Kathleen “Kit” Coleman: How Canada’s Early Presswoman Led the Way for Journalists Today

Kathleen “Kit” Coleman was born Catherine Ferguson in County Galway, Ireland in 1856. She immigrated to Canada in 1884, identifying herself as a childless young widow who needed to make a living. After a failed second marriage and a move from Toronto to Winnipeg, Kit moved back to Toronto in order to support her two children. She took on odd jobs, eventually finding work as a freelance writer. In Toronto, Kit published a few short stories in Saturday Night magazine, and then began writing for the Daily Mail newspaper—a big step forward in her journalism career.

In 1889, Kit joined the Toronto Daily Mail as a women’s editor. Her weekly, seven-column “Woman’s Kingdom” page featured a mix of observations and advice, thought-provoking articles, and travel writings. “Kit,” as her readers knew her, quickly gained a loyal following. Her pen name allowed her to tackle a variety of topics somewhat anonymously, and kept her fans guessing her true identity (and gender).

"Which is Kit?" illustration published in the Mail, 1890. Kit's readers were curious about her true identity, which she preferred to keep private.

Kit was a woman of many firsts: she became the first accredited woman war correspondent in North America for her 1898 reporting on the Spanish-American War in Cuba, helped establish the Canadian Women’s Press Club in 1904 and served as its first president, and was Canada’s first syndicated woman columnist.

“Her appointment as war correspondent to Cuba during the Spanish-American War was definitely inspiring, but it’s equally important that for 25 years or more she excelled at everyday journalism with her weekly women’s page, as well as with her colourful accounts of her travels, despite being a single mother most of that time,” says Dr. Barbara Freeman, Author of Kit’s Kingdom: The Journalism of Kathleen Blake Coleman and Adjunct Research Professor at Carleton University.

Soon after her return home from Cuba, Kit married Dr. Theobald Coleman—her third and final marriage.

The silhouette collage of Kathleen “Kit” Coleman on our 2023 Fine Silver Proof Dollar captures key moments in the journalist’s life and career: The Mail and Empire building in Toronto, Ont.; SS Circassian, the passenger ship that brought the Irish-born writer to Canada in 1884; a partial map of the Atlantic Ocean, to represent her travels and dispatches; a view of Kit writing at her desk; and a vintage typewriter that symbolizes her legacy and impact on Canadian journalism.

Throughout her career in journalism, Kit stood firm in her beliefs. She fought to write about a wide range of topics, some of which were not seen as appropriate for women at the time—such as politics and big business. Kit had a vision for her work and vehemently believed in it and, in doing so, gained a dedicated fanbase while also paving the way for better representation in newsrooms and a more equal standing for Canadian women in other aspects of life.

“In her own era, Kit encouraged the young women journalists around her to insist on their place in what was a very male-dominated industry,” says Dr. Barbara Freeman. “The reason we see so many female journalists today is because Kit and the women she inspired demonstrated such perseverance generations ago.”

Today, Kit’s influence is clear: women account for 52.7% of all newsroom staff in Canada, according to a recent survey by the Canadian Association of Journalists.

While there is still much work to be done to achieve true diversity and representation in newsrooms across the country, Kit serves as a reminder and inspiration that change is possible.

Learn more about the life and legacy of Kathleen “Kit” Coleman and the 2023 Silver Proof Dollar minted in her honour here.