Fonds consists of personal photographs, biographical notes, memoir drafts and other collected materials pertaining to Robert Neville (Bob) Smith. Fonds also includes plans and maps pertaining to the development of land near Lake Minnewanka and the Cascade Power Plant project (1943).
ca.300 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 12 x 18 cm or smaller -- 7 cm of textual records -- 7 topographical maps/plans -- 8 postcards
History / Biographical
Robert Neville (Bob) Smith (1926-2021) was born in Banff. He was the only child of parents Enoch Smith and Laurene Smith (nee Munson). Bob grew up near Lake Minnewanka until 1941, when a hydro dam was installed resulting in the intentional flooding of the area. The family moved to Banff, where Bob met his future wife, Mary Parkinson. The couple were married in 1953 and moved to Seebe, where they raised two daughters, Marjory and Shirley.
Bob worked for Calgary Power Co. (later renamed TransAlta Utilities) from 1953 until his retirement in 1986. In his spare time, Bob founded the Bow Valley Camera Club and the Bow Valley Naturalists organization. In 1999, Bob was part of a successful project with the Bow Valley Naturalists to designate the Mount Yamnuska area as a Bow Valley Protected Area, following 25 years of lobbying with the Government of Alberta. Bob also formed the Meanderthals seniors hiking club in 1993 and led various local hiking trips in his later years.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of personal photographs, biographical notes, memoir drafts and other collected materials pertaining to Robert Neville (Bob) Smith. Fonds also includes plans and maps pertaining to the development of land near Lake Minnewanka and the Cascade Power Plant project (1943).
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].
Fonds consists of photographic material accompanied by media coverage and articles written by Robert Fleming pertaining to Chief Walking Buffalo's 1960 world journey with Chief David and Mrs. Crowchild and five other Stoney and Sarcee people, sponsored by International Moral Rearmament. Travel incl…
ca. 500 photographs: negatives, prints, transparencies. -- ca. 30 cm of textual records
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of photographic material accompanied by media coverage and articles written by Robert Fleming pertaining to Chief Walking Buffalo's 1960 world journey with Chief David and Mrs. Crowchild and five other Stoney and Sarcee people, sponsored by International Moral Rearmament. Travel included Aboriginal people in Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Uganda, and Kenya.Fonds are unprocessed held in 3 boxes and 1 oversize print mounted on foamcore
File consists of a 1997 Parks Canada Diving Lake Minnewanka Submerged Cultural Resources brochure, a photocopied diagram of the Department of the Interior's plan for the subdivision of villa lots at Lake Minnewanka [consisting of two pieces of paper taped together], a Calgary Power Company progress…
0.4 cm of textual records (4 volumes ; 21.3 x 27.6 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File consists of a 1997 Parks Canada Diving Lake Minnewanka Submerged Cultural Resources brochure, a photocopied diagram of the Department of the Interior's plan for the subdivision of villa lots at Lake Minnewanka [consisting of two pieces of paper taped together], a Calgary Power Company progress pictures report pertaining to the Cascade Project - specifically the construction of the Stewart Canyon Bridge - accompanied by two printed colour maps of the details surrounding the pump house [most likely printed from a computer by Bob Smith at a later date], and three print-outs pertaining to various components of the Calgary Power Company Minnewanka Storage Dam.
File consists of event invitations, programmes and newsletters sent to Eleanor Luxton by various organizations, clubs and associations between 1974 and 1993. Includes content pertaining to the Canadian Broadcasting League, the University of Alberta President's Club, the Whyte Museum of the Canadian…
File consists of event invitations, programmes and newsletters sent to Eleanor Luxton by various organizations, clubs and associations between 1974 and 1993. Includes content pertaining to the Canadian Broadcasting League, the University of Alberta President's Club, the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Concordia University, the Kinette Club of Banff, the Arctic Institute of North America, the Glenbow Museum, the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Plains Research Center, and other organizations.
Notes
Some items are annotated
Folder LUX / II / C1 / 34 contains invitations and programmes; LUX / II / C1 / 35 and 36 contain newsletters
File consists of magazines, news articles and clippings, and advertisements collected by Eleanor, Norman and Georgina Luxton. Includes promotional content for local events and companies, newspaper clippings collected by Norman Luxton, a copy of Liberty Magazine [1946] with a feature article pertain…
File consists of magazines, news articles and clippings, and advertisements collected by Eleanor, Norman and Georgina Luxton. Includes promotional content for local events and companies, newspaper clippings collected by Norman Luxton, a copy of Liberty Magazine [1946] with a feature article pertaining to Norman Luxton, and home and fashion catalogues.
Items stored in three file folders organized by content type:
LUX / II / F1 / 60 : Advertisements and promotional content
LUX / II / F1 / 61 : Newspaper clippings and articles
LUX / II / F1 / 62 : Magazines
File consists of receipts, correspondence and other documents sent to Eleanor Luxton between 1978 and 1994. Contents pertain to memberships for various organizations and charities which Eleanor Luxton was involved with, including the Whyte Museum, the University of Alberta Alumni Association, the A…
File consists of receipts, correspondence and other documents sent to Eleanor Luxton between 1978 and 1994. Contents pertain to memberships for various organizations and charities which Eleanor Luxton was involved with, including the Whyte Museum, the University of Alberta Alumni Association, the Arctic Institute of North America, the Canadian Liver Foundation, and others; donations and academic scholarship funds; and related publication orders.
