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 one scrapbook [possibly compiled by Maud Kidney] with ca. 100 newspaper articles and full pages attached inside. Contents pertain to golden wedding anniversaries of Frank and Alice Wheatley and Annie and Ulysses LaCasse; obituary notices for numerous individuals including Norman an…
Articles mainly published by the Crag and Canyon and the Calgary Herald
Date Range
1933
1935 - 1940
1947
1950
1956
1960 - 1965
1968
1969
1974
Physical Description
1 cm of textual records (1 scrapbook : 52 pages ; 31 x 39 cm)
Scope & Content
File consists of one scrapbook [possibly compiled by Maud Kidney] with ca. 100 newspaper articles and full pages attached inside. Contents pertain to golden wedding anniversaries of Frank and Alice Wheatley and Annie and Ulysses LaCasse; obituary notices for numerous individuals including Norman and Georgina Luxton, Jimmy Simpson Sr. and Jim and Fern Brewster; articles on achievements by Jimmy Simpson Sr., Norman Luxton, Norman B. Sanson and others; and other news including opinion articles, sports updates and articles on construction/expansion projects and local events held in Banff.
Notes
Newspaper articles attached to inside of scrapbook cover wide range of dates. Scrapbook has been placed in sub-series M74 / IV / C [1946 - 1970] as a large portion of articles fall within specified dates.
Some articles are loose in scrapbook
Material Details
Most newspaper clippings attached inside with adhesive, some items loose.
File consists of 6 copies of "Forest and Outdoors" and "Canadian Cattlemen" magazines published between 1948 and 1960. Content pertains to farming, cattle rearing and sales, outdoor activities including hunting and archery, wildlife identification, the Calgary Stampede, horseback riding trips, and …
2 cm of textual records (6 volumes ; 22.5 x 29.5 cm or smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of 6 copies of "Forest and Outdoors" and "Canadian Cattlemen" magazines published between 1948 and 1960. Content pertains to farming, cattle rearing and sales, outdoor activities including hunting and archery, wildlife identification, the Calgary Stampede, horseback riding trips, and other related subjects. Includes special July 1955 issue of "Canadian Cattlemen" celebrating the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of Alberta and Saskatchewan as Canadian provinces.
Notes
File contents include two identical copies of November 1948 "Forest and Outdoors" publication.
File consists of one page of song lyrics and 18 newspaper clippings published by the Calgary Herald, the Winnipeg Free Press and The Albertan [mostly 1961 and 1962]. Content pertains to the history of the Bow Valley and Calgary from the late 19th century and onwards; biographies for famous locals i…
Items published by the Calgary Herald, Winnipeg Free Press, and The Albertan
Date Range
1938
[ca. 1960]
1961
1962
Physical Description
0.5 cm of textual records
Scope & Content
File consists of one page of song lyrics and 18 newspaper clippings published by the Calgary Herald, the Winnipeg Free Press and The Albertan [mostly 1961 and 1962]. Content pertains to the history of the Bow Valley and Calgary from the late 19th century and onwards; biographies for famous locals including John, George, and David McDougall, May Ross, Dr. R.G. Brett and others; wedding anniversaries, birthday announcements and obituary articles for friends of the Luxton family; the sale of Norman Luxton's gift shop in Banff; McDougall Day and the Calgary Stampede; the 75th anniversary of the Bank of Montreal; Chief Walking Buffalo; and other miscellaneous news.
File consists of photographs pertaining to the Sign of the Goat Curio Shop [later renamed the Banff Indian Trading Post] which was owned by Norman Luxton. File includes images of the building’s interior and exterior, Norman feeding a pet bear outside of the Trading Post, taxidermy displays, individ…
Some items produced by Ernest Kehr [PA-96 and PA-101], A.S. Williams [PA-104], George Luxton [PA-105], and Ronald J. Cooke [PA-106].
Date Range
1904
1906
1910
[ca.1940-1945]
1949
[ca.1950-1955]
1956-1959
1961
Physical Description
29 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 20.5 x 25 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs pertaining to the Sign of the Goat Curio Shop [later renamed the Banff Indian Trading Post] which was owned by Norman Luxton. File includes images of the building’s interior and exterior, Norman feeding a pet bear outside of the Trading Post, taxidermy displays, individuals posing with a dog outside of the Trading Post, and the “Man Fish” of Lake Minnewanka on display.
