Fonds consists of textual, visual and sound materials pertaining to Norman Luxton, Eleanor Luxton and their family members and friends (including Georgina Luxton, Norman's parents and siblings, and members of the Ross, Graham and McDougall families). Includes correspondence, personal and profession…
ca.32.1 m of textual records (29.3 m textual records, 47 scrapbooks) -- ca.7290 photographs (ca.5300 b&w and col. prints, ca.1915 negatives, 75 transparencies, 2 tintypes) -- 17 albums -- ca.74 cm sound recordings (29 CDs, 45 audio cassettes, 17 R120 DAT tapes, 1 VHS, 8 voicewriter discs)
History / Biographical
The Norman Luxton family was a prominent family in Banff, Alberta, Canada from 1904 until 1962. Daughter Eleanor Luxton maintained the family's position in the town until her death in 1995.
Publisher and businessman Norman K. Luxton, 1876-1962, was the son of Winnipeg Free Press co-founder William Luxton. After working for the Winnipeg Free Press, Norman Luxton travelled, then joined the Calgary Herald for eight years. In 1901, he journeyed 10,000 miles on the Pacific in the dug-out canoe Tilikum. After becoming ill, Luxton abandoned the trip in Fiji and came to Banff to recuperate. The around-the-world trip was subsequently completed by his sailing partner, Capt. John Voss.
Luxton bought Banff's Crag and Canyon newspaper in 1902 and remained as publisher until 1951. Also in 1902, he established the Sign of the Goat Curio store which specialized in Stoney Indian handicrafts and taxidermy specimens. Other significant Luxton businesses were the King Edward Hotel and Livery, Luxton Bros. insurance (with brother Louis Luxton) and the Lux Block, which included a hotel, the Lux Theatre and retail stores.
In 1904, Norman Luxton married Georgina (Georgie) Elizabeth McDougall, 1870-1965, of the pioneer missionary McDougall family of Morley, Alberta. In addition to her McDougall connections, Georgie Luxton was related by marriage to Senator George Ross. Norman and Georgie Luxton had one child, Eleanor Georgina, born in Banff in 1908.
The Luxtons were important Banff "boosters" with involvement in numerous local organizations and events. Norman Luxton managed the Banff Indian Days from 1909 to 1950, was a founder of Banff Winter Carnival and was involved with native events at the Calgary Stampede for 25 years. In 1953, Norman established a museum to house his native artifacts. The Luxton Museum was built in co-operation with Eric Harvie of the Glenbow Foundation of Calgary. After Luxton's death, the museum continued to be managed by the Glenbow until 1992.
Eleanor Luxton, 1908-1995, was a writer, historian, researcher, engineer, teacher and business woman. After graduating from high school in Banff in 1926, she attended the University of Alberta from 1926 until 1939, receiving degrees in history (BA '30, MA'33), a Diploma in Education (1931) and subsequent education, biology and natural history courses during the summers.
Between 1937 and 1956, Eleanor received further degrees and certificates from studies at Garbutt Business College (Calgary), St. Stephen's College (Edmonton), Ottawa Technical High School, Havergal Ladies College (Ontario), St. George Williams College (Montreal), McGill University (Montreal) and the Banff School of Fine Arts. Subjects studied included office practices, shorthand, machine draughting, English, civil engineering (BSc '46), German, broadcast writing, management, commerce, accounting and commercial law.
Eleanor Luxton's extensive education overlapped and preceded a long and varied professional career. Her teaching career extended from high school teacher in Alberta (Banff and Sexsmith), 1933-1940, to university lecturer in Montreal in the 1950s. During the 1940s, she worked in locomotive design for the CPR in Montreal. Beginning in 1956 and continuing until 1965, when she returned to Banff to care for her mother, Eleanor worked throughout southern Alberta as a field researcher for Calgary's Glenbow Foundation. From 1965 until her death in 1995, Eleanor remained in Banff in her family home and pursued an active career in writing and research.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of textual, visual and sound materials pertaining to Norman Luxton, Eleanor Luxton and their family members and friends (including Georgina Luxton, Norman's parents and siblings, and members of the Ross, Graham and McDougall families). Includes correspondence, personal and professional records, financial documents, organization and volunteer records, business and property records, scrapbooks and albums, research materials, candid and professional portraits, various collected materials, and other related content.
