Fonds contains six series: I. Robert G. Brett series, 1873-1926, 36 cm of textual records, consisting of: A. Personal papers, 1873-1926 (1. Correspondence, 2. Financial papers, 3. Other papers); B. Business papers, 1897-1925, (1. Banff businesses, 2. Businesses outside Banff); C. Professional pap…
73 cm of textual records. -- 11 photograph albums (ca.850 prints). -- ca.350 photographs (ca.320 prints, 28 negatives)
History / Biographical
Robert George Brett, 1851-1929, was a prominent physician, hotel-hospital owner, businessman and politician Banff, Alberta from 1883 until 1929. Brett was born in Strathroy, Ontario, son of James Brett and Catherine Mallon. He was educated as a physician at the University of Toronto (M.D., 1874), and practiced medicine at Arkona, Ontario. He moved to Winnipeg in 1880, where he helped found the Manitoba Medical College.
R. G. Brett moved to Banff in 1886, founding the Banff Sanitarium. In 1909 he established the Brett Hospital. Brett also had numerous other businesses and real estate in Banff (including the National Park Drug Store, the Sanitarium Bottling Co., the Bretton Hall Hotel, Lithia Bottling Co.) and elsewhere.
In 1878, Brett married Louise Theodora Hungerford, 1855-1935, of Waterford, Ontario. Of their five children, only two survived infancy, Reginald H. "Harry", 1879-1925, and Robert Earle, 1887-1912. Earle Brett was survived by Maidie (Stacpole) Brett, whom he married in 1910, and by an infant daughter. Dr. Harry Brett was married to Helen Brett, 1877-1964, who outlived the rest of her family by many years. Associated closely with the Brett family was Dr. Brett's nurse, Annie McLauchlin.
From 1881 to 1901, R. G. Brett was Conservative Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the North-West Territories, and from 1889 to 1891 he was president of the executive council. He was Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta from 1915 to 1925. He died in Calgary.
Scope & Content
Fonds contains six series:
I. Robert G. Brett series, 1873-1926, 36 cm of textual records, consisting of: A. Personal papers, 1873-1926 (1. Correspondence, 2. Financial papers, 3. Other papers); B. Business papers, 1897-1925, (1. Banff businesses, 2. Businesses outside Banff); C. Professional papers, 1889-1925 (1. Political correspondence, 2. Official correspondence, 3. Other material);
II. Louise H. Brett series, [between1855 and 1935], 10 cm of textual records, consisting of: A. Writing, betw.1885 and 1935; B. Scrapbooks, ca.1900, ca.1910; C. Diaries and letters, 1912-1925; D. Other, ca.1870-1924.
III. Reginald H. "Harry" Brett series, ca.1910-1921, 10.5 cm of textual records, print material and photographs. Consists of: A. Personal papers, ca.1910 (1.Scrapbooks, 2. Ephemera); B. Business papers, 1912-1921.
IV. Helen Brett series, 1925-1965, 4.5 cm of textual records, consisting of: A. Correspondence, 1927-1950; B. R. G. Brett estate papers, 1925-1949; C. Financial and business records, 1936-1962; D. Other, 1935-1965.
V. Brett family series, [ca.1860-ca.1935], consisting of : A. Photographs albums, ca.1860-ca.1910; B. Photographs, ca.1875-ca.1935.
VI. Other material series, [before 1928], 2 cm of textual records, consisting of: A. Annie McLauchlin papers, 1914-1928; B. Other, before 1925.
