  The Gemini Deep Deep Survey (GDDS) is an ultra-deep (K<20.6 mag, I<24.5 mag)
redshift survey targeting galaxies in the "redshift desert" between 1<z<2. The
primary goal of the survey is to constrain the space density at high redshift
of evolved high-mass galaxies. We obtained 309 spectra in four widely-separated
30 arcmin^2 fields using the Gemini North telescope and the Gemini Multi-Object
Spectrograph (GMOS). The spectra define a one-in-two sparse sample of the
reddest and most luminous galaxies near the I-K vs. I color-magnitude track
mapped out by passively evolving galaxies in the redshift interval 0.8<z<1.8.
This sample is augmented by a one-in-seven sparse sample of the remaining
high-redshift galaxy population. Typical exposures times were 20-30 hours per
field (in Nod & Shuffle mode), and the resulting spectra are the deepest ever
obtained. In this paper we present our sample of 309 spectra, along with
redshifts, identifications of spectral features, and photometry. The infrared
selection underlying the survey means that the GDDS is observing not only
star-forming galaxies, as in most high-redshift galaxy surveys, but also
quiescent evolved galaxies. The median redshift of the whole GDDS sample is
z=1.1. Together with the data and catalogs, we present a summary of the
criteria for selecting the GDDS fields, the rationale behind our mask designs,
an analysis of the completeness of the survey, and a description of the data
reduction procedures used. All data from the GDDS are publicly available.
(ABRIDGED)