Notes
Fonds consists of three sous-fonds:
I. Norman Luxton sous-fonds, [ca.1880]-1962, ca. 7.5 m. of textual records and photographs in four series: A. Correspondence, B. Business, financial and legal, C. Personal, D. Personal and professional, E. Collected materials.
II. Eleanor Luxton sous-fonds, [ca.1890]-1995, ca. 15 m. of textual records, sound recordings and photographs in six series: A. Correspondence, B. Professional, C. Personal, D. Business, financial and legal, E. Travel and events, F. Collected materials.
III. Luxton family sous-fonds, 1836-1972, ca.6.5 m. of textual records and photographs in four series: A. Norman Luxton family series, [ca.1900-ca.1970]; B. Georgina Luxton series, [ca.1890]-1967; C. Related family series, [ca.1890]-1972; D. Other material series, 1836-1970; E. Luxton family home records [1996].
File consists of one miniature monthly calendar distributed by Wendell MacLean Chemist and Druggist, Calgary. Calendar is attached to a poster with a lithographed colour image of prospector, trader and farmer Sam Livingston.
Samuel Livingston (1831-1897) was born in Ireland, and immigrated to North America as a young man to participate in the California Gold Rush of 1849. Sam continued travelling and panning for gold around the northwestern United States and southern British Columbia area in the 1850s and 1860s. After marrying Jane Howse in 1865, Sam settled near Elbow River and established a buffalo skin trading business. Sam and Jane had 14 children together, including 8 sons and 6 daughters.
In 1876, Sam and his family moved closer to Fort Calgary, where he worked with John Glenn and became one of the first farmers in the area. Sam was a founding director of the Calgary District Agricultural Society in 1884, as well as founding director of the Calgary branch of the Canadian North-West Territories Stock Association in 1886. Sam was also an early trustee for the Glenmore School in 1888.
Scope & Content
File consists of one miniature monthly calendar distributed by Wendell MacLean Chemist and Druggist, Calgary. Calendar is attached to a poster with a lithographed colour image of prospector, trader and farmer Sam Livingston.
File consists of three textual publications and a subject index booklet for a separate publication [accompanying publication not present in fonds]. Content pertains to the history of the Calgary Herald [ca. 1905]; the Alberta Division Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association; the history of Calgary's…
2 cm of textual records (4 volumes ; 23 x 29.5 cm or smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of three textual publications and a subject index booklet for a separate publication [accompanying publication not present in fonds]. Content pertains to the history of the Calgary Herald [ca. 1905]; the Alberta Division Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association; the history of Calgary's business and financial development; and Alberta's economy.
File consists of 7 published paperback booklets. Contents include 3 copies of "Dr. A.W. Chase's Calendar Almanac" dated 1931, 1933 and 1934 respectively; 2 copies of "Dodd's Almanac and Household Hints" dated 1933 and 1934; one copy of "Things Worth Knowing: Reliable Recipes, Valuable Formulas and …
Published by Murray Printing Co. Ltd.; The Dodds Medicine Co. Ltd.; Dr. Williams Medical Co.; and The W.H. Comstock Co. Ltd
Date Range
[ca. 1895]
1908
1927
1931
1933
1934
Physical Description
2 cm of textual records
Scope & Content
File consists of 7 published paperback booklets. Contents include 3 copies of "Dr. A.W. Chase's Calendar Almanac" dated 1931, 1933 and 1934 respectively; 2 copies of "Dodd's Almanac and Household Hints" dated 1933 and 1934; one copy of "Things Worth Knowing: Reliable Recipes, Valuable Formulas and Methods of Home Treatment for Common Diseases", annotated on the back cover in blue/purple ink with recipe for a health drink.; and one copy of "Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills", stamped "D.C. McDougall Morley, AB" on the back cover.
File consists of information pamphlets and a bound reference handbook. Content pertains to an exhibition at Heinz Ocean Pier in New Jersey featuring the painting "Custer's Last Rally" by artist John Mulvaney; the Kihn-Ten Eyck Art School in Stamford, Connecticut; the art collections of the Henry E.…
1 cm of textual records (5 items ; 15 x 30.5 cm and smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of information pamphlets and a bound reference handbook. Content pertains to an exhibition at Heinz Ocean Pier in New Jersey featuring the painting "Custer's Last Rally" by artist John Mulvaney; the Kihn-Ten Eyck Art School in Stamford, Connecticut; the art collections of the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery in California; "This is the Place Monument" in Salt Lake City; and various community events and a state fair in Minot, North Dakota.
