"High Fashion in the Rockies – A new story has been added focusing on a surprising collection of gorgeous dresses belonging to Georgina and Eleanor – the Luxton ladies. Rediscovered in the Eleanor Luxton Historical Foundation collection were dozens of beautiful dresses from 1910 through the 1960s. A small percentage of this extraordinary assortment of apparel along with accessories including gloves, purses, smoking paraphernalia and lingerie, is now in the Heritage Gallery as part of The Stuff of Legend: The Luxton Family in Banff and the Bow Valley."
So read the Whyte Museum's promotional piece for this exhibit. This was one of several exhibits on display at the Whyte Museum when we visited in the spring of 2010. This was one of two exhibits that were directly related to the Luxton family.
The Luxton family were Banff pioneers, and played a huge role in the 20th century history of Banff. Norman Luxton settled in Banff in 1902 and acquired the Crag and Canyon newspaper. He developed close ties with the Stoney indian tribe, and he "founded the Sign of the Goat Curio Shop, which led to the development of the Luxton Museum of Plains Indians, now the Buffalo Nations Museum" according to his bio on The Eleanor Luxton Historical Foundation website. The bio goes on to say that Norman "was one of the organizers of Banff Indian Days and the Banff Winter Carnival."
"Georgina McDougall Luxton (1872-1965) was the granddaughter of Reverend George and Elizabeth McDougall, pioneer missionaries in Alberta since 1862" according to her bio. She married Norman Luxton in 1904. "Georgie", as she was known, was fluent in 2 native languages, Stoney and Cree, and her ties to the native peoples no doubt influenced Norman to develop close ties to the Stoneys.
Their only child, Eleanor, was born in 1908. Eleanor Luxton became very well educated and accomplished, and maintained close relations with her parents until they died in the 1960s. She continued to live in the family home until she passed away in 1995. The Luxton family legacy lives on through the foundation Eleanor Luxton established.
All materials on this site are copyright 1992-2012 by Doug Gorsline / ashcreekimages.com
