This collection amounts to .75 cubic feet and consists of 21 diaries kept by Otis Monroe Southworth, which cover the years 1902-1923, a notebook owned by his son Grover during 1918, a 1922 by his son Walter, and a folder of items and photocopies of newspaper clippings taken from the diaries.

Each diary covers one year, with the year labeled in the upper right-hand corner of the item with masking tape. Most diaries are Standard Diary no. 135 measuring 3” x 4¾” and ¾” thick, and bound in red or black leather with a tab closure on the front and pocket on the inside of the back cover. The diary for 1904 is a Standard Diary measuring 3” x 6” and ¾” thick, with a brown cloth cover trimmed in red leather and the year written directly on the front. The volume for 1914 is an Excelsior Diary measuring 3” x 5” and is ¾” thick, bound in black cloth, and features a tab closure.

Most diaries show minimal wear with only small tears and moderate scuffing on the covers, but notably, diaries that were on the road with him for months at a time for work show more wear and tear. For example, the tab closure for the 1918 volume is broken off and tucked into the back cover. The 1907 diary is worn more than most due to traveling for most of the year. Someone attempted to repair a tear in the tab closer with clear tape. There is a small hole by the tape. The 1903 diary has a bore hole on the edge of the flap that covers bare edge of book, but there is no damage to the pages.

The entries are written in script in a variety of inks and sometimes pencil. Sometimes the pencil has smudged. Some entries, mainly while traveling, appear to have been recorded with carbon paper as if the original copy was sent home in a letter. Readability of the pages varies and it is probable that not all entries were recorded by Otis as the penmanship can go from small, clear, easy to read words to large imprecise loops. The entries made by possible carbon copy can be especially difficult to read as the text is darker and can be seen through the other side of the page.

Sometimes an entry is made on the wrong date, when this happens, he corrects it by crossing the printed date out and either handwrites or stamps the actual date of entry beside it.

Grover’s notebook is 2½” x 4½” is ¼” thick, bound in red leather. The front cover is embossed with “The Prudential Insurance Company of America and the back cover shows the company logo. There is minimal wear on the edges and spine. The inside of the spine has some cracking and some pages are missing. The pages are written in pencil, but smearing is minimal, and the text is legible.

Walter’s diary is 2¾” x 5¾” is ¼” thick and is bound in red leather. The words “Diary and Cash Account” are embossed on the front cover in script. There are minor scratches on the covering and light wear on the corners. Most entries are script written in ink and are legible but takes some work to decipher the handwriting.