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].
Records in this series relate to Eleanor Luxton's business, legal and financial activities and consist of banking records; income tax returns; correspondence and invoices related to property and building construction, maintenance and management; household receipts; medical receipts; commercial and …
4.8 m textual records -- oversize materials -- 31 photographs (15 prints, 16 negatives)
Scope & Content
Records in this series relate to Eleanor Luxton's business, legal and financial activities and consist of banking records; income tax returns; correspondence and invoices related to property and building construction, maintenance and management; household receipts; medical receipts; commercial and residential leases; insurance; investments; donations; rentals; legal papers relating to the estate of Annie McDougall and May Ross McDougall; mortgage papers; Parks Canada Lease agreements and need to reside challenge; Eleanor Luxton's living will.
Notes
Contents arranged by subject - see file level descriptions
File consists of 70 personal and family photograph prints. Content pertains to trips to the Okanagan region in British Columbia, Jasper, New Hampshire, and Banff; and views of the Luxton family property [206 Beaver St.]
File consists of 70 personal and family photograph prints. Content pertains to trips to the Okanagan region in British Columbia, Jasper, New Hampshire, and Banff; and views of the Luxton family property [206 Beaver St.]
File consists of photographs, mostly child and baby portraits, which were given to Eleanor Luxton. Includes images of Eleanor riding a car in a parade, and Eleanor posing with children Chelsea and Ashley Nickles.
14 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 16 x 22.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs, mostly child and baby portraits, which were given to Eleanor Luxton. Includes images of Eleanor riding a car in a parade, and Eleanor posing with children Chelsea and Ashley Nickles.
Series consists of textual records, photographs and video and sound recordings collected by Eleanor Luxton. Contents include various published and unpublished materials, including sheet music, correspondence, books about Canadian and Indigenous history, magazines, souvenir publications, travel guid…
37.0 cm textual records.-- photographs.-- 74 cm sound recordings
Scope & Content
Series consists of textual records, photographs and video and sound recordings collected by Eleanor Luxton. Contents include various published and unpublished materials, including sheet music, correspondence, books about Canadian and Indigenous history, magazines, souvenir publications, travel guides, and pamphlets; visual materials, including commercial postcards, portraits of Georginal Luxton and other family members, photographs of the Tilikum on display in Victoria, and a portfolio of illustrated Stoney Nakoda portraits by R.H. Palenske; oral histories recorded and collected by Eleanor Luxton; and a VHS copy of "Qualicum Wind".
Notes
Series consists of four sub-series:
Textual records
Photographs
Oral Histories (includes printed interview transcripts; transcripts in electronic format written to CD Rom and 3.5" floppy disk; supporting documentation; the recorded interviews on audio cassettes and R120 DAT tapes)
File consists of 10 photographs collected by member(s) of the Luxton family. Photographs depict children fishing and attending school, two pictures from the wedding of Hugh Lee, Eleanor Luxton and friends in Quebec [ca.1990], and a portrait of an unidentified RCMP officer.
10 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 23 x 28 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 10 photographs collected by member(s) of the Luxton family. Photographs depict children fishing and attending school, two pictures from the wedding of Hugh Lee, Eleanor Luxton and friends in Quebec [ca.1990], and a portrait of an unidentified RCMP officer.
Files consist of copies of commercial leases for Eleanor Luxton's Banff property Block 1, Lot 20. Includes one folder of notes and photographs compiled by Eleanor Luxton pertaining to the addition of a new roof at 203 Caribou Street in Banff.
6 cm of textual records -- 21 photographs : col. prints ; 15 x 10 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
Files consist of copies of commercial leases for Eleanor Luxton's Banff property Block 1, Lot 20. Includes one folder of notes and photographs compiled by Eleanor Luxton pertaining to the addition of a new roof at 203 Caribou Street in Banff.
Notes
One illustrated layout plan and three-dimensional drawing depicting the front of the Magpie and Stump restaurant in Banff was removed from folder LUX/II/D/85. Item has been moved to oversize storage, with reference number LUX/II/D/220.
