberta and Yoho Valley, British Columbia, Canada. Col. Philip A. Moore, 1879-1951, was a guide, soldier, lecturer and publicist. Pearl Brewster Moore, 1889-1973, was a homemaker and tourist lodge operator. Daughter, Edmee Brewster Moore (Reid), 1908-1971, was a homemaker and wife of Charles Reid. Pearl Brewster, born in Banff, was an active sportswoman. In 1905, she met Philip Moore, who had joined Jim and Bill Brewster in the packing business. The Moores made their home in Banff in 1907. A trained soldier, Philip Moore distinguished himself in France in the First World War and served with the Calgary Highlanders during the Second World War. The Moores ran various Canadian Pacific Railway facilities, including Yoho Valley Bungalow Camp, during the 1920s and early 1930s. Col. Moore lectured widely during this period using motion pictures and lantern slides. During the 1930s, the Moores travelled extensively and were active in the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. Pearl Moore was instrumental in the Banff-Jasper fund during the Second World War. In 1971, Pearl Moore gave their log home, a showcase of Stoney Nakoda artifacts and art, to the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of seven series :
I. Philip Moore family series, ca.1882-1964, 42 cm., and contains three sub-series: A. Personal papers and photographs, 1897-1964 (college career, personal life, activities and estate); B. Professional papers and photographs, 1905-[ca.1950] (military career and research, writing and lecturing); C. Volunteer activities, 1935-1945 (Jubilee Committee; National War Finance Committee, Victory Loan program).
II. Pearl Moore series. -- 1890-1973. -- 21.5 cm of textual records. -- 156 photographs: prints. -- Series consists of three sub-series: A. Personal papers and photographs, 1990-1973 (photographs, letters, diaries, notes and notebooks, and other material); B. Legal and financial papers, 1908-1971; C. Volunteer activities, [1940?]-1942 (Banff-Jasper Spitfire Fund, the Red Cross, wartime work).
III. Edmee Moore series. -- 1908-1965. -- 8 cm of textual records. -- 152 photographs : prints, 4 photograph albums. -- Series consists of six sub-series: A. Photographs, 1908-1965; B. Letters and notes, [ca.1915-ca.1920]; C. Sketchbooks; D. Diaries and scrapbooks, 1926-1938; E. Financial and legal papers, 1935-1965; F. Other, 1919-1953.
IV. Philip Moore family series. -- 1885-1970. -- 20 cm of textual records. -- 1183 photographs (1075 prints and negatives, 117 transparencies, 51 stereo cards). -- 11 motion pictures. -- Series consists of seven sub-series: A. Family portraits, 1885-[ca.1970]; B. Home, friends and activities, [ca.1910]-1962; C. Financial papers, 1907-1951; D. Travel, 1931-1936; E. Business papers, bungalow camp operations, 1921-1932; F. Banff/Lake Louise area photographs, 1885-1965; G. Other, [ca.1895-ca.1960].
V. Moore and Brown families series. -- 1838-1950. -- 8 cm of textual records. -- 156 photographs : prints. -- Series consists of five sub-series: A. Roger Brown Moore, 1890-1931; B. Maria K. Moore estate, 1922-1927; C. William Gordon Moore, Laura Moore and Roger Brown Moore estate, 1930-1939; D. Maria K. Moore and Roger Brown Moore, 1925-1930; E. Other material, 1838-1950.
VI. Brewster family series. -- [ca.1880]-1970. -- 6 cm of textual records. -- 289 photographs : prints, 2 photograph albums. -- Series consists of five sub-series: A. John and Isabella Brewster, 1904-1948; B. Fred Brewster, 1909-1953; C. James I. Brewster, 1909-1936; D. Fern Brewster, 1930-1932; E. Brewster family, [ca.1880]-1970; F. Other material, 1898-1969.
VII. Other material series. -- 1885-1970. -- 709 photographs : prints. -- Series consists of three sub-series: A. Scenics, 1885-1970; B. People, 1885-1970; C. Other, 1885-1970.