A. P. Coleman

Canadian geologist, professor, minerals prospector, artist, Rockies explorer, backwoods canoeist, world traveller, scientist, popular lecturer, museum administrator, memoirist. Coleman was one of Canada’s most beloved scientists. "Geology was at once his vocation, his avocation and his recreation." (J.B. Tyrrell) There was always another mountain to climb; rock, clay and glacial till to examine.

This virtual exhibit presents a thematic introduction to A.P. Coleman’s life and work by presenting a representative sampling of the materials in the A.P. Coleman Archive, Victoria University Library (Toronto). The exhibit also draws on the Royal Ontario Museum Archives' A.P. Coleman Collection of photographs, and specimen and period instruments from the Royal Ontario Museum’s Department of Natural History collections.

The project has received funding from the Canadian Council of Archives, Archival Community Digitization Project.

About this Online Exhibition

Manuscript. A.P. Coleman "Career of A.P. Coleman" (detail) in Reply to Presentation of Penrose Medal [1936].

Watercolour. Coleman; A.P. Columbia River, Robson B.C. 1920.

Photograph. Portrait of A.P. Coleman holding a hammer. ca1930.

Map. A.P. Coleman. Map of Mount Robson. ca1908, manuscript.

Watercolour. A.P. Coleman. Ford's House, Nakvak Bay, Northern Labrador, August 25, 1915.

Watercolour. A.P. Coleman. Head of Brazeau River, Alberta: 251. n.d.

Watercolour. A.P. Coleman. Iceberg, Labrador Coast : S548. n.d.

Watercolour. A.P. Coleman. Entrance to Lyngenfiord, Northern Norway : S570. n.d.

Sketchbook. A.P. Coleman. "Glacier South of Fortress Lake, Misty Mountain" in Sketchbook 1a. 1892.

Sketchbook. A.P. Coleman. "Among Crevasses " in Sketchbook 1a 1892.

Published work. A.P. Coleman. Glaciers of the Rockies and Selkirks. 1921.

Photograph. A.P. Coleman. Bow River Valley and Mount Rundle, Banff, ROM 007. n.d.

Watercolour. A.P. Coleman. Rocky Mountains Expedition, Men and Ponies by a River. n.d.

Photograph. Assaying Laboratory, University of Toronto, ca1890 (Coleman third from the left)

Artifact. The Webster Prize presented to Arthur Coleman of the Junior Year for the first English Essay, May 26, 1875. S.S. Nelles President (bookplate). 1875

Watercolour. A.P. Coleman. Old Residences, University of Toronto. n.d.

Artifact. Menu from the Complimetary Dinner in Honour of Professor A.P. Coleman ... 1910

Artifact. Lotta Seaton. Coleman Portrait with Axe and signature [colour reproduction of oil painting], ca1922

Artifact. Paul Wilson. A.P. Coleman's Ice Axe. n.d. ROM. Department of Natural History

This project was made possibe - in part or entirely - through the Canadian Culture Online Program of Canadian Heritage, Library and Archives Canada and the Canadian Council of Archives.