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 one disc containing footage of the launch of Ben Gadd's book, "Canadian Rockies Geology Road Tours", at the Geological Survey of Canada building in Calgary in 2008.
File consists of one disc containing footage of the launch of Ben Gadd's book, "Canadian Rockies Geology Road Tours", at the Geological Survey of Canada building in Calgary in 2008.
Notes
Original annotation on front of disc:
"Canadian Rockies Geology Road Tours Launch at GSC [Geological Survey of Canada] Calgary, 4 Nov 2008 Video by Perry Davis"
File consists of one VHS tape containing rough footage of Ben Gadd and two other environmentalists discussing plants, ecosystems, geological history and related topics pertaining to areas near Cardinal Divide and Cardinal River. Video was possibly produced as part of a legal dispute concerning the …
File consists of one VHS tape containing rough footage of Ben Gadd and two other environmentalists discussing plants, ecosystems, geological history and related topics pertaining to areas near Cardinal Divide and Cardinal River. Video was possibly produced as part of a legal dispute concerning the Cheviot Mine project in 1996.
Notes
Film starts at 2 minutes running time; Ben Gadd appears throughout video, with speaking part beginning at 7 min. 25 sec.; total running time 36 minutes
File consists of four VHS tapes with videos pertaining to interviews with Ben Gadd, which were published by CFRN Television and CBC between 1985 and [ca.2000]. Content pertains to Cadomin Cave, Maligne Canyon, and Ben's professional life.
Produced by CFRN, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Date Range
1985-1986
[ca.1990-2000]
1993
1995
Physical Description
4 VHS tapes
Scope & Content
File consists of four VHS tapes with videos pertaining to interviews with Ben Gadd, which were published by CFRN Television and CBC between 1985 and [ca.2000]. Content pertains to Cadomin Cave, Maligne Canyon, and Ben's professional life.
Notes
Individual contents in file:
V810 / III / / D / NV - 2 : "Cadomin Cave, June 1985 (CFRN TV clip, with Fred Kazakoff + [A?] Watson"; "Maligne Canyon, 23 [February] 86 (CBC clip, with Ted Barrus + Lee MacKenzie)"
V810 / III / / D / NV - 3 : "CBC News 6/2/93 6 PM"
V810 / III / / D / NV - 4 : "Great Albertans - Ben Gadd" [CFRN Television, October 4, 1995]
V810 / III / / D / NV - 5 : "Ben on CBC TV news re: Maligne Canyon Teahouse" [n.d., ca.1990-2000]
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 one VHS tape containing episode 32 of the series "Great Canadian Rivers", featuring Kicking Horse River. Ben Gadd appears in the video, discussing the river and its creation.
File consists of one VHS tape containing episode 32 of the series "Great Canadian Rivers", featuring Kicking Horse River. Ben Gadd appears in the video, discussing the river and its creation.
Notes
Ben Gadd appears in video at 3 min. 45 sec.; total running time 22 min. 30 sec.
File consists of one VHS tape containing a video discussing the environment, conservation, ecosystems and related topics in Jackman Flats Provincial Park. Ben Gadd appears in the film, discussing the area's natural history.
File consists of one VHS tape containing a video discussing the environment, conservation, ecosystems and related topics in Jackman Flats Provincial Park. Ben Gadd appears in the film, discussing the area's natural history.
Notes
Ben Gadd appears in video at 3 min. 50 sec.; total running time 22 min. 12 sec.
File consists of one DVD containing a copy of "Jasper National Park: 360 Degrees of Inspiration". Content pertains to wildlife, natural views, whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking and other related subjects. Video features Ben Gadd discussing the role of national parks.
File consists of one DVD containing a copy of "Jasper National Park: 360 Degrees of Inspiration". Content pertains to wildlife, natural views, whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking and other related subjects. Video features Ben Gadd discussing the role of national parks.
Notes
Ben Gadd appears in video at 2 min. 2 sec.; total running time 18 min. 36 sec.