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].
Records in this file consist of Georgina Luxton's membership cards to Women's Southern Alberta Pioneers' and Old Timers' Association [also one membership fee receipt], Canadian Red Cross, the Navy League of Canada, and Banff Springs Golf Club; invitations to Canadian Pacific Pools, Canadian Pacific…
Records in this file consist of Georgina Luxton's membership cards to Women's Southern Alberta Pioneers' and Old Timers' Association [also one membership fee receipt], Canadian Red Cross, the Navy League of Canada, and Banff Springs Golf Club; invitations to Canadian Pacific Pools, Canadian Pacific Hotels Supper and Dance; tickets to the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympics; Banff Post Office registration; receipts from various Banff businesses; hotel receipts; and passes to Banff Indian Days.
File consists of 7 negative film strips with 37 images pertaining to David Hardisty McDougall and his wife Annie's 50th wedding anniversary party in 1958, which was held at their ranch near Cochrane, Alberta. Named individuals in photographs include Fred Graham, Norman Luxton, David Hardisty McDou…
37 photographs : b&w negative film ; 18 mm -- 2 photographs : b&w prints (copy negatives) ; 16 x 11 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of 7 negative film strips with 37 images pertaining to David Hardisty McDougall and his wife Annie's 50th wedding anniversary party in 1958, which was held at their ranch near Cochrane, Alberta. Named individuals in photographs include Fred Graham, Norman Luxton, David Hardisty McDougall, Annie (Hall) McDougall, May (McDougall) Ross, Georgina (McDougall) Luxton, and Jean (McDougall) Graham.
Notes
Photographs in file accompanied by copy negative sheet
File consists of professional portraits and photographs of Eleanor Luxton as a baby and child. Includes photographs of Eleanor being held by her parents, Norman and Georgina Luxton.
Photographs attributed to Byron Harmon and G. & W. Fear
Date Range
[1909-1915]
Physical Description
22 photographs : b&w prints ; 13.5 x 22.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of professional portraits and photographs of Eleanor Luxton as a baby and child. Includes photographs of Eleanor being held by her parents, Norman and Georgina Luxton.
Notes
Some photographs in file are duplicates of photographs in album LUX / II / C / PD - 3
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 portraits of various Stoney Nakoda people (including members of the Bearspaw, Hunter and Wildman families), as well as Joshua Wetsit of the Assiniboine Sioux First Nation in Montana. Some photographs are accompanied by handwritten notes with information pertaining to the photograph…
Photographs produced by Mitchell Studio (Baltimore, Maryland); Harry Pollard; Byron Harmon; Nicholas Morant; and Ernest Kehr. Some photographs not attributed
Date Range
[1905-1915]
1915
[1920-1940]
1929
1939
1950
1957
Physical Description
34 photographs : b&w prints ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of portraits of various Stoney Nakoda people (including members of the Bearspaw, Hunter and Wildman families), as well as Joshua Wetsit of the Assiniboine Sioux First Nation in Montana. Some photographs are accompanied by handwritten notes with information pertaining to the photographs.
File consists of 58 photographs pertaining to trips taken by Eleanor Luxton and her family and friends between 1910 and ca.1940, and animals and plants seen in the Banff area. Includes trips to Quebec and Marble Canyon.
58 photographs : b&w prints ; 23.5 x 18 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 58 photographs pertaining to trips taken by Eleanor Luxton and her family and friends between 1910 and ca.1940, and animals and plants seen in the Banff area. Includes trips to Quebec and Marble Canyon.
File consists of 54 photographs pertaining to members of the McDougall family, including professional portraits and family photographs. Individuals in photographs include: George McDougall; Annie (McKenzie) McDougall; David Nawash McDougall; John McDougall; Elizabeth (Chantler) McDougall; Dora and …
54 photographs : b&w prints ; 22 x 29 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 54 photographs pertaining to members of the McDougall family, including professional portraits and family photographs. Individuals in photographs include: George McDougall; Annie (McKenzie) McDougall; David Nawash McDougall; John McDougall; Elizabeth (Chantler) McDougall; Dora and Ada Wilson; May (McDougall) Ross; George and Jean Ross; Georgina (McDougall) Luxton; Douglas McDougall; Libby Young; and Fred Graham and Jean (McDougall) Graham.
File consists of 34 photographs pertaining to extended relatives of the McDougall and Ross families which were taken post-1940. Includes individual portraits of a man [possibly George Ross, 1941] and an unidentified young girl (1945). FIle also includes group photographs depicting Eleanor, Georgina…
34 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 18.5 x 20 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 34 photographs pertaining to extended relatives of the McDougall and Ross families which were taken post-1940. Includes individual portraits of a man [possibly George Ross, 1941] and an unidentified young girl (1945). FIle also includes group photographs depicting Eleanor, Georgina (McDougall) and Norman Luxton; Annie (McKenzie Hall) McDougall; Norah Fortune (granddaughter of Annie McDougall's cousin, Alexander Begg), with her husband Arthur and son Art; David Arthur McDougall; and several members of the May family.
