Born in Glassport, Pennsylvania. Married Violet Mason. They had a son and two daughters. Employed as a building contractor.

He operated Mason Coin Shop in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. President of Federal Brand Enterprises, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio, beginning in 1942. Under his own name he conducted 41 mail bid sales 1956 to 1964. All were published in mint error periodicals.

Author of Numismatic Lincoln Cent Errors on 1960. An expanded and revised edition titled Numismatic Flying Eagle, Indian, and Lincoln Cent Errors was published in 1963.

Kolman was one of the founders of the Collectors of Mint Errors and editor of the C. O. M. B. Bulletin. With Dr. Jack Litman he developed the Kolit position system for describing positions on coins. (An earlier scale for measurement of coins and medals was developed by Dr. Collet of Philadelphia.)

He died in a Pittsburgh nursing home. Funeral arrangements were at Byrne Memorial Home run by Ray Byrne.

obit: CW 12/30/70 (photo); NN 1/5/71; NUM 84 Feb 1971 page 215; DOB: SSDI