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 Eleanor Luxton's personal album which contains 195 black and white prints pasted in, most spreads are captioned. Content pertains to family and school photographs, events and travels between 1921 and 1925, in addition to potentional childhood photographs as well. Locations include …
Photograph Album: 1 image from album (195 b&w prints)
Scope & Content
File consists of Eleanor Luxton's personal album which contains 195 black and white prints pasted in, most spreads are captioned. Content pertains to family and school photographs, events and travels between 1921 and 1925, in addition to potentional childhood photographs as well. Locations include Banff, Lake Louise, Yoho, Marble Canyon, Takakkaw Falls, Lake Minnewanka, Summit Lake, Victoria, Vancouver, Yoho Valley Bungalow Camp and Radium Hot Springs. Events include the opening of the Banff-Wintermere Highway at Kootenay Crossing in 1921, a dog derby on frozen Lake Minnewanka, Banff Indian Days, Banff Winter Carnival. Subjects include unidentified and identified people including Norman Luxton, Georgina Luxton, Enos Hunter, Ben Kaquitts, Hector Crawler, John Englishman, Mrs. Wood, Edmée, Mrs Mitt and Miss Maemillan. Album cover is leather with burned annotation "Snap Shots" with paint and cloth leaf detailing. The album i sbound by a cord with leather tassels.
Notes
File consists of several loose photographs. Some photographs are detaching from the paper.
File consists of 59 photographs collected by Eleanor Luxton as research material for the book Banff: Canada's First National Park. Images pertain to skiing and ski jumping, canoeing, Banff Indian Days, the King Edward Hotel, swimming at the Cave and Basin, the Banff Winter Carnival, wildlife, and v…
59 photographs : b&w prints ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 59 photographs collected by Eleanor Luxton as research material for the book Banff: Canada's First National Park. Images pertain to skiing and ski jumping, canoeing, Banff Indian Days, the King Edward Hotel, swimming at the Cave and Basin, the Banff Winter Carnival, wildlife, and various views in and around the town of Banff.
File consists of prints and negatives depicting Banff Winter Carnival events including ski jumping, hockey, figure skating, log chopping competitions, toboggan races, swimming contests, dog sled races, ice sculptures and queen contests between 1920 and 1949, primarily from the 1920s. Includes snows…
Date Range
1920-1922
1922
[ca. 1940s]
1942
1949
Reference Code
LUX / I / D3b / 2 / NA - 01 to NA - 93
LUX / I / D3b / 2 / PA - 01 to PA - 71
164 photographs : 93 b&w negatives ; 14 x 8 cm or smaller : 71 b&w prints ; 23.5 x 19.5 cm or smaller
History / Biographical
Banff Winter Carnival, also known as Winter Sports of the Canadian Rockies, was the first post-war winter sports programme held in Banff, Alberta. The organization had Banff directors, Calgary directors and Directors-at-large from Alberta and outside the province. A wide variety of social and sports events took place under the organization's direction.
Scope & Content
File consists of prints and negatives depicting Banff Winter Carnival events including ski jumping, hockey, figure skating, log chopping competitions, toboggan races, swimming contests, dog sled races, ice sculptures and queen contests between 1920 and 1949, primarily from the 1920s. Includes snowshoe hikes, Sunshine Ski Camp, and personal motor trips to Lake Minnewanka. File includes photographs and prints by Lou Crosby, Dan McCowan, Byron Harmon. Some prints are stamped or annotated by the photographer and include processing receipts and original housing envelopes.
Notes
PA-01 to PA-09 are associated to negatives NA-49 to NA-57. Copy and duplicate prints associated with some negatives
File consists of an annotated chapter from a book, titled "An Act respecting Banks and Banking" [1927] signed by Eleanor Luxton, and a loose page with accompanying handwritten notes. Content pertains to the Bank Act of 1923 in Canada. Items were likely used as research and study materials during El…
0.5 cm of textual records (2 volumes ; 16.5 x 25 cm and 11 x 14 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of an annotated chapter from a book, titled "An Act respecting Banks and Banking" [1927] signed by Eleanor Luxton, and a loose page with accompanying handwritten notes. Content pertains to the Bank Act of 1923 in Canada. Items were likely used as research and study materials during Eleanor Luxton's time as a student at the University of Alberta.
File consists of 30 b&w negative photographs pertaining to Buffalo Nations Museum and Banff Indian Days celebrations in Banff. Includes images of events, including parades, and wildlife including a black bear. Some images show Eleanor [?] on a gurney alongside an ambulance.
30 photographs : b&w negatives ; 6.5 x 6.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 30 b&w negative photographs pertaining to Buffalo Nations Museum and Banff Indian Days celebrations in Banff. Includes images of events, including parades, and wildlife including a black bear. Some images show Eleanor [?] on a gurney alongside an ambulance.
Notes
Photograph prints are included in Eleanor Luxton's Banff album, LUX / II / E / PD / 1
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 one page of typed correspondence pertaining to the distribution of promotional map folders by members of the Calgary Board of Trade [1948], and 17 membership signs for the Calgary Board of Trade ranging from 1929 to 1950. All signs have original attached string for hanging/display …
The Calgary Board of Trade, founded in 1890, was renamed the Calgary Chamber of Commerce in 1951.
Scope & Content
File consists of one page of typed correspondence pertaining to the distribution of promotional map folders by members of the Calgary Board of Trade [1948], and 17 membership signs for the Calgary Board of Trade ranging from 1929 to 1950. All signs have original attached string for hanging/display purposes.
Notes
Membership signs in file have been arranged chronologically.
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
File consists of 31 photograph prints ordered by Eleanor Luxton from Canadian Pacific. Photographs pertain to construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, Canadian Pacific trains and ships, and historic views of Banff, Calgary, Fort McLeod, Strathcona and Edmonton.
31 photographs : b&w prints ; 24 x 18 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 31 photograph prints ordered by Eleanor Luxton from Canadian Pacific. Photographs pertain to construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, Canadian Pacific trains and ships, and historic views of Banff, Calgary, Fort McLeod, Strathcona and Edmonton.
Notes
Prints in file were produced by Canadian Pacific for Eleanor Luxton between 1946 and 1949; original dates of images
Photographs in file are accompanied by Canadian Pacific mailing envelope addressed to Eleanor Luxton