Stuart Trueman

1911-1995

Stuart Trueman (writer, editor, historian, reporter, cartoonist, and humorist) was born in 1911 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Straight out of high school, he started out as a cartoonist and reporter at the Telegraph-Journal in Saint John, where he stayed for forty-two years, later becoming a sportswriter. In 1951, Trueman became the editor-in-chief at the Telegraph-Journal and Evening Times Globe, a position that he would hold for the last twenty years of his working career. Upon retirement in 1971, he continued to contribute to weekly columns until 1993. Trueman published fourteen books and wrote more than three hundred humorous articles for both Canadian and American magazines. He won the Stephen Leacock Memorial Award for humour in 1969 for his book You’re Only as Old as You Act (1968). Other books Trueman produced include: Cousin Elva (1955); The Ordeal of John Gyles: Being an Account of His Odd Adventures; Strange Deliverances, etc. as a Slave of the Maliseets (1966); An Intimate History of New Brunswick (1970); The Fascinating World of New Brunswick (1973); Ghosts, Pirates and Treasure Trove: The Phantoms that Haunt New Brunswick (1975); Tall Tales and True Tales From Down East: Eerie Experiences, Heroic Exploits, Extraordinary Personalities, Ancient Legends and Folklore From New Brunswick and Elsewhere in the Maritimes (1979); The Colour of New Brunswick (1981); and Add Ten Years to Your Life: A Canadian Humorist Looks at Florida (1989). Trueman’s wife, Mildred collaborated with him on two cookbooks: Favourite Recipes from Old New Brunswick Kitchens (1983) and Mildred Trueman’s New Brunswick Heritage Cookbook: With Age-Old Cures and Medications, Atlantic Fishermen’s Weather Portents and Superstitions (1986). Trueman passed away in his home in Saint John, New Brunswick, on 25 April 1995.

Predominant New Brunswick Residences:

Saint John

Archival Material

• Stuart Trueman fonds
  ⌄
  Location

  University of New Brunswick Archives & Special Collections

  Website/Catalogue Record

  View Archival Record

  Retrieval Number

  MG H 166

  Date Range of Material

  1926-1995, predominant 1950-1995

  Extent

  11.46 m textual records and other material

  Scope and Content Note

  This fonds documents Stuart Trueman's literary career as author of books and articles published nation-wide between the late 1940s to the 1990s. It also documents his career as a reporter, editor, and columnist with The Telegraph-Journal and The Evening Times-Globe from the late 1920s to 1993. In addition, the fonds reflects his activities as a public speaker and as a member of several committees, most notably, the Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission. It also reflects his work as the Bank of Canada's New Brunswick representative for its Canada Savings Bond campaigns. As well, this fonds contains some of Mildred Trueman's correspondence and financial records.bIt includes incoming and outgoing correspondence, research materials, speaking notes, travel itineraries, newspaper clippings, minutes, reports and personal mementos. The fonds also includes handwritten, typed, and published copies of Trueman's articles and columns as well as handwritten and typed copies of his books. Graphics include photographs, negatives, cartoon illustrations for books, promotional posters, proofs of book covers and original dust jackets. Artifacts that accompanied this fonds have not been processed and include invitations to various formal functions and certificates of appreciation.