File pertains to photographs of Banff people and places; Brett family, friends and associates. Some duplication with albums
Notes
LIST OF IMAGES :
1 [Graduation portrait of Dr. Robert G. Brett, 1872]
2 [Portrait of Dr. Robert G. Brett, ca.1878]
3 [Wedding portrait of Dr. R. G. Brett and Louise Hungerford Brett, 1878]
4 [Wedding portrait of Louise Hungerford Brett, 1878]
5 [Portrait of Dr. Robert G. Brett]
6 Louise Brett, July 10th, 1886
7 [Portrait of Raymond Montague Rooper? and Dr. Robert G. Brett, ca.1890]
8 [Portrait of Dr. Robert G. Brett]
9 R. G. Brett, Xmas 1910
10 [Dr. Robert G. Brett]
11 [Portrait of Louise H. Brett, Sept. 1900]
12 For Harry with love from Mother Banff, Sept. 1900 [Portrait of Louise H. Brett]
13 [Louise H. Brett, ca.1900]
14 [Dr. Robert G. Brett in buggy with horse Billie]
15 [Earle Brett, unidentified nurse, Dr. Robert G. Brett, unidentified boy, unidentified nurse and Raymond Rooper in front of Brett house, ca.1895]
16 [Louise H. Brett with dogs]
17 Father's winter rig. One that took with Effie & the boy [Dr. Brett's cutter]
18 [Dr. Robert G. Brett in launch at New York?]
19 [Dr. Robert G. Brett in launch at New York?]
20 [Dr. G. J. Johnson, Dr. John E. Clough with Mrs. Clough, Miss Johnson, Dr. Brett and nurse]
21 [Group of people on lawn. Back row: Louise Brett, second from left, Harry Brett, 3rd from left, Dr. Robert G. Brett, far right. Front row: Earle Brett, 2nd from right]
22 [Lieutenant-Governor Brett in car on new Banff bridge, ca.1923]
23 [RCMP group at celebration of 50th anniversary of signing of Treaty Seven?, 1927?]
24-28 [RCMP at Blackfoot Crossing for celebration of 50th anniversary of signing of Treaty Seven?, 1927?]
29 [RCMP at Edmonton, ca.1925]
30 [Lieutenant-Governor Robert G. Brett cutting ribbon at opening of Banff-Windermere Highway, June 23, 1923]
31 [Lieutenant-Governor Robert G. Brett and group in front of car, August 30, 1925]
32-38 [Lieutenant-Governor Robert G. Brett, ca.1925]
39 [Louise Brett and unidentified women, ca.1930]
40 [Portrait of Earle Brett, 1887]
41 [Portrait of Earle Brett, 1889] 18 months old
42-43 Vienna, Earle Six years old [portraits, 1894]
44 Earle Brett, aged 13 years, Banff, Sept.1900
45-46 [Portrait of Earle Brett, ca.1905]
47 [Earle Brett, far right, with group, ca.1910]
48 [Group includes Harry Brett, Helen Brett, Maidie & Earle Brett in Upper Hot Springs pool, ca.1910]
49 [Earle and Maidie Brett with others in Upper Hot Springs pool, ca.1910]
50 [Earle and Maidie Brett, ca.1910]
51 [Catherine Brett in front of Brett House, ca.1914]
52 [Catherine Brett and Mrs. Earle Brett near Brett Drugstore, ca.1915]
53-54 [Catherine Brett, ca.1916]
55 [Portrait of Harry Brett, ca.1889]
56 [Harry Brett, ca.1895]
57 [Harry Brett working in his studio] Feb. 1899
58 [Harry Brett, right front seat, on sightseeing bus, 1899]
59 [Dr. Harry Brett's graduation portrait, 1902]
60 [Group portrait of medical students includes Harry Brett, left, Stuart McKidd, centre, and Algernon Lindsay, second from right, ca.1900]
61 [Group portrait of medical students includes Harry Brett, left front), Stuart McKidd, left back, and Algernon Lindsay, right front), ca.1900]
62 [Group of medical students including Harry Brett, centre rear), ca.1900]
63-65 [Humorous postcards of Harry Brett]
66 [Group of women with Harry Brett, back row, and Algernon Lindsay, seated]
67 [Group out on trail includes Howard Sibbald, Mrs. Jimmy Simpson, Kina Sibbald, Mary Sibbald, Harry Brett, Del Sibbald]
68 [Harry and Helen Brett]
69 [Harry Brett sitting on rustic bench with women]
70 [Harry Brett on horse Billie]
71 [Harry Brett]
72 [Dr. Harry Brett beside the Brett Hospital]
73 [Harry Brett, ca.1912]
74 [Harry Brett and Mrs. Louise Brett? picking fruit off tree]
75 After the battle, Banff Bonspiel, prize winners 1913 [left to right: Dr. Lyman, George Hunter, Harry Brett (skip), Scot Ashley]
76 [Curling at Banff - left to right: John Wilson, Bill Ritchie, Arthur Saddington, Harry Brett, ca.1912]
77-78 [Curlers posed in front of Brett Hospital]
79 [Helen Brett, Catherine Brett, Maidie Brett, Harry Brett, on lawn near tennis court, ca.1913]
80 [Harry & Helen Brett and unidentified nurse on steps of Brett Hospital, ca.1910]
81 [Nurse Helen Brett and another nurse]
82 [Nurses attending patient at Sanitarium operating room, Helen Brett, centre]
83 [Portrait of Helen Brett]
84 [Helen Brett on Tunnel Mountain]
85 [Portrait of Raymond Montague Rooper?]
