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.
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 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 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
File consists of two discs containing digital image files which were used in the creation of an exhibit about Dr. Eric Mountjoy at the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives. File also includes printed paper copies of 10 images which are included on the two discs. Images pertain to Eric Mountjoy and…
Two discs (80 image files) -- 10 paper reference copies of images
Scope & Content
File consists of two discs containing digital image files which were used in the creation of an exhibit about Dr. Eric Mountjoy at the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives. File also includes printed paper copies of 10 images which are included on the two discs. Images pertain to Eric Mountjoy and fellow geologists assessing and working in areas near Miette, Alberta.
Notes
Discs are labelled on front:
V810 / III / D / DF - 1 : "Roger Macqueen's slides Miette mapsheet geo party 1958" [contains 60 image files]
NOTE: DF - 1 is accompanied by typed summary list of images in file
V810 / III / D / DF - 2 : "Roger Macqueen's slides Miette mapsheet (1st 7 images), rest are Shell Canada 1959" [contains 20 image files]
File consists of notes, drafts, sample illustrations and other materials pertaining to an interpretive trail guide which Ben Gadd produced for the Forest Technology School in Hinton, Alberta in 1992. File includes sample images taped together and annotated with additional information. FIle also inc…
File consists of notes, drafts, sample illustrations and other materials pertaining to an interpretive trail guide which Ben Gadd produced for the Forest Technology School in Hinton, Alberta in 1992. File includes sample images taped together and annotated with additional information. FIle also includes a pressed plant sample, stored in an envelope titled "Rhytidiadelphus triquetris (Shaggy moss)".