Notes
Item LUX / I / D3e/PA-107 is a copy negative photograph
File consists of 32 photograph prints [31 b&w, one hand-coloured] pertaining to Norman Luxton's travels within Western Canada, Manitoba, Montana and Mexico City. Includes photographs of Stan Barne's property near Lake Vernon, B.C., unidentified landscape and waterfall scenes, Norman Luxton in Winde…
32 photographs : b&w and col ; 36.5 x 14 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 32 photograph prints [31 b&w, one hand-coloured] pertaining to Norman Luxton's travels within Western Canada, Manitoba, Montana and Mexico City. Includes photographs of Stan Barne's property near Lake Vernon, B.C., unidentified landscape and waterfall scenes, Norman Luxton in Windermere, aerial views of a landing field in Great Falls, Christmas decorations [1948, possibly in the Luxton family home], unidentified dogs playing with a dog, views of Winnipeg businesses and an unidentified house in the winter, and a man herding cattle.
Notes
Two photographs attached to matboard/paper backing.
File consists of photographs sent to Norman Luxton from various friends, including "Red" [Cathcart?], Eugene LaPorte, Woodworth and Theodora Campbell, the Green family, and Ernest Maunder. Content pertains to Red [Cathcart's?] work transporting oil to mines, and views from his travels in British Co…
77 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 14.5 x 8.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs sent to Norman Luxton from various friends, including "Red" [Cathcart?], Eugene LaPorte, Woodworth and Theodora Campbell, the Green family, and Ernest Maunder. Content pertains to Red [Cathcart's?] work transporting oil to mines, and views from his travels in British Columbia and Camp Debert in Nova Scotia; Eugene LaPorte fishing near Lake Ontario; Indigenous communities in Panama [sent by Mr. and Mrs. Campbell]; photos of the Green family [names missing]; photos from a community and nearby forested areas [location and source unknown] with detailed notes on back of related personal memories; Ernest Maunder's model boat hobby; "Dorothy" feeding geese in February 1954 in Inglewood [region in Calgary?]; and photographs of various wildlife by J.H. [Jack?] Munroe.
Notes
Some photographs have annotations on back. Items LUX/I/E4/PA-389 and 397 also have directions and illustrations of property layouts
File consists of cards, stationery, small publications and other collected items. Includes thank you and business cards for The Home Insurance Company in Calgary and the Canadian Bank of Commerce; two blank pages with letterhead for Hotel Wales in Calgary; a round paper placemat/coaster advertising…
File consists of cards, stationery, small publications and other collected items. Includes thank you and business cards for The Home Insurance Company in Calgary and the Canadian Bank of Commerce; two blank pages with letterhead for Hotel Wales in Calgary; a round paper placemat/coaster advertising La Ronde Revolving Restaurant in Edmonton; a copy of "Bill and Al's Happy Motoring" by Esso Imperial Service containing an article about Banff National Park [pages 2-3]; a Laura Secord advertisement and info booklet, "The History of Our Flag"; a partial pack of blank score cards titled Auction Bridge; a page titled "Rules for the Game of Five Hundred"; a newspaper clipping with comics on both sides; and a large [23 x 15 cm] postcard with illustration titled "What Would You Have Done?" [see notes].
Notes
NOTE: Large postcard "What Would You Have Done?" contains outdated and potentially offensive language which is reflective of the time period in which it was produced.
"Bill and Al's Happy Motoring" publication has mailing stamp on back addressed to Norman Luxton.
"Rules for the Game of Five Hundred" card annotated in pencil
Scrapbook consists of newspaper clippings related to Banff Indian Days and the Calgary Stampede; various other newspaper clippings related to local and international news, including the opening of a new school in Morley and the Luxton Museum [now the Buffalo Nations Museum] in Banff, a fire at Jasp…
Scrapbook consists of newspaper clippings related to Banff Indian Days and the Calgary Stampede; various other newspaper clippings related to local and international news, including the opening of a new school in Morley and the Luxton Museum [now the Buffalo Nations Museum] in Banff, a fire at Jasper Park Lodge, and Canadian and international politics.
File consists of 48 colour transparencies which are individually numbered and labelled. Images pertain to the interior of the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum and several displays featuring historic Indigenous figures and scenes. Images were used in commercial postcards promoting the Luxton Museum.
File consists of 48 colour transparencies which are individually numbered and labelled. Images pertain to the interior of the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum and several displays featuring historic Indigenous figures and scenes. Images were used in commercial postcards promoting the Luxton Museum.
Notes
File contains 11 individual images and duplicates of each
Items each have number between 301 and 311, excluding the number 302. Items are not in numerical order in file