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 photograph prints pertaining to attractions in and near Banff including the Animal Paddock and golfing at Banff Springs; the Luxton family home and garden and a stray dog on the Luxton property; an unidentified Indigenous couple, two individuals and a family posing near teepees [po…
46 photographs : b&w prints; 17.5 x 12 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photograph prints pertaining to attractions in and near Banff including the Animal Paddock and golfing at Banff Springs; the Luxton family home and garden and a stray dog on the Luxton property; an unidentified Indigenous couple, two individuals and a family posing near teepees [possibly members of the Stoney Nakoda tribe in Morley]; a road trip to Sinclair Canyon with Norman Luxton and friends; and various scenic views of Banff and surrounding area including Sundance Lodge.
Notes
Photographs are not dated - date ranges provided are estimates by Processing Archivist based on content and format of file contents
File consists of two holiday portraits with text reading "A Merry Christmas Happy New Year". One photograph depicts an Indigenous man, and the second photograph depicts an Indigenous woman and three children. Individuals in photographs are not identified.
File consists of two holiday portraits with text reading "A Merry Christmas Happy New Year". One photograph depicts an Indigenous man, and the second photograph depicts an Indigenous woman and three children. Individuals in photographs are not identified.
File consists of 25 hand-tinted b&w photograph prints pertaining to Indigenous families and individuals from the Stoney Nakoda tribe in Morley, Alberta. Photographs depict unnamed individuals posing near teepees and on horseback, as well as one image of Norman Luxton[?] on horseback [LUX/I/E6/PA-43…
File consists of 25 hand-tinted b&w photograph prints pertaining to Indigenous families and individuals from the Stoney Nakoda tribe in Morley, Alberta. Photographs depict unnamed individuals posing near teepees and on horseback, as well as one image of Norman Luxton[?] on horseback [LUX/I/E6/PA-43].
Notes
Items LUX/I/E6/PA-43 to 67 accompanied in file by original Banff Citizens’ Association envelope and photo developing envelope [George Noble]
Material Details
Photographs each have beige/light brown tissue material to protect front surfaces of prints, attached along upper front edges of prints
Frame contains three photographs depicting unidentified Indigenous people. Images (left to right) depict: a man in a decorated shawl standing in a snowy area; a family of three women and one man; and a woman in a dress and apron with a second woman visible in the background.
3 photographs : b&w framed prints ; 32.5 x 18.5 cm
Scope & Content
Frame contains three photographs depicting unidentified Indigenous people. Images (left to right) depict: a man in a decorated shawl standing in a snowy area; a family of three women and one man; and a woman in a dress and apron with a second woman visible in the background.
Material Details
Simple wooden frame with string fastened to back with nails for hanging. Three photographs in frame with grey paper border covering edges
File consists of one signed copy of a portrait of an unidentified Indigenous man by artist W. Langdon Kihn. Portrait was gifted to Norman Luxton by Kihn in 1922.
1 drawing : portrait, pencil and ink ; 29 x 37.5 cm
History / Biographical
Wilfred Langdon Kihn (1898-1957) was an American artist born in Brooklyn, New York. Kihn was best known for his illustrated portraits of American and Canadian Indigenous people, including members of the Blackfoot, Navajo, Pueblo and Tsimshian communities. The individuals in Kihn's portraits were most often depicted wearing traditional and ceremonial clothing rather than their typical clothes.
Kihn's art career began in 1919 when he travelled to Montana and created some of his earliest portraits while visiting the Blackfeet Reservation. Throughout the 1920s, Kihn travelled extensively in Canada and the United States, creating portraits of individuals from a diverse range of Indigenous communities. Many of these portraits were put on display as part of a travelling exhibition organized by the Brooklyn Museum. In 1935, Kihn was commissioned by National Geographic to produce Indigenous portraits for publications; this ultimately led to a two-decade career with National Geographic.
Scope & Content
File consists of one signed copy of a portrait of an unidentified Indigenous man by artist W. Langdon Kihn. Portrait was gifted to Norman Luxton by Kihn in 1922.
Notes
Portrait is signed in the bottom left corner: "To "Norm" Luxton From his friend W. Langdon Kihn. 1922"
File consists of 35 photographs depicting portrait paintings of various American Indigenous leaders from the Sioux nation and American military generals created by artist [Henry] H. Cross.
35 photographs : b&w prints ; 12 x 17 cm and 11.5 x 14 cm
History / Biographical
Henry H. Cross (1837- 1918) travelled to Minnesota as a young artist in 1862, during the Sioux Outbreak with the intention of creating portraits of Sioux chiefs who had been sentenced to death by the American government. During this time, Cross captured the likenesses of various Sioux leaders and American military leaders in his paintings. Cross also learned the Sioux language and became familiar with many of their local customs. Cross would later become acquainted with Buffalo Bill Cody, who he also produced portraits of.
Scope & Content
File consists of 35 photographs depicting portrait paintings of various American Indigenous leaders from the Sioux nation and American military generals created by artist [Henry] H. Cross.
File consists of photographs pertaining to John Hunter’s family[?]; teepees in Morley; the Gleichen Reserve [including photos of a sweat house, an Indian Agent named “Mr. [George] Gooderham” and his family, Norman Luxton, and a historic buffalo pound, which were taken by photographer “F. Gully” of …
Photographs LUX/I/E6/PA-33 to 39 produced by F. Gully of Calgary
Date Range
[ca.1932]
1935
[ca.1940-1950]
1943
Physical Description
42 photographs : b&w prints ; 13 x 20 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs pertaining to John Hunter’s family[?]; teepees in Morley; the Gleichen Reserve [including photos of a sweat house, an Indian Agent named “Mr. [George] Gooderham” and his family, Norman Luxton, and a historic buffalo pound, which were taken by photographer “F. Gully” of Calgary]; and a ceremony in which Norman Luxton was presented with a peace pipe by Chief Walking Buffalo [George McLean] and named “Chief White Shield” on behalf of the Stoney Nakoda tribe.
Notes
Some date ranges are estimates provided by Processing Archivist based on format and context of photographs
File consists of two photographs: the first depicting Mary Chiniquay (Thaptâ), and the second depicting several Stoney Nakoda chiefs playing golf with Norman Luxton and two unidentified individuals.
2 photographs : b&w prints ; 16.5 x 12.5 cm and 12.5 x 10 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of two photographs: the first depicting Mary Chiniquay (Thaptâ), and the second depicting several Stoney Nakoda chiefs playing golf with Norman Luxton and two unidentified individuals.
File consists of one scrapbook [bindings removed] pertaining to the McDougall family, the Southern Alberta Pioneers' and Old Timers' Association, the Calgary Stampede and other events within Banff, Morley and Calgary. Contents include newspaper clippings [ca. 1939-1952]; booklets, programmes and fl…
File consists of one scrapbook [bindings removed] pertaining to the McDougall family, the Southern Alberta Pioneers' and Old Timers' Association, the Calgary Stampede and other events within Banff, Morley and Calgary. Contents include newspaper clippings [ca. 1939-1952]; booklets, programmes and flyers for various community events; membership cards; and a scanned copy and one original copy of a journal dated 1862, titled "Rossville Mission Journal 1862". Journal contains early newspaper articles and correspondence pertaining to George and John McDougall, and multiple religious missions and settlements located in Alberta and Saskatchewan.