Early Years: 1867– 1880

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Arthur Philemon Coleman was a clear-eyed witness of his times.

The young boy kept a diary. It begins on January 1, 1867 with the inscription on the fly leaf, “He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” Arthur was 14 years old and living in Cobourg, Ontario.

Short journal entries reflect life in the country: skating on Lake Ontario with brother Lucius in January; hoeing turnips and fanning grain for Mr. Ashton in August; walking in the woods in April and finding a beautiful piece of birch bark to sew into the journal,

January 1st, 1867
I have now commenced to write a diary. Last night some persons commenced firing off guns and kept us awake for some time. I spent New years day very pleasantly skating etc. At night we boiled some molasses down to make taffy and we had great fun over it.

Jan. 2nd
Today Lucius & Adams went to school but Albert & I skated to Belleville while Pa & Ma went with the cutter.

Diary 1, 1867 - 1870, page 1

Drawing/ Illustration. A.P. Coleman. Portrait after an Old Master. n.d.

Photograph. Coleman Children. ca 1868 From left: Rufus, Lucius (seated), Helena, Arthur (seated).

Watercolour. A.P. Coleman. Harbor Scene, Cobourg, Sept. 1874.

Notebook. A.P. Coleman. Diary No. 1, 1867 – 1870, Cover