File consists of one personal photograph album [likely created by Eleanor Luxton]. Content pertains to staff members of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation Aircraft Division and related events including a dinner party in New York, as well as friends and relatives of the Luxton family. Includes images of…
Some photographs produced by Associated Screen News Ltd., Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Byron Harmon
Date Range
[ca. 1910]
[ca. 1920 - ca. 1930]
[ca. 1940 - ca. 1945]
1941 - 1944
1950
1954
1956
[ca. 1960 - ca. 1970]
1967 - 1969
Physical Description
1 album (193 b&w photographs ; 20 x 25.5 cm or smaller -- 2 textual records)
Scope & Content
File consists of one personal photograph album [likely created by Eleanor Luxton]. Content pertains to staff members of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation Aircraft Division and related events including a dinner party in New York, as well as friends and relatives of the Luxton family. Includes images of Eleanor Luxton as a child and as an adult, group and individual portraits of mostly unidentified individuals [likely immediate and extended family and friends of Eleanor, including Norman and Georgina Luxton], unidentified children playing, images from the Calgary Stampede parade [ca. 1940s], unidentified Indigenous groups and individuals [possibly Stoney Nakoda community members during Banff Indian Days], Dr. Casey's Ranch [1944], and a family picnic. File also includes one small textual record describing a 1943 Curtiss-Wright Corporation staff event, as well as an annotated Christmas card from Ruth and Frank Neustadt [n.d.].
Notes
Some items are annotated on back
Items not in chronological or other clear order
Material Details
Album has clear plastic layer on surface of front and back covers
Green plastic stitched around border of both covers and side bindings
File consists of one colour photograph depicting Eleanor Luxton and an unidentified friend, smiling and standing in a doorway (possibly the Luxton family home, 206 Beaver St. in Banff).
File consists of one colour photograph depicting Eleanor Luxton and an unidentified friend, smiling and standing in a doorway (possibly the Luxton family home, 206 Beaver St. in Banff).
Notes
Photograph is annotated on back: "[?] thank you Miss Luxton"
File consists of 16 photographs pertaining to Eleanor Luxton and various family friends. Photographs depict school and holiday photographs of several children which were sent to Eleanor, as well as images of Eleanor visiting with friends and one group photograph of Eleanor and other attendees at Ge…
16 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 16 x 23 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 16 photographs pertaining to Eleanor Luxton and various family friends. Photographs depict school and holiday photographs of several children which were sent to Eleanor, as well as images of Eleanor visiting with friends and one group photograph of Eleanor and other attendees at Georgina Luxton's funeral.
File consists of 23 photographs pertaining to friends and extended family members of Eleanor Luxton. Includes wedding and graduation photos; portraits of babies, children and families; personal travel photos; and other related materials.
23 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 23 photographs pertaining to friends and extended family members of Eleanor Luxton. Includes wedding and graduation photos; portraits of babies, children and families; personal travel photos; and other related materials.
File consists of 4 photographs pertaining to Eleanor Luxton. Includes a high school or university graduation portrait, Eleanor as a young woman standing outside of the Luxton family home in Banff, Eleanor laying down (possibly in a hospital room), and Eleanor sitting at a table in a restaurant.
4 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 9 x 11 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 4 photographs pertaining to Eleanor Luxton. Includes a high school or university graduation portrait, Eleanor as a young woman standing outside of the Luxton family home in Banff, Eleanor laying down (possibly in a hospital room), and Eleanor sitting at a table in a restaurant.
Records in this series consist of three sub-series: C.1. William Luxton family papers and photographs; C.2. McDougall and Ross families papers, correspondence, and photographs; C.3. Other extended family records. Sub-series C.1. consists of four sub-sub-series: William Luxton; Sarah Luxton; Geor…
0.28 m textual records ; ca.147 photographs : b&w prints; 15 x 21 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
Records in this series consist of three sub-series: C.1. William Luxton family papers and photographs; C.2. McDougall and Ross families papers, correspondence, and photographs; C.3. Other extended family records. Sub-series C.1. consists of four sub-sub-series: William Luxton; Sarah Luxton; George Luxton; Louis Luxton. Sub-series C.2. consists of two sub-sub-series: McDougall family; Ross family.