86 [Portrait of Mrs. Donna Rooper, sister of Louise Brett), ca.1891]
87 [Portrait of Mrs. Donna Rooper & baby] Trevor G.H. Rooper, 18 months old
88-89 Trevor Hungerford Rooper, four months old
90 [Portrait of Trevor Rooper & Lionel Rooper]
91 [Portrait of Mrs. Neville (Katie) Lindsay, Louise Brett's sister)]
92 [Portrait of Mrs. Katie Lindsay] Jan. 1900
93 [Neville Lindsay's children]
94 [Algernon Lindsay?]
95 Hazel Lindsay 1914
96 Hazel Lindsay 1915
97 Lionel Lindsay, Bournemouth
98 [Mrs. Emmo McDermid]
99 [Mr. & Mrs. Andrew McDermid & son William] 1900
100 [Alida McDermid, 1895]
101 [William McDermid] 1895
102 [Brenda Louise Hungerford]
103-104 [Portraits of unidentified Brett relatives]
105 [Portrait of unidentified female relative?]
106 [Unidentified man in uniform]
107 [Catherine Brett with half brothers Robert & John Robarts, ca.1920]
108 [Herbert Robarts with stepdaughter Catherine Brett and sons Robert & John, ca.1924]
109 [Portrait of priest? in robe] 1904
110 [Portrait of J. F. Betts]
111 [Portrait of Louis Castellain, 1896]
112 [Portrait of Alexander Hugh Ferguson]
113 [Portrait of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Borden?]
114-115 [Portraits of unidentified men]
116 [Portrait of unidentified man] 1900
117-120 [Portraits of unidentified men]
121 [Man in uniform]
122-131 [Portraits of unidentified people]
132 J.H. McIllree [Assistant Commissioner, NWMP]
133 Lily McIllree
134-136 [Portraits of soldiers]
137 Geo. H. Hogbin
138 George Paris [ca.1902]
139 Dr. O.A. Lyman
140 Ralph Douglas
141 [Buffalo Child Long Lance?]
142 [Man sitting on wharf]
143 [Portrait of man with bulldog]
144 [Portrait of Banff Curling Club members, 1908-1909]
145 Ottawa, May 11th, 1896 [Group portrait]
146 Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Austin, Feby. 1896
147 [Wedding portrait, couple unidentified]
148 Mary Inglis, 1922
149-150 [Unidentified portraits]
151 [Portrait of Edna Kells]
152-154 [Unidentified portraits]
155 Elma Taylor, Jan. 1st, 1897
156 Marion Castellain, 1898
157-163 [Unidentified portraits]
164 Margaret G. Allan
165 Yokohama [woman wearing Japanese costume]
166-167 [Nurse]
168 [Graduation portrait of Norlaine]
169 [Portrait of Norah]
170 No.2 Mary Clarissa
171 No.3 Helen Alphonsus
172 No.4 Gertrude Philomena
173 No.5 Catharine Harriet
174 [Portrait of Catherine Brett?]
175 [Portrait of Julian Eltinger?]
