File consists of a signed work agreement, correspondence, research notes, reference materials, newspaper articles and other related documents pertaining to an article titled "The Ravens & the Road: Life & Death on National Park Highways", which Ben wrote for Alberta Views magazine between 2004 and …
File consists of a signed work agreement, correspondence, research notes, reference materials, newspaper articles and other related documents pertaining to an article titled "The Ravens & the Road: Life & Death on National Park Highways", which Ben wrote for Alberta Views magazine between 2004 and 2005.
File consists of author's copies of multiple editions of Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Editions in file are annotated with notes and corrections by the author.
File consists of author's copies of multiple editions of Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Editions in file are annotated with notes and corrections by the author.
File consists of correspondence and published articles pertaining to the 1995 Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival, as well as an application form which Ben filled out to submit the second edition of Handbook of the Canadian Rockies in the competition. File also includes a certificate given to Ben…
File consists of correspondence and published articles pertaining to the 1995 Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival, as well as an application form which Ben filled out to submit the second edition of Handbook of the Canadian Rockies in the competition. File also includes a certificate given to Ben after his book won the "Best Guide Book" award in the same competition, and a letter from Barbara Grinder sent to Ben and Cia Gadd suggesting that they enter the book in the Andy Russell Nature Writers Award competition.
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 drafts, notes and correspondence pertaining to a guidebook for the Blue Lake Centre Nature Trail near Hinton, Alberta. Ben Gadd researched, designed and produced the guidebook for the Blue Lake Centre between 1989 and 1990, while working as a freelance consultant.
File consists of drafts, notes and correspondence pertaining to a guidebook for the Blue Lake Centre Nature Trail near Hinton, Alberta. Ben Gadd researched, designed and produced the guidebook for the Blue Lake Centre between 1989 and 1990, while working as a freelance consultant.
File consists of one certificate given to Norman Luxton in 1937 by the Calgary Fish and Game Association. Certificate acknowledges Norman's contribution to the introduction of the chukar partridge in Alberta.
File consists of one certificate given to Norman Luxton in 1937 by the Calgary Fish and Game Association. Certificate acknowledges Norman's contribution to the introduction of the chukar partridge in Alberta.
File consists of 6 textual items (2 books, 4 booklets). Includes copies of the following texts:
- “Mammals of the Eastern Rockies and Western Plains of Canada” (A.L. Rand, 1948) with attached newspaper clipping inside about flying squirrel.
- “History of Lake O’Hara” (Lillian Gest, 1961) with signe…
File consists of 6 textual items (2 books, 4 booklets). Includes copies of the following texts:
- “Mammals of the Eastern Rockies and Western Plains of Canada” (A.L. Rand, 1948) with attached newspaper clipping inside about flying squirrel.
- “History of Lake O’Hara” (Lillian Gest, 1961) with signed note by author inside front cover.
- “They Came West” (F.O. ‘Pat’ Brewster, 1979) with handwritten note by author to Nicholas Morant inside.
- “The Rundle Adventure Story” (John Travis, 1968) with brief signed note by author inside.
- “The Death of Albert Johnson” (Frank W. Anderson, 1968) with several articles / clippings from 1985 & 1987 pertaining to ‘Mad Trapper’ Albert Johnson attached to inside of front and back covers.
- “The CPR Comes to Calgary” (CP Rail, 1975), signed ‘C. Wickstone’ on back cover.
Notes
Text “The Death of Albert Johnson” was originally stored in an envelope labelled “MAD HATTER” with additional annotations inside (see ‘Conservation’).
Storage Range
In file box M300 / III / D / 5 / 75 to M300 / III / D / 5 / 91
Items in this file are not to be accessed or distributed without the explicit permission of their identified copyright owners.
Reproduction Restrictions
Items in this file are not to be reproduced without the explicit permission of their identified copyright owners.
Language
English
Conservation
Envelope previously containing “The Death of Albert Johnson” has been kept with respective text in storage, in protective wrapping to prevent damage to adjacent items.
File consists of correspondence and notes pertaining to corrections and additions which were made to the first and second editions of Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
File consists of correspondence and notes pertaining to corrections and additions which were made to the first and second editions of Ben Gadd's book, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.
Notes
File is arranged in two folders:
M590 / II / A / 19 : Corrections and additions, 1988-1993 [first edition]
M590 / II / A / 20 : Corrections and additions, 1995-2001 [second edition]
File consists of letters and postcards exchanged between Ben Gadd and various people and organizations in 1988. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards exchanged between Ben Gadd and various people and organizations in 1988. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards exchanged between Ben Gadd and various people and organizations in 1989. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.
File consists of letters and postcards exchanged between Ben Gadd and various people and organizations in 1989. Content pertains to Ben's personal and professional life, family, holidays and various other subjects.