File consists of an original travel journal/diary annotated by Aileen Harmon pertaining to a 1933 ski trip to Skoki Lodge. File also includes two complete, typed copies of text from original 1933 account [one accompanied by typed letter to "Kathryn", likely Catharine Robb Whyte], and one incomplete…
File consists of an original travel journal/diary annotated by Aileen Harmon pertaining to a 1933 ski trip to Skoki Lodge. File also includes two complete, typed copies of text from original 1933 account [one accompanied by typed letter to "Kathryn", likely Catharine Robb Whyte], and one incomplete typed copy.
Fonds consists of textual records and photographs by and about Aileen Harmon, as well as collected items. Textual records include: letter from Harmon to the Director of Alberta's provincial parks re addition of Yamnuska area to Bow Valley Provincial Park, 1973; brief, from Harvie Heights and Bow Va…
26.5 cm of textual records. -- 33 photographs (26 prints : b&w and col. ; 20.5 x 30 cm or smaller -- 6 negatives : b&w nitrate negatives ; 12.5 x 10 cm -- 1 transparency : col. slide ; 35 mm)
History / Biographical
Aileen Harmon (1912 - 2015), daughter of Byron Harmon, worked as a government naturalist at Banff, Alberta, Canada and was involved in local natural history groups and activities. Aileen was a founding member, alongside Bruce Gordon, of the Bow Valley Naturalists, and was also on the Board of The Canadian Wildlife Federation and The Society of Alberta Naturalists. Aileen moved to Mill Bay on Vancouver Island, B.C. in 1981 following the end of a lengthy career with Parks Canada. During her retirement years, Aileen travelled extensively, reaching all seven continents. She also authored an autobiographical book, titled "Tales of My Mountain Life", in 2004. Aileen passed away on January 9, 2015 at the age of 102.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual records and photographs by and about Aileen Harmon, as well as collected items. Textual records include: letter from Harmon to the Director of Alberta's provincial parks re addition of Yamnuska area to Bow Valley Provincial Park, 1973; brief, from Harvie Heights and Bow Valley subdivision residents to public hearings on land use and resource development in the eastern slopes, 1973; letter re James Hector, 1979; notes on career, 2003; notes on Catharine Whyte for CBC recording, 2004; Christmas cards and collected articles, ca.1960. Photographs, made by and collected by Aileen Harmon, pertain to Aileen Harmon and friends, skiing, Skoki area, Mount Yamnuska, Banff Indian Days. Includes photographs by Byron Harmon.
Added content from accession 2016.8596 : ca. 25 cm of textual records including personal correspondence, guest book, original writing and notes by Aileen Harmon, personal travel journals from a 1931 packing trip and 1933 ski trip to Skoki, drafts of autobiographical book "Tales of My Mountain Life", articles pertaining to or written by Aileen Harmon, Christmas cards, and letters of condolence to Carole Harmon following Aileen's passing. Also 26 print photographs, 6 negative photographs from a 1937 hiking trip, and one transparency.
Fonds consists of one series :
Series I - Personal records
Fonds consists of notes, correspondence and articles pertaining to the Astley family and early history of Lake Louise and Lake Minnewanka areas. Fonds includes correspondence between Willoughby Astley and J. A. Jaffary of the Provincial Library, Alberta, 1928-1929, re place names in the Lake Louise…
Willoughby John Astley, 1859-1948, came to Banff in 1888 and built the Beach House Hotel at Lake Minnewanka. He moved to Lake Louise in 1889. Brother, Charles D'Oyley Astley, 1849-1937, and Lucy Ann Astley continued to operate the hotel until 1907 when they retired to Banff. The hotel was destroyed as part of power development at Lake Minnewanka, ca.1912.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of notes, correspondence and articles pertaining to the Astley family and early history of Lake Louise and Lake Minnewanka areas. Fonds includes correspondence between Willoughby Astley and J. A. Jaffary of the Provincial Library, Alberta, 1928-1929, re place names in the Lake Louise area; scrapbook of clippings re World War I, including a list of Banff men who enlisted; Beach House Hotel guest register, 1890-1906, recording name and residence of guest, and occasionally record of fish caught; Astley family photographs, ca.1886-1930s. Photographs pertain to fishing and boating on Lake Minnewanka; Beach House Hotel and Lady of the Lake steam launch; Devil's Canyon, Bankhead and Banff; views of avalanche clearing in Roger's Pass by Byron Harmon. Includes one panorama view of group at Lake Minnewanka.
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 personal correspondence between Aileen Harmon and numerous friends and family members. Includes a letter from John Macdonald pertaining to Aileen Harmon's Canadian Geographic article, a wedding programme for the marriage of Carole Harmon and Gary Sill, numerous Christmas letters, a…
File consists of personal correspondence between Aileen Harmon and numerous friends and family members. Includes a letter from John Macdonald pertaining to Aileen Harmon's Canadian Geographic article, a wedding programme for the marriage of Carole Harmon and Gary Sill, numerous Christmas letters, an envelope labelled "For the travellin' man Happy New Year" containing three Ethiopian dollar bills and one 10-shilling South African bank note, and a card celebrating Aileen Harmon's 100th birthday.
Currency has been stored in mylar inside folder with original envelope. Consider separate storage (i.e. individual folder) if off-gassing becomes an issue
File consists of school work, including math problems, English assignments and drawings, produced by Ben Gadd as an elementary school student between 1953 and 1956. File also includes three telegrams sent by Ben's parents (Sam and Mary Gadd) and two letters pertaining to Ben's early development and…
File consists of school work, including math problems, English assignments and drawings, produced by Ben Gadd as an elementary school student between 1953 and 1956. File also includes three telegrams sent by Ben's parents (Sam and Mary Gadd) and two letters pertaining to Ben's early development and other updates.
File consists of various scientific journal articles which were collected and used as research materials by Ben Gadd during the creation of his book "Geology Road Tours". Articles pertain to Canadian and North American geological history, and related subjects.
File consists of various scientific journal articles which were collected and used as research materials by Ben Gadd during the creation of his book "Geology Road Tours". Articles pertain to Canadian and North American geological history, and related subjects.
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 school assignments, certificates, notes and other educational records pertaining to Ben Gadd's time as a junior high school student in Colorado, 1958-1960.
File consists of school assignments, certificates, notes and other educational records pertaining to Ben Gadd's time as a junior high school student in Colorado, 1958-1960.