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 42 b&w prints, some captioned. Photographs pertain to fishing and boating on Lake Minnewanka; Beach House Hotel and Lady of the Lake steam launch; Devil's Canyon, Bankhead and Banff; views of avalanche clearing in Roger's Pass by Byron Harmon. Includes one panorama view of group a…
File consists of 42 b&w prints, some captioned. Photographs pertain to fishing and boating on Lake Minnewanka; Beach House Hotel and Lady of the Lake steam launch; Devil's Canyon, Bankhead and Banff; views of avalanche clearing in Roger's Pass by Byron Harmon. Includes one panorama view of group at Lake Minnewanka.
File pertains to photographs of Bill Olson at work and with his family. Also includes family pictures of various generations of the Olson family, army portraits, coworkers, a Cave & Basin postcard, and an interior shot of the Dave White Shop.
19 prints : b&w and col. ; 17.5 x 12 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File pertains to photographs of Bill Olson at work and with his family. Also includes family pictures of various generations of the Olson family, army portraits, coworkers, a Cave & Basin postcard, and an interior shot of the Dave White Shop.
Notes
Some of the people identified in the photos are Bill Kay, Jack Powell, Jack Doe, Fred Day, Charlie Fullhroch, Mac Lennat, Earl Squires, Bob Graham, Larry Foster, Willard Bell, Bush Ashley, Shorty Blasker, Casey Jones, Dan Zakaryk, Pete Finlay, Jon Douglas, Irene Straus, Marie Leong, and more.
File consists of 1 black and white digital photograph. Print pertains to the construction crew of the Banff Springs Hotel. An 'x' drawn on the photograph indicates where Peter Tonge is posed. The file also contains a photocopy of the back of the original photograph.
Peter Tonge was a foreman and was brought over from England to work on the construction of the Banff Springs Hotel. Peter Tonge brought Alice Perry over from England and they married in Banff, January 29, 1888. Shortly after they moved to Port Arthur, Ontario where they both died in 1929.
Scope & Content
File consists of 1 black and white digital photograph. Print pertains to the construction crew of the Banff Springs Hotel. An 'x' drawn on the photograph indicates where Peter Tonge is posed. The file also contains a photocopy of the back of the original photograph.
Notes
Print is a digital print produced from a scan of the original as a loan for copy.
File pertains to b&w prints of CPR [Canadian Pacific Railway] hotels and trains throughout Banff National Park. Includes the 1926 fire at the Chateau Lake Louise, the Banff Springs Hotel, a train in motion on tracks, and recovery efforts after the 1910 avalanche that buried a train at Roger's Pass.
File pertains to b&w prints of CPR [Canadian Pacific Railway] hotels and trains throughout Banff National Park. Includes the 1926 fire at the Chateau Lake Louise, the Banff Springs Hotel, a train in motion on tracks, and recovery efforts after the 1910 avalanche that buried a train at Roger's Pass.
Notes
Unclear if photographs were taken by Bruno or just collected by him.
5 photographs : b&w prints ; 35 x 25 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
I.G. Baker & Co. was a grocer and supply store based in Fort Benton, Montana starting in 1866. An additional store was opened following the settlement of North West Mounted Police officers at Fort Calgary in 1875, which supplied groceries and other basic goods to the area. The business and all existing stores were purchased by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1891.
Scope & Content
File consists of 5 photographs depicting views of Fort Calgary between 1875 and 1884. Includes views of the I.G. Baker & Co. storefront.
File pertains to 120 b&w prints of various historical topics, some photos taken by Bruno Engler, others collected [presumably] by him. Includes various Canadian Pacific Railway events, community events and celebrations, Skoki Lodge's 60th anniversary, the Norquay Ski Hill rope-tow, the 1968 Winter …
File pertains to 120 b&w prints of various historical topics, some photos taken by Bruno Engler, others collected [presumably] by him. Includes various Canadian Pacific Railway events, community events and celebrations, Skoki Lodge's 60th anniversary, the Norquay Ski Hill rope-tow, the 1968 Winter Olympics bid, Princess Margarite's [sic] visit in 1958, the Cosmic Ray Observatory operations, a Kiwanis Club event, ranching and ranch lands, portraits, and more.