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 portraits and candid photographs of Norman Luxton, alone or with family members, friends, acquaintances or dogs. Includes comic portraits, ca.1905, and joint x-ray negatives, ca.1916. File also includes Norman Luxton attestation paper military service exemption, 1917
ca.130 photographs (ca.112 prints, 18 negatives). -- 1 textual record
Scope & Content
File consists of portraits and candid photographs of Norman Luxton, alone or with family members, friends, acquaintances or dogs. Includes comic portraits, ca.1905, and joint x-ray negatives, ca.1916. File also includes Norman Luxton attestation paper military service exemption, 1917
This triptych features 7 women in a room with a brightly coloured floral rug (red,white and green) a large window spreads through all three panels, through which can be seen land with buildings and water. It is snowing out side. Most of the women have musical instruments. Next to each woman is a…
This triptych features 7 women in a room with a brightly coloured floral rug (red,white and green) a large window spreads through all three panels, through which can be seen land with buildings and water. It is snowing out side. Most of the women have musical instruments. Next to each woman is a descriptor of their role in Japanese. In the first panel are two women standing facing to their own right. The centre panel features three women sitting; two facing left, one right. 2 of these women have musical instruments. The third panel features two women sitting facing left. A green panel is behind them with a scroll on the far wall.
This triptych is a Kabuki Theater Poster. The first panel features two actors dressed as women. Both are holding fans and standing in front of a red background. The actor on the left is taunting the actor in the second panel who has blue hair and is wearing a white Kimono while holding a string of…
This triptych is a Kabuki Theater Poster. The first panel features two actors dressed as women. Both are holding fans and standing in front of a red background. The actor on the left is taunting the actor in the second panel who has blue hair and is wearing a white Kimono while holding a string of beads. The background in the second panel is a deep blue with a magnolia tree and flowers and a parrot in the trc. The third panel features a third actor in a green kimono. He is facing the actor in the second panel and appears to be angry. He is holding a rope with both hands and has 2 swords in his belt. He is standing in front of a red background and a portion of the background from the second panel.
This Kabuki Theater Poster features 3 actors: Two playing women, and one a man. The man is in the second panel holding an elaborate sword that exits the print at the bottom of the page. He is coyly looking into the third panel where his gaze finds a coyly looking woman: Her body faces right (away…
This Kabuki Theater Poster features 3 actors: Two playing women, and one a man. The man is in the second panel holding an elaborate sword that exits the print at the bottom of the page. He is coyly looking into the third panel where his gaze finds a coyly looking woman: Her body faces right (away from the man) but her head subtly turns to the left. A third actor is in the first panel. This woman looks into the second panel at the man she is dressed much more simply than the other two. The background is a dark solid blue, and the entire print is framed by a black and gold border.
Print is divided in half diagonally by a brown staircase on the left side that one Geisha is climbing. Another Geigha is standing on the floor, holding a sash of red fabric in her mouth. She is wearing a checkered Kimono. A servant is bending to her left picking out a piece of green fabric. A g…
Print is divided in half diagonally by a brown staircase on the left side that one Geisha is climbing. Another Geigha is standing on the floor, holding a sash of red fabric in her mouth. She is wearing a checkered Kimono. A servant is bending to her left picking out a piece of green fabric. A garden with a tree is in the background. The floor is green, and panelled wood.
This print is set in the inside of a restaurant. The walls are mostly blue, and on the right side of the print is a woman kneeling in a raised doorway. Beneath her is a small covered a table with her shoes on it. The left side of the print shows a woman walking towards the inside of a room, with…
Yueilo at Shinbashi, Hutaba-Cho, Civilization 36 Banquets
Date
1877
Medium
woodblock on paper
Dimensions
36.7 x 25.0 cm
Description
This print is set in the inside of a restaurant. The walls are mostly blue, and on the right side of the print is a woman kneeling in a raised doorway. Beneath her is a small covered a table with her shoes on it. The left side of the print shows a woman walking towards the inside of a room, with her head turned back towards the woman previously described. Two more people, one woman and a foreign man, are in the back portion of the picture. A lamp is cut off by the border on the left side.
