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 1 album with 226 b&w photographs and 9 colour photographs depicting everyday scenes of the Wing family around Banff. Includes photographs of the two eldest Wing children (Carole and Paul) as babies and young children. Album has 1 colour print of the Bow valley on front and is bound…
Photograph Album : 1 photograph album (235 photographs; b&w and col.).
Scope & Content
File consists of 1 album with 226 b&w photographs and 9 colour photographs depicting everyday scenes of the Wing family around Banff. Includes photographs of the two eldest Wing children (Carole and Paul) as babies and young children. Album has 1 colour print of the Bow valley on front and is bound with black cord. Plastic lacing around edges of album is broken in some parts. Images mostly adhered with photo corners.
File pertains to 44 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 1 to November 20, 1935. Topics include day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, weather, a trip to Lake O'Hara in early August following the annual Skyline Trail Hikers tri…
1 cm of textual records (70 pages ; 21.2 x 26.3 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 44 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 1 to November 20, 1935. Topics include day to day life, visits from friends and visitors, weather, a trip to Lake O'Hara in early August following the annual Skyline Trail Hikers trip, photography and cameras, hiking/climbing, wildflowers, activities and people at camp, Pete's work on commission paintings/photography projects, events and people in Concord, trips to Bow Lake to paint, dinner and tea parties [both at home and around town], overnight camping trips to Lake Louise to paint, going to the movies and seeing friend's homemade films, going back to Lake O'Hara in early September to paint and hike, Russ and Kitty's travels and activities, day trips around the National Park [mostly to Lake Louise, Bow Lake and Moraine Lake] to paint/sketch, updates on what Pete and Catharine's friends are doing [mostly as it pertains to Skoki and Assiniboine Lodges], wildlife, an overnight trip to Calgary [and a visit to Morley on the way back] in early October, 3 young Doukhobor fugitives escaping police custody that resulted in a chase and shootout in Banff National Park [October 6 - 7] and the subsequent funerals, developing photos and print-making, politics [mostly pertaining to the provincial and federal elections], various holidays [both Canadian and American], skiing, matters pertaining to the Ski Club, and preparing to leave for a trip to Concord at the end of November.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
A few letters written on lodge letterhead.
Most letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
Some letters have numbers written in pencil in the upper margin of the first pages from an unknown project.
File pertains to 68 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from April 12 to October 19, 1936. Topics include returning from a trip out east by train, going to Skoki for a few days in April [including updates on the new camp buildings and access road], w…
2.8 cm of textual records (117 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 68 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from April 12 to October 19, 1936. Topics include returning from a trip out east by train, going to Skoki for a few days in April [including updates on the new camp buildings and access road], weather, skiing and ski conditions, film-making, visits from friends and visitors, matters pertaining to the house [opening and closing it as they come and go from various trips], errand trips to Calgary, watching hockey games, going to the movies, leaving for Hawaii via Vancouver in early May [sailing on the Empress of Canada], books Catharine and Edith are reading, arriving in Hawaii and eventually getting settled at the Grand Hotel in Wailuku, Maui, visiting with friends, descriptions of meals, photography and cameras, relocating to the Moana Hotel in Honolulu in mid-May, sightseening and day trips around the islands, sketching, descriptions of other ships coming and going from the harbour, details of the trip back to Banff in mid-June, radio programs [mostly news and operas], cleaning and household chores, events and people in Concord, camping trips, maintenance and upkeep of the house and property, painting/sketching, various holidays [both Canadian and American], the Calgary Stampede, Banff Indian days, the annual Skyline Trail Hikers trip [based out of Lake O'Hara] in early August, matters pertaining to the store, Edith purchasing a painting of two moose from Carl Rungius, developing photographs, a two-week trip to Lake O'Hara in late August/early September to paint and hike [also includes details of other people there, day to day activies, and the subjects painted/sketched], day trips around the national park to take photographs and hike [mostly in the Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Bow Lake areas], and preparing for a trip out to Concord at the end of October.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Some letters are written on hotel/lodge letterhead.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
The first 10 or so letters have been numbered in pencil in the upper margin of the page as part of an unknown project.