File consists of 35 photographs sent to Eleanor Luxton by various friends and family between 1957 and 1990. Includes family photographs, child portraits, interior views of the Luxton family home, and a photograph of Norman Luxton posing with his brothers Louis and George Luxton and two of Norman's …
35 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 25.5 x 17.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 35 photographs sent to Eleanor Luxton by various friends and family between 1957 and 1990. Includes family photographs, child portraits, interior views of the Luxton family home, and a photograph of Norman Luxton posing with his brothers Louis and George Luxton and two of Norman's dogs.
Notes
Some photographs in file are accompanied by scanned copies of original letters sent to Eleanor Luxton with photographs.
File consists of 285 col. prints [including one small photograph album] depicting Eleanor Luxton and various friends and family members, including members of the Cooper, Miller, O'Connor, Smith, Kunst, Swan and Nickles families. Photographs pertain to family reunions, weddings, Christmas holiday ce…
File consists of 285 col. prints [including one small photograph album] depicting Eleanor Luxton and various friends and family members, including members of the Cooper, Miller, O'Connor, Smith, Kunst, Swan and Nickles families. Photographs pertain to family reunions, weddings, Christmas holiday celebrations [including a 1967 New Years party at the Luxton family home], school portraits, family trips within Canada and the United States, child and newborn portraits, and other related subjects. Items LUX / II / E / PA - 310 to 335 are stored in a miniature photo album. Several photographs are stored with corresponding holiday greeting cards which were sent to Eleanor Luxton.
Notes
Some individuals in photographs are not identified; many photographs are not dated
File consists of dated Christmas and holiday cards sent to Eleanor Luxton between 1940 and 1994. Includes cards sent from various family members, friends and organizations which Eleanor was involved with [including the National Philatelic Centre and the University of Alberta]. Some cards have attac…
File consists of dated Christmas and holiday cards sent to Eleanor Luxton between 1940 and 1994. Includes cards sent from various family members, friends and organizations which Eleanor was involved with [including the National Philatelic Centre and the University of Alberta]. Some cards have attached photograph prints or personal images printed into the cards [i.e. family photographs].
File consists of non-dated Christmas and holiday greeting cards sent to Eleanor Luxton between ca.1940 and 1994. Cards are signed by various friends, family members and coworkers of Eleanor, as well as some organizations and groups which Eleanor was involved with [including the Trail Riders of the …
File consists of non-dated Christmas and holiday greeting cards sent to Eleanor Luxton between ca.1940 and 1994. Cards are signed by various friends, family members and coworkers of Eleanor, as well as some organizations and groups which Eleanor was involved with [including the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies and UNICEF].
Notes
Some cards have personal photographs printed onto front covers, or have photograph prints physically attached.
File consists of 43 b&w and colour photographs. Content pertains to friends and family members of Eleanor Luxton, views of Banff National Park and Montana, decorations inside the Luxton family home and exterior views, and family Christmas gatherings.
43 photographs : b&w and col.; 19 x 15.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 43 b&w and colour photographs. Content pertains to friends and family members of Eleanor Luxton, views of Banff National Park and Montana, decorations inside the Luxton family home and exterior views, and family Christmas gatherings.
File consists of 7 photographs pertaining to Luxton and McDougall family members visiting ancestral graves and memorials, including a dedication plaque for Rev. George McDougall and the graves of Flora McDougall, Georgina (McDougall) Luxton, and Thomas and Elizabeth Luxton.
7 photographs: b&w prints ; 8.5 x 12.5 cm and 9 x 9 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of 7 photographs pertaining to Luxton and McDougall family members visiting ancestral graves and memorials, including a dedication plaque for Rev. George McDougall and the graves of Flora McDougall, Georgina (McDougall) Luxton, and Thomas and Elizabeth Luxton.
Notes
Items LUX/II/B4/PA-6 and 7 are accompanied in file by a scanned copy of a letter from Jean Ken[?] to Eleanor Luxton pertaining to Thomas Luxton.