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 a scrapbook consisting of news-clippings, correspondence from the Post Office Department of Canada, pasted-in calendar prints with accompanying calendar for the year 1950, 1949 calendar, pasted-in prints of photographs appearing in Luxton archival collections - various sub-series; …
5 cm of textual records (71 pages ; 30.5 x 38.5 cm)
History / Biographical
See fonds level description.
Scope & Content
File consists of a scrapbook consisting of news-clippings, correspondence from the Post Office Department of Canada, pasted-in calendar prints with accompanying calendar for the year 1950, 1949 calendar, pasted-in prints of photographs appearing in Luxton archival collections - various sub-series; articles about the Duke of Windsor, Prince Edward, and his youth and adulthood; b&w prints of photographs of the Royal couple visiting an Indian Camp at Fort William; coverage of Queen Elizabeth's and Prince Phillip's wedding in The Tatler and Bystander and The Picture Post publications.
File consists of a brochure titled "Alberta Herefords 1905 - 1955" and an open letter by Margaret Maw which was published on behalf of Calgary Power Ltd. Content pertains to Alberta's Jubilee celebrations, marking 50 years from the province's incorporation into Canada.
File consists of a brochure titled "Alberta Herefords 1905 - 1955" and an open letter by Margaret Maw which was published on behalf of Calgary Power Ltd. Content pertains to Alberta's Jubilee celebrations, marking 50 years from the province's incorporation into Canada.
Notes
File contains two duplicates of letter by Margaret Maw
File consists of three textual publications and a subject index booklet for a separate publication [accompanying publication not present in fonds]. Content pertains to the history of the Calgary Herald [ca. 1905]; the Alberta Division Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association; the history of Calgary's…
2 cm of textual records (4 volumes ; 23 x 29.5 cm or smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of three textual publications and a subject index booklet for a separate publication [accompanying publication not present in fonds]. Content pertains to the history of the Calgary Herald [ca. 1905]; the Alberta Division Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association; the history of Calgary's business and financial development; and Alberta's economy.
Album consists of 14 photographs and accompanying notes pertaining to various historical events in Alberta. Photographs in album pertain to the Ranchmen's Club in Calgary; an unidentified Stoney Nakoda chief receiving royalty payments for oil extraction in 1929; a group of police officers gathered …
Album consists of 14 photographs and accompanying notes pertaining to various historical events in Alberta. Photographs in album pertain to the Ranchmen's Club in Calgary; an unidentified Stoney Nakoda chief receiving royalty payments for oil extraction in 1929; a group of police officers gathered outside of a building [possibly the North-West Mounted Police Barracks in Canmore]; a cattle ranch, possibly located on a Blackfoot reserve; and other related subjects.
Notes
Photographs are copies of older images which were reproduced by Eleanor Luxton, ca.1955-1960. Dates and ownership details of original images is unknown.
File consists of information pamphlets and a bound reference handbook. Content pertains to an exhibition at Heinz Ocean Pier in New Jersey featuring the painting "Custer's Last Rally" by artist John Mulvaney; the Kihn-Ten Eyck Art School in Stamford, Connecticut; the art collections of the Henry E.…
1 cm of textual records (5 items ; 15 x 30.5 cm and smaller)
Scope & Content
File consists of information pamphlets and a bound reference handbook. Content pertains to an exhibition at Heinz Ocean Pier in New Jersey featuring the painting "Custer's Last Rally" by artist John Mulvaney; the Kihn-Ten Eyck Art School in Stamford, Connecticut; the art collections of the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery in California; "This is the Place Monument" in Salt Lake City; and various community events and a state fair in Minot, North Dakota.
Notes
Handbook is signed "N.K. Luxton" inside front cover
File consists of photographs sent to Norman Luxton from various friends, including "Red" [Cathcart?], Eugene LaPorte, Woodworth and Theodora Campbell, the Green family, and Ernest Maunder. Content pertains to Red [Cathcart's?] work transporting oil to mines, and views from his travels in British Co…
77 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 14.5 x 8.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs sent to Norman Luxton from various friends, including "Red" [Cathcart?], Eugene LaPorte, Woodworth and Theodora Campbell, the Green family, and Ernest Maunder. Content pertains to Red [Cathcart's?] work transporting oil to mines, and views from his travels in British Columbia and Camp Debert in Nova Scotia; Eugene LaPorte fishing near Lake Ontario; Indigenous communities in Panama [sent by Mr. and Mrs. Campbell]; photos of the Green family [names missing]; photos from a community and nearby forested areas [location and source unknown] with detailed notes on back of related personal memories; Ernest Maunder's model boat hobby; "Dorothy" feeding geese in February 1954 in Inglewood [region in Calgary?]; and photographs of various wildlife by J.H. [Jack?] Munroe.
Notes
Some photographs have annotations on back. Items LUX/I/E4/PA-389 and 397 also have directions and illustrations of property layouts
File consists of a scrapbook containing a newspaper article about the American Government effort to combat Nazi spies. Includes newspaper clippings of individuals who aided the breaking of spy codes and clippings of individuals jailed for being spys.
File consists of a scrapbook containing a newspaper article about the American Government effort to combat Nazi spies. Includes newspaper clippings of individuals who aided the breaking of spy codes and clippings of individuals jailed for being spys.