Notes
Handbook is signed "N.K. Luxton" inside front cover
File consists of cards, stationery, small publications and other collected items. Includes thank you and business cards for The Home Insurance Company in Calgary and the Canadian Bank of Commerce; two blank pages with letterhead for Hotel Wales in Calgary; a round paper placemat/coaster advertising…
File consists of cards, stationery, small publications and other collected items. Includes thank you and business cards for The Home Insurance Company in Calgary and the Canadian Bank of Commerce; two blank pages with letterhead for Hotel Wales in Calgary; a round paper placemat/coaster advertising La Ronde Revolving Restaurant in Edmonton; a copy of "Bill and Al's Happy Motoring" by Esso Imperial Service containing an article about Banff National Park [pages 2-3]; a Laura Secord advertisement and info booklet, "The History of Our Flag"; a partial pack of blank score cards titled Auction Bridge; a page titled "Rules for the Game of Five Hundred"; a newspaper clipping with comics on both sides; and a large [23 x 15 cm] postcard with illustration titled "What Would You Have Done?" [see notes].
Notes
NOTE: Large postcard "What Would You Have Done?" contains outdated and potentially offensive language which is reflective of the time period in which it was produced.
"Bill and Al's Happy Motoring" publication has mailing stamp on back addressed to Norman Luxton.
"Rules for the Game of Five Hundred" card annotated in pencil
File consists of programs, booklets and flyers pertaining to events and exhibitions hosted by the Banff Centre and the Banff School of Fine Arts. Includes flyers for a Canadian opera titled "Seabird", a pamphlet for the 50th anniversary celebration for the Banff School of Fine Arts, and a program f…
File consists of programs, booklets and flyers pertaining to events and exhibitions hosted by the Banff Centre and the Banff School of Fine Arts. Includes flyers for a Canadian opera titled "Seabird", a pamphlet for the 50th anniversary celebration for the Banff School of Fine Arts, and a program for the 8th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival.
File consists of various documents including entry tickets, advertisements, event programs, newspaper articles and other documents pertaining to Banff Indian Days celebrations in Banff between 1910 and 1973 [some items not dated].
2 cm of textual records ; 22.5 x 30.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of various documents including entry tickets, advertisements, event programs, newspaper articles and other documents pertaining to Banff Indian Days celebrations in Banff between 1910 and 1973 [some items not dated].
Notes
File contains numerous duplicates. Additional duplicates of items with more than two copies have been moved to a separate box or potential de-accession.
Items have been arranged in file by date [if known].
Items 20, 23, and 39 contain the photo LUX / I / D3a / NA-12, identified in a copy of item 39 as "Tom Kakitts" [Tom Kaquitts].
File consists of promotional materials in the form of brochures and a flyer for Banff Indian Days. Some brochures are annotated [possibly containing edits before being published]. Contains duplicates of some items.
1 cm of textual records : 12 items ; 15.6 x 24.0 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of promotional materials in the form of brochures and a flyer for Banff Indian Days. Some brochures are annotated [possibly containing edits before being published]. Contains duplicates of some items.
Notes
Copies of items may be found in LUX / II / F1 / 20. One flyer and two brochures with annotations have been digitized as other materials have been digitized and may found in LUX / II / F1 / 20.
Reference copies of Banff Indian Days posters were included in this file, however they were stored with additional Banff Indian Day posters and may now be found at LUX / I / D3. The associated items are LUX / I / D3 / 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14
File consists of records pertaining to operations, including: pass, patron and subscription lists; letters, reports and notes; newspaper clipping; draft letter to the Board of Trade, outlines Luxton's suggestions for Indian Days.
2 cm of textual records : 16 texts ; 21.3cm x 35.3cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of records pertaining to operations, including: pass, patron and subscription lists; letters, reports and notes; newspaper clipping; draft letter to the Board of Trade, outlines Luxton's suggestions for Indian Days.
