The collection begins with daily diaries kept by Brown or his family between 1851 and 1917. Brown's first diary contains detailed descriptions of his planting and harvesting of fruit and vegetable crops throughout the year. He also records information about the weather, his livestock, local travels, attendance at church and Sunday School, family health, his marriage to Hyla Sample, and the birth of his first two children, Winnie and Alice. In the second diary in the collection, Brown writes that he is expecting the proof for his book, The People's Farm and Stock Cyclopedia (1884); on November 10, 1884, he states succinctly, "The Cyclopedia is out. After eighteen months of work and waiting my book has seen the light." The book was an accomplishment in more ways than one. Writing on May 25, 1885, Brown says: "I went to Cin[cinnati] today and sold out my royalty in the Farm and Stock Cyclopedia. I may have sacrificed future profits by so doing but I got enough for it to pay all I owe and enable me to build a much needed barn and I have been so long in bondage to that most merciless and tyrannical monster debt that I am more than rejoiced to escape from his clutches. From this day forth I intend to obey the apostolic injury than 'Owe no man anything but to love one another.' What we cannot pay for we will do without. As I look back over twenty seven years during which time I have always been in debt and suffered much anxiety I can see that it has been a good discipline for me and one which I needed and yet I rejoice and thank God for deliverance from it and believe that the time has now come when I need release from it and that a loving Father's hand has removed the burden. All the experience of my life is such that I can fully realize that God is "a present help in every time of need." Brown also provides details of his seed business orders, and an invitation to speak at farmers' institutes on gardening and truck farming, timber growing for profit, "Farm Life: Its Influence on the Character," and "What Farmers Ought to Know." Brown also reports on the election of Grover Cleveland as President of the United States and the presence of auctioneers at Miami University in June 1885, near the time that the university reopened, after declining enrollment and financial difficulties prompted it to close in 1873. On September 17, Brown writes of attending a meeting to celebrate Miami's opening. Brown also demonstrates his entrepreneurship by selling cherries during Miami's reunion weekend festivities and Peach Blow potatoes during a strawberry show in Hamilton, Ohio that year. Brown's third diary spans July 1, 1886 through June 30, 1889. On July 27, 1886, he records that he received a letter from Circleville, Ohio asking him to speak. If he goes, he states that his topic will be "Farm Life: How To Make the Most of It." Other diary entries record details of his harvest; for example, on September 8, 1886, he observes that his four acres of potatoes yielded over 600 bushels. In April 1888, Brown records that he planted Telephone peas; the Snow Flake, Mammoth Pearl, New York Burbank, and Early Ohio varieties of potatoes; and carrot varieties, including Scarlet Stumpfoot, White Belgian, and Danvers. In May 1889, he expanded his crop to include Cattle beets, Slowell corn, Marrowfat peas, and King of the Garden lima beans. Brown also mentions picnicking at Hueston Woods on July 23, 1887, and the election of Benjamin Harrison as president of the United States on November 7, 1888. The diary ends with lists of subjects for Institute lectures, together with information about addresses delivered and miles traveled. It also includes a note that Brown contracted to grow 100 pounds of gourd seeds for the A.W. Livingston seed company (a business still operating in Columbus, Ohio) at 75 cents per pound, together with 50 pounds for the U.S. Government.Brown's fourth diary chronicles the period from April 22, 1892 to May 31, 1894. Here, he lists what he plants for the growing season, recording how many nutmegs, melons, sweet potatoes, and apples he sold, and to whom. Brown also observes helpful details of local life. For example, on September 14, 1892, he notes that Miami University opened with 120 students. Throughout the period of the diary, he also brings Western Female Seminary students home for vacations. On Brown's 60th birthday, October 24, 1892, he writes: "The past year has been one of blessings. Good health, profitable personal work, and fairly good crops on the farm. I have the affection and respect of my family and the great satisfaction of knowing that all my children have firm principles and are doing useful work in the world. My dear wife who I feared years ago would not live long is well now and happy. We have improved our home during the past year and made it more convenient and roomy than before. I bless God for his mercies and pray that I may ever be his loving child." Brown also travels extensively, lecturing in Madison, Licking, Knox, Ashland, Richland and Clark counties of Ohio in December 1892. The following February, Brown observes that he lectured 42 days and traveled 2811 miles, lecturing at 23 different places and about 80 times. On July 25, 1893, Brown writes that he and his wife went to the Chicago World's Fair. "We found the Exposition all and more than we expected," Brown said. "A wonderful exposition of the progress of the age. We roomed at McCormick Theological