on a rather square piece of thin rice paper is a small shape approx. 5cm x 5cm. It sits to the centre right of the page and centre bottom. The shape in unidentifiable, and is made of of 2 types of brush strokes. The ‘body’ of the shape has thick brush strokes that move inward. the top of the sh…
on a rather square piece of thin rice paper is a small shape approx. 5cm x 5cm. It sits to the centre right of the page and centre bottom. The shape in unidentifiable, and is made of of 2 types of brush strokes. The ‘body’ of the shape has thick brush strokes that move inward. the top of the shape is a thin solid line that sits on top of the shape. On top of this line is a small triangle. On the bottom left of the shape a small strait line juts out, and curves a little at the bottom
This tryptic features 7 wise women all described by a text panel. These panels are made from 2 portions: a white block filled with text, and a red rectangular block to the right and overlapping the white. The print is framed by a border which is black and has light blue and pink decorative bands in…
This tryptic features 7 wise women all described by a text panel. These panels are made from 2 portions: a white block filled with text, and a red rectangular block to the right and overlapping the white. The print is framed by a border which is black and has light blue and pink decorative bands in it. The seven women are in a room that is mostly green in colour. All the windows are closed, and blinds shut. From left to right: a woman stands reading; a woman sits at a table with scrolls on it (both women facing right); Three women in the center panel engaged in - maybe - a conversation: 2 are standing and one sitting in the middle front of them; two women in the third panel face right, the first sitting and reading, the second standing. The women are all wearing red fabric tied to the waist and flowing to their feet.
File consists of biographical records and timelines of events pertaining to the lives of Norman Luxton, Elizabeth Chantler McDougall and George McDougall. Includes an obituary article for George McDougall from 1876 [two separate newspaper clippings]; an account of a buffalo round-up in 1909 by Norm…
File consists of biographical records and timelines of events pertaining to the lives of Norman Luxton, Elizabeth Chantler McDougall and George McDougall. Includes an obituary article for George McDougall from 1876 [two separate newspaper clippings]; an account of a buffalo round-up in 1909 by Norman Luxton; Article "Here's Alberta - People and Places" featuring Norman Luxton; published book "Elizabeth McDougall: Pioneer" by Edna Kells; and a program for an event celebrating the 100th anniversary of George McDougall's appointment as Chairman of the Hudson's Bay Missions, which includes a detailed timeline of the lives of George and Elizabeth McDougall, as well as their son John.
Notes
File also contains one duplicate copy of each item, excluding "Elizabeth McDougall: Pioneer"
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 portraits and other photographs pertaining to Norman Luxton, his extended relatives and friends. Name individuals include: Eleanor and Georgina Luxton; George, Ada and Patricia Luxton (Norman's brother, sister-in-law and niece); Louis Luxton, Harry Addison Luxton and Harold Malloch…
Some photographs produced by: Algot Anderson (St Paul), Byron Harmon (Banff), Nelson Photo Studios (St Paul), Ambassador Atelier (St Paul), Zintsmaster (Minneapolis), Frank Cooper (London, Ontario), Steele and Co [Coy?] (Winnipeg), A.H. Opsahl (Minneapolis), Rembrandt Grand (St Paul), Geo. E. Luxton (Minneaplos Times), Reynolds Studio (Minneapolis), Perkins, J. Douglas Eckhert (St Paul), Calgary Photo Supply Co, Pringle & Booth (Toronto), Glenbow Foundation, J [Rosrit?] Calgary Herald Photographer, Robert Lefroy
Date Range
1886
[1890-1900]
1894
1899
[ca.1900]
1904
1906-1907
1920-1921
[1920-1930]
1930
1937
1939-1940
1950
[1950-1960]
1962
Physical Description
63 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 25 x 20.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of portraits and other photographs pertaining to Norman Luxton, his extended relatives and friends. Name individuals include: Eleanor and Georgina Luxton; George, Ada and Patricia Luxton (Norman's brother, sister-in-law and niece); Louis Luxton, Harry Addison Luxton and Harold Malloch Luxton (Norman's brothers); Mary Hosking Groeber (Norman's niece); Olive Luxton Hosking (Norman's sister), her husband Edgar and her daughter Dorothy; and Eleanor "Nellie" Luxton Foster (Norman's sister).
Notes
Some photographs are annotated.
PA-15 is annotated at Emerald Lake, this is now known as Lake Louise
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
(a)actor with sword in his mouth, holding a banner (b) 37.6 x 25.4/35.9 x 24.4 actor holding a scroll, the head of a green dragon in front of him (c) 37.5 x25.5/36.0 x 24.5 actor with clasped hands
(a)actor with sword in his mouth, holding a banner (b) 37.6 x 25.4/35.9 x 24.4 actor holding a scroll, the head of a green dragon in front of him (c) 37.5 x25.5/36.0 x 24.5 actor with clasped hands