Notes
Original drawing in newspaper clipping LUX / I / D3a / 4 / 9 may be found as LUX / I / D3 / 02
File consists of 14 colour and b&w oversized promotional posters and information boards for Banff Indian Days celebrations, promoted by Canadian Pacific. Posters largely feature identified and unidentified Indigenous people, notably Chief Spotted Eagle and Blind Eagle. Art medium includes oil pain…
Published and artwork attributed to Ernie Kehr, W.L. Kihn, G.H.W. Ashley, Crag & Canyon Press, Palenske, Canadian Pacific and Multi Color Poster
Date Range
[ca. 1930-1950]
1936
1937
1949
Physical Description
14 posters : colour and b&w ; 35 x 56 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 14 colour and b&w oversized promotional posters and information boards for Banff Indian Days celebrations, promoted by Canadian Pacific. Posters largely feature identified and unidentified Indigenous people, notably Chief Spotted Eagle and Blind Eagle. Art medium includes oil paint process mounted on cardboard made in Canada and distributed by Exhibits Branch Canadian Pacific, lithographic prints, and a mounted drawing attributed to Palenske. Some have annotations or stamps on the back.
Notes
Possibly unassociated shipping packing material addressed to Norman Luxton at the Trading Post from E.A. Kehr found in box - this has not been assigned a number.
D3-10, a lithographic promotional material from 1936 has an identical design to LUX / II / F1 / 47, an Indian Days poster from 1928
Items LUX / I / D3 / 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 were originally associated with LUX / I / D3a / 6, which contains brochures and a flyer from Banff Indian Days
LUX / I / D3 / 8, Palenske may have potentionally used photograph LUX / I / D3a / PA-26 as reference
Material Details
Some posters have foldable cardboard stand at back to place upright on surface, adhesives, and perhaps mounting additives.
File consists of patron tickets, ticket books, and passes for Banff Indian Days events including races and concerts, as well as ribbons for partipants and guests. Most of the single tickets appear to be unused, the ticket book is missing several pages. Some are stamped with "N.K. Luxton", "George O…
2 cm of textual records : 28 tickets and passes 11.3 cm x 8.4 cm or smaller : 10 cloth ribbons ; 3.5 cm x 26 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of patron tickets, ticket books, and passes for Banff Indian Days events including races and concerts, as well as ribbons for partipants and guests. Most of the single tickets appear to be unused, the ticket book is missing several pages. Some are stamped with "N.K. Luxton", "George O. Brewster Bus Service" or stamps by Brewster Transport Co. Ltd. and Banff Springs with day of event indicated. Many tickets have duplicate copies, some ribbons have duplicates.
File consists of advertisements, programs, itineraries, information booklets and brochures pertaining to Banff Winter Carnival events held between 1921 and 1958, and an affiliated "Grand Prix" dog racing event in 1923. File also includes an invitation to a Banff Winter Carnival Homecoming Reunion e…
File consists of advertisements, programs, itineraries, information booklets and brochures pertaining to Banff Winter Carnival events held between 1921 and 1958, and an affiliated "Grand Prix" dog racing event in 1923. File also includes an invitation to a Banff Winter Carnival Homecoming Reunion event [1980].
Notes
Items in file are arranged chronologically
File contains numerous duplicates, some of which have been temporarily removed from file
File consists of biographical records and timelines of events pertaining to the lives of Norman Luxton, Elizabeth Chantler McDougall and George McDougall. Includes an obituary article for George McDougall from 1876 [two separate newspaper clippings]; an account of a buffalo round-up in 1909 by Norm…
File consists of biographical records and timelines of events pertaining to the lives of Norman Luxton, Elizabeth Chantler McDougall and George McDougall. Includes an obituary article for George McDougall from 1876 [two separate newspaper clippings]; an account of a buffalo round-up in 1909 by Norman Luxton; Article "Here's Alberta - People and Places" featuring Norman Luxton; published book "Elizabeth McDougall: Pioneer" by Edna Kells; and a program for an event celebrating the 100th anniversary of George McDougall's appointment as Chairman of the Hudson's Bay Missions, which includes a detailed timeline of the lives of George and Elizabeth McDougall, as well as their son John.
Notes
File also contains one duplicate copy of each item, excluding "Elizabeth McDougall: Pioneer"
Scrapbook consists of newspaper clippings related to King Edward and Queen Alexandria; the history of the Royal Family; Queen Mary and King George V; broadcast messages; and a magazine containing photographs of Queen Mary, titled "Her Majesty the Queen".
Scrapbook consists of newspaper clippings related to King Edward and Queen Alexandria; the history of the Royal Family; Queen Mary and King George V; broadcast messages; and a magazine containing photographs of Queen Mary, titled "Her Majesty the Queen".
Notes
Magazine "Her Majesty the Queen" was removed from scrapbook and placed in file folder in box.