Notes
Contents are arranged by subject:
LUX / II / D / 205 : Membership and donation receipts, confirmations
LUX / II / D / 206 : Membership and donation correspondence
LUX / II / D / 207 : Historical association memberships, publication orders (1988)
LUX / II / D / 208 : Donation and membership cheque receipts, 1992-1993
LUX / II / D / 209 : Donation acknowledgements and thank-you letters, 1992-1994
File consists of one draft copy and one final copy of Bob Smith's memoir, one draft copy of "Lake Minnewanka: The Spirit of the Waters" by R.W. Sandford, a draft copy of Bob Smith's biography for entry in "We Live in a Postcard: Banff Family Histories" edited by Douglas Hare, and loose biographical…
3.9 cm of textual records (5 volumes ; 23.1 x 29.2 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File consists of one draft copy and one final copy of Bob Smith's memoir, one draft copy of "Lake Minnewanka: The Spirit of the Waters" by R.W. Sandford, a draft copy of Bob Smith's biography for entry in "We Live in a Postcard: Banff Family Histories" edited by Douglas Hare, and loose biographical notes pertaining to Bob Smith, Enoch Smith, and Laurence Munson Smith.
File consists of pamphlets, event programmes, information booklets, song books, bound publications and other published materials collected by members of the Luxton family. Content pertains to community events, including Banff and Calgary area trapshooting tournaments and organization meetings; an e…
File consists of pamphlets, event programmes, information booklets, song books, bound publications and other published materials collected by members of the Luxton family. Content pertains to community events, including Banff and Calgary area trapshooting tournaments and organization meetings; an exhibit opening at the Glenbow Museum [1981]; scientific theory and human evolution; Japanese study books; Canadian and global politics; international travel; and various other subjects.
Items in file are organized into 4 file folders based on contents:
LUX / II / F1 / 67 : Pamphlets, event programs and booklets
LUX / II / F1 / 68 : Booklets and small publications
LUX / II / F1 / 69 : Books and bound publications
LUX / II / F1 / 70 : Loose and other published materials
File consists of invoices, receipts, financial statements and other documents sent to Eleanor Luxton. Content pertains to philatelic [stamps and other ephemera] orders from the Royal Mint and Canada Post; receipts and renewal forms for subscriptions to publications, including Maclean's Magazine, Fi…
File consists of invoices, receipts, financial statements and other documents sent to Eleanor Luxton. Content pertains to philatelic [stamps and other ephemera] orders from the Royal Mint and Canada Post; receipts and renewal forms for subscriptions to publications, including Maclean's Magazine, Financial Times, Reader's Digest, and newsletters for various charities and organizations; financial statements for Eleanor Luxton's credit accounts at Birk's, Woodward's and Eaton's; documents pertaining to publishing contracts and royalty agreements between Summerthought Ltd. and Gray's Publishing Ltd., and Eleanor Luxton; and other miscellaneous business and financial documents.
Notes
Contents arranged by subject:
LUX / II / D / 210 & 211 : Philatelic orders
LUX / II / D / 212 : Subscription receipts and renewals
LUX / II / D / 213 : Other financial accounts
LUX / II / D / 214 : Publishing contracts and royalties
LUX / II / D / 215 : Other materials
Series consists of 7 sub-series:
*1. Personal education, [ca.1920]-1973: Records in this sub-series pertain to Eleanor Luxton's personal education and include records relating to her primary and secondary schooling; the University of Alberta, her teacher training at the University of Alberta summ…
16 m textual records, graphic materials and sound recordings
Scope & Content
Series consists of 7 sub-series:
*1. Personal education, [ca.1920]-1973: Records in this sub-series pertain to Eleanor Luxton's personal education and include records relating to her primary and secondary schooling; the University of Alberta, her teacher training at the University of Alberta summer school; the Provincial Normal School in Edmonton; post-secondary schooling at Sir George Williams College where she studied Commerce, Engineering, and received her Bachelors of Science (B.Sc.). Between 1933 and 1952, Eleanor Luxton participated in numerous other personal education activities, including: drama studies, 1933 (Banff School of Drama? and/or Banff School of Fine Arts?); Garbutt Business College, Calgary (office practices, 1937), St. Stephen's College, Edmonton (1940), Ottawa Technical High School (machine draughting, 1940-1941); German language studies (1951); Banff School of Fine Arts (radio writing and techniques, 1951, 1952); Western Canada Institute, Calgary (literature, before 1952).
*2. Teaching career: Records in this sub-series pertain to Eleanor Luxton's teaching career and include her teaching papers from secondary school and university.
*3. Engineering career, 1935-1946: Records in this sub-series pertain to Eleanor Luxton's work at the Canadian Pacific Railway in Montreal.
*4. Historical research, 1890-[ca.1995]: Records in this sub-series pertain to biographical research files on individuals and families in the High River area and other ranching communities of southern Alberta; research notes, files, and recordings gathered for the High River and southern Alberta ranching research projects; articles, photographs collected for the High River and southern Alberta ranching research projects, and project records relating to the Glenbow-Alberta Institute research projects on High River and southern Alberta ranching. These records include project outlines, monthly and annual reports, expense statements, correspondence, register book, lists and notes. Also included in this sub-series are Canadian and western history research papers; McDougall family research papers; Luxton family research papers.
*5. Literary papers, 1969-1975: Records in this sub-series pertain to Eleanor Luxton's writings on Luxton's Pacific Crossing; Banff, Canada's First National Park; Latch String Out; Stoney Medicine.