176 [Unidentified children]
177 Charles David Crawley Age 4 months, 1916
178-182 [Portraits of unidentified boys]
183-186 [Portraits of unidentified girl]
187 Isobel Valerie Jones Oct. 1910
188 [Portrait of girl]
189 [Portrait of unidentified children]
190 Robin & Evelyn Inglis
191 [Portrait of unidentified children]
192 Geo Paris on the beach Victoria, 1919
193 Mrs. Geo [Ida] Paris at Victoria, 1919
194 [Left to right-Ted Paris, Herb Paris, George Paris, Mrs. George (Ida) Paris, Cyril Paris, Georgie Paris, ca.1912]
195 Mrs. George Paris, Dr. Johnstone, Lena Boyd
196 How is this for a Banff Sport? Some sport eh? [Unidentified man]
197 [Man playing hockey on Mather's skating rink]
198 [Sanitarium Hotel workers playing with a monkey]
199 I thought you would like one of "Pete" M.B. [couple sitting on lawn with monkey]
200 [Man with wolfhounds]
201 [Mrs. Longworthy]
202 [Group of women sitting on lawn]
203-206 [Unidentified women]
207 Lena Lyman 1915
208 [Woman and child sitting on steps]
209 [Children sitting on steps]
210 [Unidentified child]
211 [Group of people at costume party]
212 [Group of people in costumes out in front of Bretton Hall]
213 [Group by car in front of lake, ca.1920]
214 [Winter camp near Banff]
215 [Winter scene]
216-217 [Unidentified woman]
218 [Group of coal miners]
219 [Group includes, back row)-Jimmy Larkin, Walter Peyto, Ben Woodworth, Harry Robinson, Ned Tabuteau;, front row)-Harry Davis, Jack MacCormick, Joe Dawmey]
220 [Bob Lothian driving the Sanitarium Hotel bus]
221 Sanitarium Hotel, Banff [ca.1910 photograph by S.J. Thompson]
222 [Demolition of Bretton Hall Hotel, ca.1933]
223 National Park Drug Store [2nd Brett Drug Store]
224 [The Brett Hospital]
225 [The Brett Block, ca.1912]
226 [Mr. & Mrs. Bevan Ashton and Phillip, Brett residence in background]
227 [Dr. Robert G. Brett's house]
228 March 1900 [Dr. Robert G. Brett's house in winter]
229 Not so very good of the house but the best I could get hold of M.B. [Dr. Robert G. Brett's house showing addition]
230 [Interior view of Senator Forget's house, formerly Dr. Brett's house]
231 [Beach House, Lake Minnewanka, ca.1890, photograph by A. B. Thom]
232 [Original NWMP barracks on Banff Avenue]
233 The Royal Party at Banff [Duke & Duchess of Cornwall & York in carriage, escorted by NWMP, 1901, photograph by S. J. Thompson]
234 [Canon H. Tully Montgomery, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, 1939]
235 [View from Sanitarium Hotel window of Banff townsite, 1886]
236 [Banff townsite from Brett Sanitarium, ca.1908]
237 [Group of men including NWMP officer on bridge across Bow River, ca.1890, photograph by John Woodruff]
238 [Bridge across Spray River]
239 [Swimmers in the Cave & Basin pool, ca.1890 photograph by John Woodruff]
240-241 [Unidentified man jumping horse behind Banff Ave., ca.1905]
242 This is a snapshot I took of the Regatta on Vermilion Lakes. Sept. 11th, 1908 / Neville Lindsay
243 [Canoes at boathouse with Mount Rundle in background]
244 [People on launch "The Lady of the Lake,"]
245 [Mathers cabin on Bow River, ca.1890]
246 Bow Valley from Grand View Villa
247 A view taken from Sulphur Mountain showing the Bow Valley and River, Tunnel Mountain on the left and Lake Minnewanka in the distance, Sept. 10th, 1908 / Neville Lindsay
248 [Bow River and view of the Goat Range]
249 [Bow Valley]
250 [Group of people by Bow River below Bow Falls]
251 [Vermilion Lakes in winter]
252 Desolation [Sundance?] Canyon
253 [Group of people at Sundance? Canyon]
254 [Woman on bridge at Sundance? Canyon]
255 [Unidentified mining operation?]
256 [Fountain at The Sanitarium?]