File consists of two souvenir books pertaining to the British Royal Family. Includes one copy of "Souvenir of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee" [1897] pertaining to the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's coronation, and one copy of "Berrow's Coronation Souvenir" book pertaining to the coronation of 13…
0.5 cm of textual records (2 volumes ; 30.5 x 43 cm and 30 x 42 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of two souvenir books pertaining to the British Royal Family. Includes one copy of "Souvenir of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee" [1897] pertaining to the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's coronation, and one copy of "Berrow's Coronation Souvenir" book pertaining to the coronation of 13 British monarchs between 1690 and 1953, including Queen Elizabeth II.
File consists of two expense and accounting books pertaining to the Crag and Canyon newspaper and the William Andison General Store in Calgary. Item LUX/III/D/22 is titled "Contract Notes" and contains records for newspaper advertisement orders; 8 pages are annotated by Banff business owners, inclu…
3 cm of textual records (2 volumes ; 22 x 27 cm and 26 x 9 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of two expense and accounting books pertaining to the Crag and Canyon newspaper and the William Andison General Store in Calgary. Item LUX/III/D/22 is titled "Contract Notes" and contains records for newspaper advertisement orders; 8 pages are annotated by Banff business owners, including notes by photographers G. and W. Fear and grocer Dave White. Item LUX/III/D/23 contains accounting records for the William Andison General Store between May 1936 and December 1937.
Notes
Pages in item LUX/III/D/22 originally printed under the name Calgary Herald and partially filled date slots reading "189_"; some pages have annotations correcting the company name to the "Craig + Canyon", the location as Banff, and some have corrected the year to "1902". Presumably the book was originally intended for use by the Calgary Herald between 1890 and 1899, but was later repurposed for the Crag and Canyon.
Material Details
Item LUX/III/D/22 has handwritten title on cover which reads "3001 to ___ . Contract Notes"
File consists of 5 commercial miniature calendars with photographs [one printed directly onto calendar, 4 attached to backing]. Photographs on calendars are by Byron Harmon [one is not attributed, but likely by Harmon as well], and pertain to: an unnamed Indigenous couple [possibly Stoney Nakoda co…
File consists of 5 commercial miniature calendars with photographs [one printed directly onto calendar, 4 attached to backing]. Photographs on calendars are by Byron Harmon [one is not attributed, but likely by Harmon as well], and pertain to: an unnamed Indigenous couple [possibly Stoney Nakoda community members], a view of Maligne Lake, an unidentified mountain, 4 ice climbers at the peak of Mt. Habel, and Stoney hunter and Trapper Silas Abraham. Calendar depicting Silas Abraham, 1907, includes printed advertisement for Norman Luxton's trading and taxidermy businesses in Banff and Exshaw.
File consists of two copies of "Calgary Alberta Merchants and Manufacturers Record: The Manufacturing, Jobbing and Commercial Center of the Canadian West". Content pertains to various businesses operating in Calgary in 1911. LUX / II / F1 / 31 copy is not annotated, LUX / II / F1 / 32 copy has mini…
File consists of two copies of "Calgary Alberta Merchants and Manufacturers Record: The Manufacturing, Jobbing and Commercial Center of the Canadian West". Content pertains to various businesses operating in Calgary in 1911. LUX / II / F1 / 31 copy is not annotated, LUX / II / F1 / 32 copy has miniature card attached to inside of front cover dedicating book to Eric Harvie [dated 1954], as well as annotations on same page [see "Content Details"]. Illegible signature on front cover of same copy.
Notes
Items have been placed in separate files to help differentiate due to being annotated vs. non-annotated, as well as one including attachment.
File consists of published textual materials pertaining to Calgary Exhibition and Stampede events between 1912 and 1972. File includes cutout paper logos, books, brochures and pamphlets, "prize list and rules" booklets, informational content mailed to Eleanor Luxton [1928] empty branded Stampede en…
File consists of published textual materials pertaining to Calgary Exhibition and Stampede events between 1912 and 1972. File includes cutout paper logos, books, brochures and pamphlets, "prize list and rules" booklets, informational content mailed to Eleanor Luxton [1928] empty branded Stampede envelopes, blank pages with Stampede letterhead, and 6 cloth ribbons labelled "Native Daughter", "Pioneer" and "Pioneer Son" [n.d.].
Notes
File contains duplicates
Some excess duplicates have been temporarily moved and may be de-accessioned in the future
