Born and raised in the city of Auburn, Maria Coleman was often inspired by the history of her hometown.
Having learned about some of the city’s most famous residents in school, Coleman took a special interest in local legends like former Secretary of State William Henry Seward, and in 2015 she began working at the Seward House Museum on South Street. And it was there that Coleman discovered the diaries of a somewhat forgotten figure — Seward’s youngest daughter, Fanny.
“I didn’t really know too much about her … but I really became drawn to Fanny,” Coleman said. “Diary writing is something a lot of people can relate to … and it was really interesting for me to see the world through her point of view.”
