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 personal mail sent to or from Eleanor Luxton between ca. 1915 and 1980. Content pertains to Valentine's day letters between Eleanor and her parents, Norman and Georgina; a personal greeting card sent from "Aida" [n.d.]; a greeting card titled "To Father" [possibly sent from Eleanor…
File consists of personal mail sent to or from Eleanor Luxton between ca. 1915 and 1980. Content pertains to Valentine's day letters between Eleanor and her parents, Norman and Georgina; a personal greeting card sent from "Aida" [n.d.]; a greeting card titled "To Father" [possibly sent from Eleanor to Norman Luxton]; a letter addressed to Eleanor from Alberta Theatre Projects with a ticket order form for local performances [1973]; a letter from Laura Oakander sent to Eleanor thanking her for a donation to the McDougall Stoney Mission Society [1980]; and invitations to round-up events hosted by the Southern Alberta Pioneers' and Old Timers' Association.
Notes
Most items in file are not dated; part of date range is estimate by the Processing Archivist based on context and formatting of contents in file
File consists of one personal planner/diary for 1983 which belonged to Eleanor Luxton. Content pertains to daily accounts by Eleanor Luxton: includes weather reports, plans with various friends and family members, errands and events attended by Eleanor in Banff, Calgary and other local areas.
File consists of one personal planner/diary for 1983 which belonged to Eleanor Luxton. Content pertains to daily accounts by Eleanor Luxton: includes weather reports, plans with various friends and family members, errands and events attended by Eleanor in Banff, Calgary and other local areas.
Material Details
Planner has plastic cover protector on front and metal ring bindings
File consists of personal cheque receipts signed by Eleanor Luxton [between 1972-1989].
Notes
Contents are stored in three file boxes:
LUX / II / D / 114 to 119 : 1972-1974 cheque receipts
LUX / II / D / 120 to 125 : 1975, 1978-1979, 1981-1984 cheque receipts
LUX / II / D / 126 to 132 : 1984-1989 cheque receipts
File consists of 8 cheque stub books which belonged to Eleanor Luxton. Content pertains to personal records of payments made by Eleanor between 1973 and 1986.
File consists of 8 cheque stub books which belonged to Eleanor Luxton. Content pertains to personal records of payments made by Eleanor between 1973 and 1986.
File consists of financial notebooks which belonged to Eleanor Luxton. Content pertains to personal expense records and income tax records between 1964-1986. File also includes a duplicate receipt booklet [1969-1971].
11 cm of textual records (17 volumes ; 21.5 x 28 cm or smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of financial notebooks which belonged to Eleanor Luxton. Content pertains to personal expense records and income tax records between 1964-1986. File also includes a duplicate receipt booklet [1969-1971].
Notes
Contents are arranged by date:
LUX / II / D / 141 : 1964-1979
LUX / II / D / 142 : 1978-1983
LUX / II / D / 143 : 1980-1986
File consists of banking pocketbooks which belonged to Eleanor Luxton. Content pertains to personal account and transaction records from Eleanor's accounts at CIBC and Bank of Montreal, dated between 1971 and 1991.
2 cm of textual records (8 volumes ; 17.5 x 8 cm or smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of banking pocketbooks which belonged to Eleanor Luxton. Content pertains to personal account and transaction records from Eleanor's accounts at CIBC and Bank of Montreal, dated between 1971 and 1991.
File consists of Bank of Montreal deposit records [1974-1991] and printed statements for returned cheques [1986-1988] pertaining to Eleanor Luxton's financial accounts.
File consists of Bank of Montreal deposit records [1974-1991] and printed statements for returned cheques [1986-1988] pertaining to Eleanor Luxton's financial accounts.
Notes
Contents of file are arranged by date
LUX / II / D / 150 : 1974 deposits
LUX / II / D / 151 : 1975-1978 deposits
LUX / II / D / 152 : 1979-1983 deposits
LUX / II / D / 153 : 1984-1986 deposits
LUX / II / D / 154 : 1987-1991 deposits
LUX / II / D / 155 : Returned cheques
File consists of CIBC deposit records [1979-1993] pertaining to Eleanor Luxton's personal financial accounts.
Notes
Contents of file are arranged by date:
LUX / II / D / 156 : 1979-1982
LUX / II / D / 157 : 1983-1984
LUX / II / D / 158 : 1985-1986
LUX / II / D / 159 : 1987-1988
LUX / II / D / 160 : 1989-1990
LUX / II / D / 161 : 1990-1991
LUX / II / D / 162 : 1992-1993