File pertains to 46 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 7 to December 29, 1938. Topics include returning from a trip to Concord and details about the route taken, cleaning and household chores, visits from friends and visitors, weather, a…
2.5 cm of textual records (97 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 46 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 7 to December 29, 1938. Topics include returning from a trip to Concord and details about the route taken, cleaning and household chores, visits from friends and visitors, weather, a day trip on the new stretch of road between Bow Lake and the Saskatchewan River Crossing, trips to Lake O'Hara to paint and hike [also includes hiking the new trail Tom Link and Jimmy Simpson blazed to Linda Lake, named for Linda Castle of Honolulu], events and people in Concord, photography and cameras, day to day life, maintenance and upkeep of the house and property [mostly landscaping], descriptions of meals, painting/sketching, day trips to Lake Louise [mostly in September to paint], mentions of the threat of war in Europe, radio programs [mostly operas and the news, but also plays], slide-making, the start of construction on the Mount Temple Chalet, films and film making, Jack and Barbara starting construction on their new house, various holidays [both Canadian and American], errand trips to Calgary, wildlife [often in the yard], going to Victoria in early November to see Annie and Dave, day trips with Cliff to see the progress on Mount Temple Chalet, Christmas, and various other holiday-related activities, parties, and gifts.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Some letters are written on hotel/lodge letterhead.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
File pertains to 56 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 1 to December 30, 1939. Topics include going on the annual Skyline Trail Hike to the Ptarmigan Valley in early August, day to day life, weather, painting/sketching [a mix of personal projects and…
Date Range
1939
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 107
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Private record
in 'fiss de 'lier I s article. weren 1 t you ?
I know you said that you often wondered where her family
1.7 cm of textual records (93 pages ; 20 x 24.9 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 56 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 1 to December 30, 1939. Topics include going on the annual Skyline Trail Hike to the Ptarmigan Valley in early August, day to day life, weather, painting/sketching [a mix of personal projects and commissions done both at home and out in the Park], visits from friends and visitors, slide making, photography and cameras [including colour photography], events and people in Concord, minor repairs/projects to the house and property [including installing a new water heater on the second floor], updates on Dave White's health, radio programs [mostly operas and the news], the declaration of war on Germany in early September [as well as details pertaining to local recruitment efforts and general preparations], day trips to Lake Louise, wildlife, descriptions of meals, Edith going to the 1939 World's Fair in New York City [September], construction on the new addition to the house throughout October [including a new furnace room, bathroom, and dark room on the ground floor, extending the studio on the second floor, and facing the side of the house in stone], cleaning and household chores, errand trips to Calgary, books Catharine and Edith are reading, a large blizzard at the end of October, birthdays, various holidays [both Canadian and American], attending first aid classes at the school, putting together the annual Christmas card, and various other Christmas activities and parties.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are mostly typed, some hand-written. Many typed letters have hand-written notes and post scripts added throughout. All typed letters are written on a single side of paper, hand-written letters are mostly double-sided.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
107-19 contains a sketch of a mushroom on the back of the first page.
107-36 contains a sketch of the Whyte compound and details of the new extention to Pete and Catharine's house.
File pertains to 61 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 2 to December 27, 1943. Topics include Catharine's activities while Pete is posted in Vancouver, day to day life, news pertaining to the war, Pete's work as part of the RCAF, weather, military pa…
Date Range
1943
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 116
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Private record
wasn't well either and very nervous.
�They are a wonderful family and I guess gave him
a good home
1.9 cm of textual records (102 pages ; 21.4 x 27.5 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 61 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 2 to December 27, 1943. Topics include Catharine's activities while Pete is posted in Vancouver, day to day life, news pertaining to the war, Pete's work as part of the RCAF, weather, military parades and concerts, going to the movies and live shows [mostly operas and the ballet], radio programs [including operas, news, sports, and a program called Quiz Kids], visits from friends, cleaning and household chores, moving back to Victoria in mid-August, painting/sketching, visiting various parks around Victoria, events and people in Concord, various holidays [both Canadian and American], Pete getting posted to Tofino in late August, details pertaining to the various modes of travel around Vancouver Island [5 hours by sailboat from Vancouver to Victoria; 2 days by train and boat from Victoria to Tofino], details on the different kinds of rations, Catharine spending September in Banff while Pete looks for a house in Tofino [time in Banff includes upkeep on the house, visiting Mount Temple Chalet, sketching, visits with friends, and Pete arriving for his 2-week leave], wildlife, moving to Tofino and getting settled [Pete worked at an Air Force base outside of town, but spent his nights at home with Catharine], walks on the beaches near town, new routines and friends, Christmas in Tofino, and travelleing to Banff for New Years Eve.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Japanese people used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Letters are mostly hand-written, some typed. Many typed letters have hand-written notes and post scripts added throughout. Some letters written on hotel letterhead.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
A few letters have red numbers written at the top of the page from an unknown project.
116-40 includes a sketch of the Tofino apartment floorplan.
File pertains to 81 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 3 to December 29, 1957. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs …
Date Range
1957
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 141
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Postcard
Private record
in the morning and go-
ing to a funeral in the afternoon and then to see the Bdwards family in
the evening.