257 Driving the Golden Spike, by Hon. D.A. Smith, on C.P.R., Nov. 7, 1885, 9:30 a.m.[Donald Smith driving in the Last Spike at Craigellachie, BC] / [Ross, Best & Co.]
258 [Mount Stephen House, Field, B.C. / A.W. Palmer]
283 [Unidentified building] Ekaterinodar, South Russia. 9/12/19
284 "Valley Home" built by Joseph Saunders in 1804
285 [House in Pasadena, California]
286 [Dr. A. McDermid's house, Winnipeg, Manitoba, ca.1885 / T. R. Colpitts]
287 Bird's eye view of Banff, from Tunnel Mountain / Boorne & May [ca.1887]
288 "Killing" Western Canada Ranching Series 1912 by A. E. Brown
289 A deep ford Western Canada Ranching Series, 1912 / A. E. Brown
290 Out for a "Pull" Western Canada Ranching Series, 1912 / A. E. Brown
291 Day Herd Western Canada Ranching Series, 1912 / A. E. Brown
292 First to camp Western Canada Ranching Series 1912 by A.E. Brown
293 Round-up Camp on Milk River Western Canada Ranching Series, 1912 / A. E. Brown
294 Brett Hospital, Banff / D. White, Banff, Alta.
295 [Portrait of Dr. Robert G. Brett, Lt.-Governor of Alberta, ca.1920 / by A. L. Hess]
296 [Earle Brett riding a horse]
297 [Portrait of Mrs. Louise Brett, ca.1920 / A. L. Hess]
298 [Dr. R.G. Brett's Banff residence, Harry and Earle Brett on horseback, ca.1895]
299 Dr. R.G. Brett's Private Hospital and Sanitarium, Banff, Alberta / S. J. Thompson]
300 St. John's College Dramatic Society in "Heroes" 1908. -- [includes Earle Brett]
301 [Duke and Duchess of Connaught welcomed by Dr. R.G. Brett, Banff, Chinese boy at left is Goon Sir Wing, 1912]
302-303 [Masquerade party in the Brewster Hall. ca.1907]
304 [Sanitarium tally-ho carrying a group of people with sign "I'm a going to live anyhow until I die" ca.1905]
305 [Portrait of a woman in English riding clothes]
306 [Portrait of a woman leafing through a magazine]
307 [Portrait of a baby, ca.1921]
308 [Portrait of a woman]
309 [Portrait of General Harold MacDonald]
310 [Portrait of a priest?; underneath is photograph of young woman, 1912]
311 [A private residence in Ontario?, ca.1900]
312 [Curling team with Wiser's Red Letter Trophy - back left to right: Jim & Jock McCowan, Bull Ritchie, Jack ?, D.C. Bain - front left to right: Harry Brett, Arthur Saddington, ca.1915]
313 Kiwanis Club of Calgary, 1920
314 Cricket Club, Banff. August 1897 / R. H. Trueman [Earle Brett, front right, George Paris, back left, Harry Brett, back centre]
315 Dr. Brett's private residence and Sanitarium Hotel / R. H. Truman [with Earle Brett, Louise Brett? and Harry Brett, ca.1900]
316 [Portrait of Dr. Harry Brett]
317 [Mary Sibbald, Harry Brett, Hugh Sibbald and unidentified, ca.1905- 1910]
318 Canadian Industrial Congress, Edmonton, June 4 & 5, 1920
319 [Portrait of Harry Brett]
320 [Portrait of Lady Byng]
321 [Portrait of Julian Hedworth George Byng, Governor-General of Canada, 1921-1926]
Fonds consists of two sous-fonds: M521 and V75.
M521 consists of four series, 154 cm, ca.1870-2002. Series I: Dorothy Wardle Personal Papers, 69.5 cm, ca.1870-2002 (includes Dorothy's written work and research and notes related to Banff). Series II: Wardle Family, 32.5 cm, 1872-1998 (including cor…
154 cm of textual records. -- 1304 photographs (1190 prints, 95 negatives, 19 transparencies). -- 6 photograph albums.
