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 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 copy photographs from the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies which were collected by Eleanor Luxton for research purposes. Content pertains to early views of Banff and local businesses and views, including: various views of Banff Avenue; the Bow River Boathouse; the Frank Lloyd W…
Photographs copied from original materials owned by the Whyte Museum
Date Range
[ca.1887-1930]
Physical Description
53 photographs : b&w prints ; 17.5 x 12.5 cm and 25 x 20 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of copy photographs from the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies which were collected by Eleanor Luxton for research purposes. Content pertains to early views of Banff and local businesses and views, including: various views of Banff Avenue; the Bow River Boathouse; the Frank Lloyd Wright Pavilion; Norman Luxton and coworkers outside of the Crag and Canyon; Banff Indian Days and Banff Winter Carnival events; trap shooting, cross country skiing, skating and other sports; dog sled and hiking trips; and related subjects.
Notes
Prints LUX/II/B5/PA-124 to 159 originally accompanied by b&w copy negatives (9.5 x 12 cm) in yellow envelope; negatives have been stored separately and numbered as items LUX / II / B5 / NA - 83 to 118.
File consists of copy negatives of images from the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies which were collected by Eleanor Luxton for research purposes. Content pertains to early views of Banff and local businesses, including: Norman Luxton and coworkers outside of the Crag and Canyon; Banff Indian Da…
Photographs copied from original materials owned by the Whyte Museum
Date Range
[ca.1900-1930]
Physical Description
36 photographs : b&w negatives ; 9.5 x 12 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of copy negatives of images from the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies which were collected by Eleanor Luxton for research purposes. Content pertains to early views of Banff and local businesses, including: Norman Luxton and coworkers outside of the Crag and Canyon; Banff Indian Days and Banff Winter Carnival events; trap shooting, cross country skiing, skating and other sports; dog sled and hiking trips; and related subjects.
Notes
Original print copies processed and stored separately as LUX/II/B5/PA-124 to 159
File consists of 6 photographs depicting community events and unidentified groups in Banff and Calgary. Content pertains to a parade in Banff, ca.1920; the erection of a memorial stone marking the location of the original North West Mounted Police barracks in Calgary, 1917; various group photograph…
7 photographs : b&w prints ; 50 x 40 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 6 photographs depicting community events and unidentified groups in Banff and Calgary. Content pertains to a parade in Banff, ca.1920; the erection of a memorial stone marking the location of the original North West Mounted Police barracks in Calgary, 1917; various group photographs from local events, including one depicting Eleanor Luxton and colleagues (possibly a class photograph); a group photograph from a drama performance at the University of Alberta; and the 1906 class of the N.C.O.'s Provisional School of Instruction in Calgary.
File consists of 12 prints depicting Eleanor and Norman Luxton, as well as various friends and colleagues. Content pertains to a book signing event featuring Eleanor Luxton [possibly ca.1971 after publication of the book "Tilikum: Luxton's Pacific Crossing"]; early photographs of Norman and Eleanor…
12 photograph prints : b&w and col.; 20.5 x 25.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 12 prints depicting Eleanor and Norman Luxton, as well as various friends and colleagues. Content pertains to a book signing event featuring Eleanor Luxton [possibly ca.1971 after publication of the book "Tilikum: Luxton's Pacific Crossing"]; early photographs of Norman and Eleanor Luxton; Moses and Mark Dixon of the Stoney Nakoda tribe with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England [1939?]; Eleanor Luxton with professional colleagues [ca.1940-1945?]; and a university graduation portrait of Della Stanley with a note addressed to Eleanor Luxton.
Notes
File includes three duplicate copies of LUX / II / E / PA - 340
File consists of published works written by members of the Luxton family. File includes copies of psalm book "The Harvest of Sunshine" by George [Nasmith] Luxton, "The Golden Link" address by Eleanor Luxton, copies of an Indigenous psalm translated by Norman Luxton, early copies of the Crag and Can…
File consists of published works written by members of the Luxton family. File includes copies of psalm book "The Harvest of Sunshine" by George [Nasmith] Luxton, "The Golden Link" address by Eleanor Luxton, copies of an Indigenous psalm translated by Norman Luxton, early copies of the Crag and Canyon [1905-1908], "The Climber" magazine [1906], and an original copy [1872] and reprinted publication [1874] of the Manitoba Free Press.
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 16 photographs depicting Norman Luxton and his immediate family. Includes professional portraits of Georgina Luxton; images of Eleanor Luxton as a young girl; professional portraits of Eleanor as a student and adult; portraits of a dog belonging to the Luxton family; professional p…
16 photographs : b&w prints ; 40 x 50 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 16 photographs depicting Norman Luxton and his immediate family. Includes professional portraits of Georgina Luxton; images of Eleanor Luxton as a young girl; professional portraits of Eleanor as a student and adult; portraits of a dog belonging to the Luxton family; professional portraits of Norman Luxton; and photographs depicting Norman Luxton meeting Princess Margaret during her royal visit to Banff in 1958.
File consists of 10 oversized holiday greeting cards, including one from Annie Whitaker with personal message on the back, one from The Standard Shoe Store in Banff, 6 from Stovel Company Limited and two sent to Eleanor Luxton from "Bill". Cards include lithograph images and printed paper copies of…
Art used in cards produced by Adrian Hill, Nicholas Hornyansky and Walter J. Phillips
Date Range
[1895-1910]
[1925-1930]
[1945-1960]
1946
1956
Physical Description
3 cm of textual records
Scope & Content
File consists of 10 oversized holiday greeting cards, including one from Annie Whitaker with personal message on the back, one from The Standard Shoe Store in Banff, 6 from Stovel Company Limited and two sent to Eleanor Luxton from "Bill". Cards include lithograph images and printed paper copies of art depicting Shakespeare's house in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England; landscapes and scenic waterfront views; and holiday-themed art designs. Two items in file are accompanied by original mailing envelopes addressed to Eleanor Luxton, 1956.