We
2.4 cm of textual records (128 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 81 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 3 to December 29, 1957. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs [mostly news and hockey games], various holidays [both Canadian and American], seeing off Carl Rungius to New York, going to Edmonton for a cataract operation on Peter's right eye [August 23] - Catharine's time in Edmonton mostly consisted of sitting with Peter in the hospital, running errands in the city, and answering letters [she stayed at the Corona Hotel], starting construction of eventual Buffalo Block [consisting of three stores along Buffalo St. and a restaurant on the second floor], concerns regarding Edith's health, a visit to Concord from mid-October to mid-November [travelled by train], a second visit to Edmonton in December for Peter's eye, putting together their annual Christmas card, and other Christmas activities. Some letters are typed and some hand-written. Also includes one postcard.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Many typed letters have hand-written notes and post scripts added throughout.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
File pertains to 67 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 5 to December 30, 1958. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs …
Date Range
1958
Reference Code
M36 / I / A / 2b / i / 143
Description Level
5 / File
GMD
Postcard
Private record
and how
very sad for her family too . he did like Hildur eo much and she
was so friendly and good natured
1.8 cm of textual records (104 pages ; 22.3 x 27.4 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 67 letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 5 to December 30, 1958. Topics include day to day life, Banff events, visits from friends, painting, photography, wildlife, travel, camping, weather, events and people in Concord, radio programs [mostly news and hockey games], various holidays [both Canadian and American], a road trip from north-eastern United States through Canada back to Banff in early August [written mostly on postcards], a trip to Lethbridge in late August, various construction projects [the new Sulphur Mountain gondola, the chimney and basement furnace of their house, and the Trans-Canada Highway], a trip to Concord in late November, and preparation of Chirstmas cards. Letters are mostly typed, some hand-written. Also includes postcards and a Christmas card.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous Peoples used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Many typed letters have hand-written notes added throughout; many post scripts are hand-written.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
143 - 39 includes a sketch of a shelving unit Catharine hoped to have installed in their bedroom.
143 - 64 is the 1958 Christmas card made by Catharine and Peter
File pertains to 23 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 1 to October 8, 1934. Topics include travelling from Bali to Djokja [the Dutch name for present-day Yogyakarta] in Indonesia, travelling by car [via ferries] and by train, descriptio…
1.8 cm of textual records (87 pages ; 21 x 29.7 cm or smaller)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File pertains to 23 hand-written letters written by Catharine Robb Whyte to her mother, Edith Morse Robb from August 1 to October 8, 1934. Topics include travelling from Bali to Djokja [the Dutch name for present-day Yogyakarta] in Indonesia, travelling by car [via ferries] and by train, descriptions of the countrysides they travelled through and of local towns and villages, language barriers, descriptions of meals and various types of local dishes, travelling through the island of Java on the way to Sumatra, comments on and descriptions of other people encountered while travelling, weather, photography, developing films [photographs], people and events in Concord, travelling across Sumatra by car, volcanoes, local wildlife [mostly birds and monkeys], observations on local farms and farming techniques/products, books and magazines Pete and Catharine are reading, leaving Sumatra for France on the M.S. Sibajak in early September via the Suez Canal, descriptions of their cabin and the ship itself, life and activities aboard ship, comments and observations about other passengers, day trips on land along the way, going through the Canal, arriving in Marseille France and setting out for Swizerland by train in mid-September, travelling around Switzerland by train, meeting up with Edward Feuz while visiting Interlaken, exploring the local towns, architecture, skiing, exploring different ski areas and watching various races and events as they find them [also includes comparisons of slopes and snow conditions between the Alps and the Rockies], meeting other skiers, various dealings with banks, travelling through Austia to Munich Germany in late September-early October, visiting an area in Austria where the Olympics will be held in 1936, visiting museums and war memorials [WWI], attending Oktoberfest in Munich, travelling to Paris via Nuremburg and Cologne by train in early October, exploring Paris and visiting various city landmarks and churches [this was Pete's first trip to Paris], going to the movies, going to London and then Edinburgh with Jean Caird before sailing back to North America from London in mid-October.
Notes
Please note: language pertaining to Indigenous peoples of Indonesia used throughout is outdated and may be offensive.
Most letters are written on hotel/lodge letterhead.
Most letters have been numbered in red pencil in the upper margin for an unknown project.
Some letters are marked with a small x in pencil, indicating where Jon Whyte made notes for use in his project "Catharine Robb Whyte, Peter Whyte: Commemorative Portfolio," originally published in 1981.
Some letters have been numbered in pencil in the upper margin of the first page for an unknown project.
96 - 01 appears to be missing the last page[s].
96 - 06 page 11 contains a sketch of the layout of the hotel they stayed in.
96 - 18 appears to be missing the last page[s].