Notes
Some individuals in photographs are not identified
File consists of 37 photographs depicting friends and extended members of the Luxton family. Includes professional portraits, postcard prints and candid photographs. Individuals include members of the Nolan and Boswell families, Mary Watson, Will Kidner, John and Ada Wilson, Sam Kellock, W.W. Kemp,…
37 photographs : b&w prints ; 15 x 21 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 37 photographs depicting friends and extended members of the Luxton family. Includes professional portraits, postcard prints and candid photographs. Individuals include members of the Nolan and Boswell families, Mary Watson, Will Kidner, John and Ada Wilson, Sam Kellock, W.W. Kemp, Arnold and Charles Douglas, Sam Howe, and George and Bob Findlay. Items LUX/III/C3/PA-192 to 204 pertain to trips to Marble Canyon and Sibbald Ranch with Norman Luxton and members of the Sibbald and Fisher families [ca.1904].
File consists of 41 photographs depicting friends and extended members of the Luxton family. Includes professional portraits, postcard prints and candid photographs. Individuals include Byron Harmon and his wife Maude; Norman and Georgina Luxton; Annie Whitaker; Ben Crawler and Mrs. Crawler [first …
41 photographs : b&w prints ; 28 x 22 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 41 photographs depicting friends and extended members of the Luxton family. Includes professional portraits, postcard prints and candid photographs. Individuals include Byron Harmon and his wife Maude; Norman and Georgina Luxton; Annie Whitaker; Ben Crawler and Mrs. Crawler [first name not identified] during Banff Indian Days; Jeanette Windsor; Inspector K. Duncan of the RCMP; Chief Buffalo Child Long Lance (Sylvester Clark Long) ; members of the Harrison family; Margaret and Ashley Hine; and Winifred Ivy Hayden. Includes set of photographs pertaining to ceremony naming Georgina Luxton as Stoney Princess "Rainbow Woman", 1934.
File consists of 2 photograph prints pertaining to David Hardisty McDougall and his wife Annie's 50th wedding anniversary party in 1958, which was held at their ranch near Cochrane, Alberta; and the wedding of Virginia and George Dutchik.
File consists of 2 photograph prints pertaining to David Hardisty McDougall and his wife Annie's 50th wedding anniversary party in 1958, which was held at their ranch near Cochrane, Alberta; and the wedding of Virginia and George Dutchik.
File consists of photographs sent to Georgina Luxton from friends and family, as well as portraits of Georgina. Includes images of Georgina Luxton on a float at a Calgary Stampede parade; Georgina and her brother, David Hardisty McDougall, at the wedding of David's daughter (Virginia); an image of …
Item LUX/III/B2/PA-13 produced by Calgary Herald photographer
Date Range
[ca.1890-1960]
Physical Description
16 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 21 x 27.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of photographs sent to Georgina Luxton from friends and family, as well as portraits of Georgina. Includes images of Georgina Luxton on a float at a Calgary Stampede parade; Georgina and her brother, David Hardisty McDougall, at the wedding of David's daughter (Virginia); an image of purple flowers in a vase, annotated with a letter to Georgina from Mary (Schaffer) Warren; portraits of Georgina and various friends and family members; and other related material.
File consists of 3 photographs depicting Georgina Luxton dressed in traditional Stoney Nakoda regalia. File includes one hand-coloured copy and two b&w postcard print copies (one annotated and one non-annotated) of the same photograph.
33 photographs : b&w and col. prints ; 8.5 x 14 cm and 7 x 14 cm
Scope & Content
File consists of 3 photographs depicting Georgina Luxton dressed in traditional Stoney Nakoda regalia. File includes one hand-coloured copy and two b&w postcard print copies (one annotated and one non-annotated) of the same photograph.
Notes
Back of LUX/III/B4/PA-3 annotated in pencil: "Am26602 McConnell"
File consists of one print photograph and two duplicate transparency slides depicting the headstone of Norman and Georgina Luxton (and later Eleanor Luxton), 1966.
1 photograph : col. print ; 12.5 x 9 cm -- 2 col. transparency slides, 35 mm
Scope & Content
File consists of one print photograph and two duplicate transparency slides depicting the headstone of Norman and Georgina Luxton (and later Eleanor Luxton), 1966.
File consists of two colour photographs in one picture frame depicting Georgina Luxton resting in a bed, possibly at the Luxton family home in Banff, surrounded by gifts.
File consists of two colour photographs in one picture frame depicting Georgina Luxton resting in a bed, possibly at the Luxton family home in Banff, surrounded by gifts.
Material Details
Photographs are in small book-style frame with dark brown covers and gold-coloured metal trim
File consists of 10 photographs depicting Eleanor, Norman and Georgina Luxton. Includes two professional portraits of Eleanor as a baby and toddler, and photographs of Eleanor and her parents dressed in traditional Indigenous clothing as part of the Canadian Pacific Railway Exhibition in Toronto, 1…
Photographs produced by G & W Fear (Banff), and Pringle & Booth (Toronto)
Date Range
[ca.1909]
[ca.1910-1912]
1920
Physical Description
10 photographs : b&w prints ; 19 x 24.5 cm or smaller
Scope & Content
File consists of 10 photographs depicting Eleanor, Norman and Georgina Luxton. Includes two professional portraits of Eleanor as a baby and toddler, and photographs of Eleanor and her parents dressed in traditional Indigenous clothing as part of the Canadian Pacific Railway Exhibition in Toronto, 1920.
Notes
Some items in file are annotated
Items LUX/II/C5/PA-38 to 45 accompanied in file by original mailing envelope (annotated on back)