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 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
Fonds consists of two sous-fonds: M521 and V75.
M521 consists of four series, 154 cm, ca.1870-2002. Series I: Dorothy Wardle Personal Papers, 69.5 cm, ca.1870-2002 (includes Dorothy's written work and research and notes related to Banff). Series II: Wardle Family, 32.5 cm, 1872-1998 (including cor…
154 cm of textual records. -- 1304 photographs (1190 prints, 95 negatives, 19 transparencies). -- 6 photograph albums.
History / Biographical
The Wardle family was comprised of husband and wife, James Morey Wardle (June 26,1888 - May 18,1971) and Maud Leette (Roney) Wardle (May 24,1889 - December 1,1969), and their one child, Dorothy Hope Wardle (May 23,1919 - July 20,2003).
James Wardle, born in Chiliwack, British Columbia, was a civil engineer and public servant. He was the Superintendent of Banff National Park from 1918-1921, Chief Engineer for Parks Canada from 1921-1935, and Deputy Minister of the Interior from 1935-1936. He is primarily known as a highway design engineer, particularly for building the Banff-Windermere, Banff-Lake Louise, and Banff-Jasper highways. He was a councillor for the Municipality of Rockcliffe Park in Ontario and he was the President of the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies in Banff from 1925-1929. Mount Wardle in Vermillion was named after him in 1921. James married Leette on November 4, 1913, with whom he had one child, Dorothy.
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Dorothy (also known as Dot and Dorie) grew up in Banff, Alberta and Ottawa, Ontario, due to her father's position with the federal government. She was educated at the Mountain School in Banff and at the Elmwood School in Ottawa. All three family members were graduates of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. James graduated in 1912 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Leette graduated with a Bachelor's degree, and in 1942, Dorothy also earned a Bachelor's degree. Dorothy was prominent in student life and active in athletics. In 1941, Dorothy became the first woman elected as President of the Alma Mater Society and during her academic career, Dorothy was a member of the Levana Intercollegiate Debative, University Centenary Committee, and Queen’s War Aid Commission.
Dorothy spent her career as a freelance writer however, upon graduation she served as the first Secretary-In-Charge of Records at Carleton College (now Carleton University) from 1942-1944 in Ottawa and in the mid-1950s worked as a secretary for the Glenbow Foundation in Calgary. Dorothy pursued a lifelong interest in traveling, art, and antiques. Although she was fiercely proud and protective of Banff and the Park, and remained a volunteer and patron of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Dorothy eventually settled in Sidney, British Columbia and shared an apartment with Sheila Iris Ritchie, with whom Dorothy travelled extensively. After her death in 2003, Dorothy, "Dorie," was laid to rest alongside her parents in the Old Banff Cemetery.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of two sous-fonds: M521 and V75.
M521 consists of four series, 154 cm, ca.1870-2002. Series I: Dorothy Wardle Personal Papers, 69.5 cm, ca.1870-2002 (includes Dorothy's written work and research and notes related to Banff). Series II: Wardle Family, 32.5 cm, 1872-1998 (including correspondence with Carl Rungius and Mrs. Helen Brett, and Christmas and other greeting cards from Peter and Catharine Whyte). Series III: Queen's University, 7.5 cm, 1911-1980 (including graduation certificates for each family member and records pertaining to Dorothy's participation on the Alma Mater Society). Series IV: Travel, 44.5 cm, ca.1950-1988 (includes hand-written notebooks meticulously detailing their travels).
V75 consists of two series, 79.5 cm, ca. 1912-2001. Series I: Wardle Family, ca. 1912-1971, 6 albums, 31 cm of photograph prints and negatives (including family trips, trail rides in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and family gatherings). Series II: Dorothy Wardle, 1972-2001, 34 cm of photograph prints, negatives, and transparencies (including Dorothy's travels in Alberta and British Columbia, overseas, and various outings with friends).
File consists of printed photographs compiled by Ben Gadd pertaining to his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Images depict mountain views; bighorn sheep posing on steep rock; and highway views, possibly including Icefields Parkway.
File consists of printed photographs compiled by Ben Gadd pertaining to his book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Images depict mountain views; bighorn sheep posing on steep rock; and highway views, possibly including Icefields Parkway.
Material Details
Photographs were originally stored in Tekarra Color Lab envelope
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 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 negative photographs which Ben Gadd contributed to a guidebook titled "Of Rocks, Mountains and Jasper" by Dr. Chris Yorath. Images depict scenic views of various mountains, caves, roads and glaciers near Jasper National Park, as well as close-up views of fossils and geological form…
107 photographs : 30 col. negative film strips ; 35 mm
Scope & Content
File consists of negative photographs which Ben Gadd contributed to a guidebook titled "Of Rocks, Mountains and Jasper" by Dr. Chris Yorath. Images depict scenic views of various mountains, caves, roads and glaciers near Jasper National Park, as well as close-up views of fossils and geological formations. Some images depict unidentified men climbing and posing in front of natural views.
Notes
Photographs in file accompanied by original storage envelope
File consists of three compact discs containing a total of 38 JPG image files and 14 PDF files. Images were used in the creation of an exhibit titled "Operation Bow-Athabasca" at the Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre, which Ben Gadd contributed to in 2012. Some content from discs was also used i…
Images in file V810/III/D/DF-3 originally produced by Barry Corneil between 1965 and 1966.
Date Range
2012
Physical Description
3 CDs : 38 JPG files, 14 PDF files
Scope & Content
File consists of three compact discs containing a total of 38 JPG image files and 14 PDF files. Images were used in the creation of an exhibit titled "Operation Bow-Athabasca" at the Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre, which Ben Gadd contributed to in 2012. Some content from discs was also used in Ben's published book, also titled "Operation Bow-Athabasca". Images, exhibit and book pertain to a geological survey of the Canadian Rockies between Canmore and Jasper, including Banff National Park and the Columbia Icefields.
Notes
Contents of individual discs:
V810 / III / D / DF - 3 : "Barry Corneil OBA pics '65-'66" [18 JPG files]
V810 / III / D / DF - 4 : "PDFs of OBA panels 2012 Full-res, as imaged by West Canadian Graphics, May 2012" [14 PDF files]
V810 / III / D / DF - 5 : "Operation Bow-Athabasca photos Ray Price collection" [20 JPG files]