History / Biographical
The Wardle family was comprised of husband and wife, James Morey Wardle (June 26,1888 - May 18,1971) and Maud Leette (Roney) Wardle (May 24,1889 - December 1,1969), and their one child, Dorothy Hope Wardle (May 23,1919 - July 20,2003).
James Wardle, born in Chiliwack, British Columbia, was a civil engineer and public servant. He was the Superintendent of Banff National Park from 1918-1921, Chief Engineer for Parks Canada from 1921-1935, and Deputy Minister of the Interior from 1935-1936. He is primarily known as a highway design engineer, particularly for building the Banff-Windermere, Banff-Lake Louise, and Banff-Jasper highways. He was a councillor for the Municipality of Rockcliffe Park in Ontario and he was the President of the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies in Banff from 1925-1929. Mount Wardle in Vermillion was named after him in 1921. James married Leette on November 4, 1913, with whom he had one child, Dorothy.
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Dorothy (also known as Dot and Dorie) grew up in Banff, Alberta and Ottawa, Ontario, due to her father's position with the federal government. She was educated at the Mountain School in Banff and at the Elmwood School in Ottawa. All three family members were graduates of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. James graduated in 1912 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Leette graduated with a Bachelor's degree, and in 1942, Dorothy also earned a Bachelor's degree. Dorothy was prominent in student life and active in athletics. In 1941, Dorothy became the first woman elected as President of the Alma Mater Society and during her academic career, Dorothy was a member of the Levana Intercollegiate Debative, University Centenary Committee, and Queen’s War Aid Commission.
Dorothy spent her career as a freelance writer however, upon graduation she served as the first Secretary-In-Charge of Records at Carleton College (now Carleton University) from 1942-1944 in Ottawa and in the mid-1950s worked as a secretary for the Glenbow Foundation in Calgary. Dorothy pursued a lifelong interest in traveling, art, and antiques. Although she was fiercely proud and protective of Banff and the Park, and remained a volunteer and patron of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Dorothy eventually settled in Sidney, British Columbia and shared an apartment with Sheila Iris Ritchie, with whom Dorothy travelled extensively. After her death in 2003, Dorothy, "Dorie," was laid to rest alongside her parents in the Old Banff Cemetery.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of two sous-fonds: M521 and V75.
M521 consists of four series, 154 cm, ca.1870-2002. Series I: Dorothy Wardle Personal Papers, 69.5 cm, ca.1870-2002 (includes Dorothy's written work and research and notes related to Banff). Series II: Wardle Family, 32.5 cm, 1872-1998 (including correspondence with Carl Rungius and Mrs. Helen Brett, and Christmas and other greeting cards from Peter and Catharine Whyte). Series III: Queen's University, 7.5 cm, 1911-1980 (including graduation certificates for each family member and records pertaining to Dorothy's participation on the Alma Mater Society). Series IV: Travel, 44.5 cm, ca.1950-1988 (includes hand-written notebooks meticulously detailing their travels).
V75 consists of two series, 79.5 cm, ca. 1912-2001. Series I: Wardle Family, ca. 1912-1971, 6 albums, 31 cm of photograph prints and negatives (including family trips, trail rides in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and family gatherings). Series II: Dorothy Wardle, 1972-2001, 34 cm of photograph prints, negatives, and transparencies (including Dorothy's travels in Alberta and British Columbia, overseas, and various outings with friends).
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 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.
Series consists of textual records and photographs pertaining to Eleanor Luxton's personal life, including Eleanor's hobbies, travel, volunteering and collected materials.
2.6 m textual records -- oversize textual records -- photographs
Scope & Content
Series consists of textual records and photographs pertaining to Eleanor Luxton's personal life, including Eleanor's hobbies, travel, volunteering and collected materials.
Notes
Series consists of 6 sub-series:
C1 : Volunteer activities: Records in this sub-series pertain to Eleanor Luxton's involement with the Junior Red Cross, the Canadian Women's Press Club, the Historical Society of Alberta, and the Southern Alberta Women's Pioneer and Old Timers' Association.
C2 : Scrapbooks
C3 : Diaries, daybooks, notebooks, notes
C4 : Travel and hobbies
C5 : Other (includes personal government documents, business and membership cards and some personal correspondence)