Sub-Series 1: Family albums and work site albums

This collection consists of the papers of Leslie Coleman, an entomologist, plant pathologist and virologist. He was the first Director of Agriculture in Mysore State. Coleman was instrumental in setting up agricultural research and agricultural education institutions in the state.

The Coleman papers are arranged into the following series:

Series 1: Correspondence

Series 2: Writings

Series 3: Media coverage

Series 4: Research reprints

Series 5: Photographs

Series 6: Material related to Coleman’s demise

Series 7: Other material from Coleman family

Series 8: Material collected by Ann Widdowson

The Correspondence series consists of letters to and from Leslie Coleman and the Coleman family. These have been divided into sub-series, letters to Leslie Coleman, letters from Leslie Coleman to family during visit to India, 1953-54 and tributes. The letters from India in 1953-54, document the people, places and events that were part of Coleman’s state sponsored tour of Mysore state. Tributes contain commemorative addresses given to Coleman during his visit to India in 1953-55.

Writings contain handwritten and typed work by Coleman reflecting on his work and travels in India. Coleman was thinking of writing a book about his time in India. His writings are based on his views and observations of agricultural practices and life in the villages and towns in the Mysore state.

The research reprints includes reports, papers and studies conducted by Coleman with his colleagues. Coleman’s research interests in plant pathology and experimental agriculture is part of this series, including his study of the Deccan grasshopper species he had conducted with K Kunhi Kannan.

Media coverage of Coleman’s retirement in 1933-34 contains newspaper clippings of an investiture ceremony and reports of Coleman’s retirement which detail his contributions to the Department of Agriculture in Mysore State.

The photographs series contains photographs taken by Coleman or his family members. The sub-series includes albums, group photos, greeting cards, loose photos, and photos related to Coleman’s visit to India in 1953-54. These document their everyday life in Mysore, travels around the state as well as in the rest of India. The photographs also document Coleman’s work with colleagues at the Department of Agriculture and other agriculturists and farmers across the Mysore state. Documented in the photographs are the Coleman and Morris family, their domestic staff, public buildings and landscapes of Mysore state such as Carlton house and Billigirirangan hills, and social and cultural events namely the Mysore Dasara celebrations. There are a few official albums and photographs that document certain agricultural activity in the Mysore State such as the sericulture factory in Channapatna or areca nut processing. Some of the photographs are sensitive ethnographic portraits of people categorised on basis on religion, caste or occupation through cultural practises, costumes or objects.

Material related to Coleman’s demise includes letters offering condolences sent to Coleman’s family, and media coverage which contains obituaries and newspaper reports of Coleman’s demise.

Correspondence sent to Coleman’s family from friends in India or any work that contains references to Coleman have been kept under other material from Coleman family. This includes notes on family history and a part of a picture book on the family.

Material collected by Ann Widdowson, Coleman’s daughter, are mostly related to a Coleman Lecture series and events at GKVK, Bangalore held in 2014. Also included are ephemera and documents related to Leslie Coleman such as biographical notes, a booklet etc.