EL 12:1 Derek Smith interview transcript
https://archives.whyte.org/en/permalink/descriptions21925
- Part Of
- Luxton family fonds
- Scope & Content
- Derek Smith interview with Judy Larmour, February 1, 2000 and transcribed by Astrid Bell, January 2003. Interview content relates to the following: Introduction; Accountant with Clarkson Gordon, Calgary; Eleanor Luxt was a client of the well established local firm; first meeting with Eleanor Luxt…
- Date Range
- 2003
- Reference Code
- LUX / II / F3. i
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Part Of
- Luxton family fonds
- Description Level
- 5 / File
- Series
- II. F. Collected Material Series
- Sous-Fonds
- II. Eleanor Luxton sous-fonds
- Reference Code
- LUX / II / F3. i
- Date Range
- 2003
- Physical Description
- 25 pp. textual records
- Scope & Content
- Derek Smith interview with Judy Larmour, February 1, 2000 and transcribed by Astrid Bell, January 2003. Interview content relates to the following: Introduction; Accountant with Clarkson Gordon, Calgary; Eleanor Luxt was a client of the well established local firm; first meeting with Eleanor Luxton in 1969; Derek Smith remained Eleanor Luxton’s accountant until her death in 1995 Derek Smith left the firm in 1973 and established Smith Matthews; Eleanor Luxton remained his client Pattern of visits to Banff to do tax returns; introduction of GST in 1991 – his visits became quarterly; wife Jane Hayes accompanied him Discussion of Eleanor Luxton’s financial record keeping Visits to Eleanor Luxton’s house; Derek Smith impressed at extent of Eleanor Luxton’s knowledge; Eleanor Luxton’s opinions on Banff bureaucrats; zoning issues and her readiness “to do battle” Tea with Eleanor Luxton 1990s; buying pastries; visits to do the GST from 1-5 pm Derek Smith’s wife Jane Hayes and Eleanor Luxton hit it off when they met; mutual interest in fairies; Jane’s gift of book on fairies when Eleanor Luxton was dying How Eleanor told Derek and Jane of diagnosis of liver cancer; Eleanor Luxton’s secrecy about her illness; Eleanor Luxton’s foresight and her ideas for the Foundation Eleanor Luxton’s inability to do her own record keeping by early 1995; Kathy Campbell did recordkeeping for her Reference to conversations about Banff and Derek Smith’s connection with Banff Eleanor Luxton’s heart surgery in the Foothills Hospital; Derek Smith holding power of attorney Development of personal relationship with Eleanor Luxton; reflections on why she liked him; how Eleanor Luxton did not want anyone in Banff knowing her business; meeting some of her friends – reference to Bob and Mary Smith, the Nickles; visiting while in Banff for other reasons; Eleanor Luxton’s support of Derek’s backing of Ron Gitter’s campaign, 1980s Discussions with Eleanor Luxton on politics Mutual interest with Eleanor Luxton in history; Eleanor Luxton’s breadth of knowledge on historical topics Going out to dinner with Eleanor Luxton; Mount Royal Hotel; Le Beaujolais; Eleanor Luxton managing the stairs; Post Hotel, Lake Louise Eleanor Luxton being in the mountains; skiing as a young woman at Mount Norquay; her enjoyment of horseback riding Eleanor Luxton’s travels in China; her story of being on last train out of Beijing when the Japanese invaded; speculation as to what Eleanor Luxton was doing during WWII; discussion of dates re travel to China Eleanor Luxton speaking about the death of her fiancée; her rings; how she held private issues close Description of Eleanor Luxton doing tax returns; details of repairs versus capital expenditures; reference to Mr. Kranz Derek Smith’s personality in relation to Eleanor Luxton as client Eleanor Luxton’s relationships with people of different ages; Derek Smith’s daughters meeting with Eleanor Luxton; Eleanor Luxton’s views on children; Derek Smith always called her Miss Luxton; Eleanor Luxton’s views on formality Two sides to Eleanor Luxton’s personality; intelligence/toughness and soft-heartedness; ways in which she showed this contrast – rent issues and how she changed over time in relation to tenants Discussion of Eleanor Luxton’s commercial properties; reference to building occupied by Magpie & Stump; properties on Bear Street; Crag & Canyon building; bike rental; building occupied by Tilden; Eleanor Luxton’s interest in the businesses in her buildings – her supervision of a toilet installation in one building Evergreen building in late 1970s; inheritance of lot on Buffalo Street; Eleanor Luxton designing the house Purchase of 202 Beaver Street; posting of bonds; Derek Smith did negotiations with Bank of Montreal Eleanor Luxton’s cash in house safe; Derek Smith’s concern for her safety Inventory of Eleanor Luxton’s property following her death; locksmith necessary to open safe Memorial service for Eleanor Luxton; burial of urn at family plot in cemetery in Banff Derek Smith’s characterization of Eleanor Luxton as vivacious, intelligent; caring; interested in everything; eclectic Eleanor Luxton’s view of herself; wanting to be seen as aloof; someone who was not a gossip, who respected privacy Reference to Eleanor Luxton’s mannerisms, aristocratic demeanor Eleanor Luxton picking out inheritance gifts after death of May Ross; reference to priceless vases and cups and saucers Reflections on Eleanor Luxton’s attachment to material things; her stamp and coin collection; purchase of kitchen items Reference to Eleanor Luxton’s enjoyment of going out Eleanor Luxton establishing Foundation; her vision of what she wanted to achieve; reference to unsuitability of Tanglewood as resource centre; Eleanor Luxton unaware of full financial value of her property; appraisal of 202 Beaver Street in 1994, Purchase of 202 Beaver Street in 1975; reference to Kathy and Reid Campbell; Buzzer in house wired to 202 Beaver Street; Eleanor Luxton’s money management Eleanor Luxton’s attachment to things that came from her mother Eleanor Luxton’s love of the garden and discussion Eleanor Luxton’s closeness with her mother Eleanor Luxton’s relatives – McDougall estate; reference to Richard Copithorne; social relations Eleanor Luxton’s hectic social life – people visiting from across Canada
- Finding Aid
- Electronic finding aid and printed interview summary available
- Title Source
- Title based on contents of file
- Processing Status
- Processed
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