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This volume contains the journal of Edward B. Hartshorn from January 1858 to September 1863, anonymous writings regarding a possible trip to locations in the Mediterranean and Europe (including Palestine, Syria, Greece, Constantinople, London, France, and Rome), financial accounts for 1872 to 1873, arithmetic exercises, and a short poem on death.

Edward B. Hartshorn's began his journal while teaching in Pana, Illinois. He discussed daily life, including remarks on people with whom he socialized and gifts he received for teaching. He described his work at the school and Sunday school where he taught, including organized singing. He hoped to purchase his own house and land, and remarked on his homesickness. He attended a meeting of the Illinois Teachers' Association where officers were elected and a constitution drafted. Hartshorn was also a member of the Golden Rule Society and the Temperance Society. His cousins David and Thomas came to visit, with Thomas staying for the year. He also discussed his vegetarian diet, his hopes to found a manual labor school, and census-taking.

Hartshorn moved back home to Amherst, New Hampshire in November 1859. There, he joined with siblings in buying the family farm from their father. He discussed plans to start a school and his devout religious beliefs. A cousin "ruin[ed] the prospects" of "sister Annie." After some content on the early days of Hillside Manual Labor School, the journal skips from May 1860 to September 1862. By this point, Edward's health was poor and many of his friends "distrust" him. He stated that he had trouble recruiting students willing to participate in manual labor and many persons believed the school would fail. On August 23, 1862, he married Ann Elizabeth Baltzley and he noted that she did not agree with all aspects of his mode of living. He hoped to convince her otherwise. At the end of December 1862, Hartshorn traveled to Reed's Ferry, New Hampshire, where an agreement was made to combine schools and utilize the Reed's Ferry facilities. Following continued poor health, Hartshorn left the school in the first part of 1863 and then pursued farming. His sister Hannah stayed at the school after the move to Reed's Ferry. According to the diary, she became difficult and viewed Hartshorn and his wife as enemies. Subsequently, the Hartshorn couple moved away and, in September 1863, arrived in Ohio.

Several pages after the end of the Hartshorn's journal begins a section of travel entries by an anonymous author. The notes are brief snippets regarding locations in and around Jerusalem in 1869, expanding into Palestine and various biblical sites. The trip then proceeded to Syria, the Mediterranean, Greece, Constantinople, and into Europe (London, France, and Rome).

The anonymous travel accounts is followed by 1872-1873 accounts, including regular household expenses such as stamps, sewing supplies, rent, payments to "Arnold," and Christmas presents. Additional payments were to church and charity.

The final two pages of the book contain "Arithmetic examples" and a short poem musing on death.

Retired Naval officer George Richard Boush kept this diary, account book, and notebook between 1887 and 1889, while in Washington, D.C. Boush recorded his daily activities and wrote reflections on spiritual matters, including notes on lectures he attended by Spiritualists, Christian Scientists, Theosophists, and others. The diary/journal-like portion covers part of 1889 and includes content on trips to local markets and parks, visits, and news of navy acquaintances. He made notes on Swedenborgianism, Warren Felt Evans and New Thought, clairvoyance, and vegetarianism. He also added around 10 pages of genealogical notes.

Noted publications/Theosophical works quoted by Boush include The Esoteric: A Magazine of Advanced & Practical Esoteric Thought, The Buddhist Ray (a periodical), and The Primitive Mental Cure (Warren Felt Evans, 1885). Purchases Boush made at a local market include chicken, potatoes, strawberries, and other food items.

A small number of newspaper clippings are pasted into the front of the volume: one dated December 26, 1887, is about a child prodigy in calculation, and another dated December 21, 188[7?], regards French Spoilation claims.