Sem[inary] and boarded with a private family and our expenses for the five days away from home were $38.80. RR [railroad] fare $14.00 Parlor car $4.00 Room $5.00 board 5.25 admission 3.00 street car & incidentals $7.55. We were well pleased and felt it to be money well spent." Toward the end of the diary, Brown records his work with putting 236 eggs in an incubator. "The outcome is that ten measley [sic] chickens hatched and 226 eggs went to the dogs or rather the hogs," Brown writes. "Such is life. We learn by experience." The diary concludes with lists of sweet potato orders in 1894, weekly traveling expenses in the winter of 1894, miles traveled for lecturing in 1892 and 1893, and Institute lecture subjects. Brown's fifth diary covers the period from June 12, 1905 to April 8, 1909. On June 15, 1905, Brown states that he attended Miami's commencement exercises that day, at which Secretary of War William Howard Taft delivered the address. "This was the star attraction of the day and many visitors were present from Hamilton and Cincinnati to hear this man eminent, and all but pre-eminent in the councils of the Nation," the June 1905 Miami Student reported. "Secretary Taft spoke discursively but with very pleasing effect on our duties as citizens of these great United States, touching both foreign and domestic phases of this problem. It was just such a speech as could be expected from such a man. Nothing ornate or effusive but full of good hard sensible patriotism of the kind that makes for the larger growth and national uplift that distinguishes our country from others of a similar form of government," the article continued. On September 9, 1905, Brown writes that he went to Columbus to the state fair on September 4 and stayed there until September 8. He also attended a reunion of the 167th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the division in which Brown served during the Civil War. Brown continues to report on events of the day. For example, he writes about the earthquake in San Francisco on April 16, 1906. "The shock lasted 3 minutes only but the devastation was complete and buildings fell like card houses and fire broke out on all parts of the city and the water mains were destroyed," Brown wrote. "The fire spread until the city is practically a ruin the loss is great but not estimated as yet but runs into thousands and if property into hundreds of millions." On June 14, 1906, Brown writes that he went to Commencement and saw many of his old college friends, but he "gave out" and was not able to walk to the platform. "My sands of life are ebbing 'beyond the waking & the sleeping I shall be soon,'" Brown writes. A different handwriting consistently appears in diary entries beginning January 1, 1907. Since Brown died in July 1907, the diarist is most likely one of his children. On June 22, 1907, the diarist provides helpful information about what the Brown crop contained that season: "Planting south side of garden. Sunflowers, beans, sweet corn, beets, hoeing beets & sweet corn near berry patch. Put cow peas in square back of pasture. Jones beans are planted as follows. Golden crown first row N. end of row Black speck next row east end New Early Golden, W. end Black speck, next row East and Burpee's Golden Wax W. end Garden Pride Middle New Early Golden Pod. Covered all but two hills cucumbers at W. end with paper for a few days to shade and keep from drying out. Ground quite dry but in excellent condition." Apparently, the seed business also continued after Brown's death; the diary entry for August 21, 1907 records that a check was received from D.M. Ferry & Co. for kale seed. Diary entries also reveal that the Brown family is still providing produce for local colleges. On October 31, 1907, the family sold 28 bushels of Gold Coin potatoes to Hepburn Hall, which was the women's dormitory at Miami University. The diary concludes with lists of financial accounts. The sixth diary in the collection continues with details about annual planting and harvesting of crops. The second half of the diary provides information about wages paid to hired help, pasture records, and credits and expenses. In addition to describing planting and harvesting crops, the collection's final diary mentions some news of the beginnings of World War I. On February 20, 1917, the diarist writes, "Germany getting unbearable. Looks very much like war with - U. S. Diplomatic relations severed. Waging a ruthless warfare on the seas since Feb. 1. War prices unprecedented." The diary also includes groceries and other expenses recorded during the period, as well as expenses incurred with the family automobile. The diary also includes "pointers" on operating the automobile, such as "Watch brake - apt to leave it on" and "Don't try to take Western hill on high [gear]." The diary concludes with an account of expenses incurred on home maintenance, such as painting the porch roof and wallpapering rooms, and experiences after purchasing a share in an incubator. The collection continues with address books and an account book belonging to Brown family members. The final series in the collection comprises ordnance papers of the 4th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, dating from 1863 through 1866. These papers include receipts of clothing issued to privates, camp equipment, receipts for purchases, lists of stores received, and even a paper for receiving an "unserviceable horse."