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Samuel Philbrick of Brookline, Massachusetts, kept this diary (53 pages) between January 10, 1857, and September 12, 1859, one week prior to his death. He wrote of the weather, his agricultural pursuits, and news of friends, family, and the local community. His entries reflect an interest in political and international affairs, touching on such topics as slavery and abolition, the Panic of 1857, the transatlantic telegraph, and more. Several entries regard his religious faith, and the concluding pages document his final illness and awareness of his impending death. Four loose manuscripts are laid into the volume, including condolence letters from Theodore Dwight Weld, Angelina Emily Grimké Weld, Sarah Moore Grimké, and Maria Weston Chapman, and a handwritten copy of a letter, possibly written by Samuel Philbrick, regards his youth growing up in New Hampshire.

Samuel Philbrick of Brookline, Massachusetts, kept this diary (53 pages) between January 10, 1857, and September 12, 1859, one week prior to his death. Philbrick wrote in great detail about the weather, making comparisons to former years, noting its impact on his agricultural pursuits and the local vegetation, and commenting on larger weather events like the disruptive blizzard and extreme weather in early 1857 (pages 1-6). He wrote about news of friends and family, including descriptions of his children's activities like the construction of William’s house and its associated costs (page 13), Edward’s marriage (page 16), and William’s business practices (page 24). He noted social visits, including one trip where he stopped at the Eagleswood School run by his friends Theodore Dwight Weld, Angelina Emily Grimké Weld, and Sarah Moore Grimké (page 49). Their son Charles Stuart Weld later visited the Philbrick family while traveling to Cambridge for entrance exams (page 53).

In addition to commentary on household activities and maintenance, farming, and local affairs, Philbrick remarked on notable events of the day, like the Panic of 1857 and its impact on currency, banking, and speculation (pages 18-25); the completion of the first transatlantic telegraph (pages 34-40, 43); Donati's Comet (page 41); and the Treaty of Tianjin (pages 40, 43-44).

Philbrick wrote several times about matters relating to slavery and abolition. He followed the disputed 1857 Kansas election regarding the inclusion of slavery in its constitution, noting with dismay, "It now seems probable that Congress, which is strongly democratic, which party goes all lengths in support of slavery, will accept Kanzas as a state with this vile Constitution, which will require all the United States Troops to enforce. And for this purpose a bill is now before Congress providing for a large increase of our standing Army that freedom & liberty may be subject to despotism" (pages 1 and 27). He noted his pessimism about how the growing demand for cotton, sugar, rice, and tobacco was fueling slavery (page 25). He recorded his attendance at a lecture by Wendell Phillips (page 10) and visits with William Lloyd Garrison (pages 41, 51, 52).

Several entries relate to his religious faith. He wrote of a visit to Seabrook, New Hampshire, pointing out changes in the community since he lived there and his first time attending a public Quaker Meeting since his departure from the Society of Friends (pages 14-15). In a later entry, he recorded being awoken in the night "with a clear and strong impression of these words from the Prophet Isaiah . . . and must have been presented by some guardian Angel for my benefit" (page 39). He also documented his birthday, and in 1859 attributed his prosperity to "constant attention and strict regard to the known Laws of Divine Providence" (page 46). Philbrick described his illness in the months preceding his death, those who visited him, and (in his final entry) his decline, mental state, and awareness of his impending death. "I am now approaching a change, the greatest of all others to which life is subjected..." (pages 51-53). Beneath the final entry, a note written in a different hand reads: "died Sep 19th about 9 A.M."

Three newspaper clippings are pasted onto page 54 of the volume, one regarding Samuel Philbrick's resignation from the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and two relating to his death.

• 1859 August 10. Rob[er]t F. Wallcut, AMsS; [Boston, Massachusetts]. 2 pages. Extract from the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society minutes regarding their acceptance of Samuel Philbrick's resignation as treasurer and gratitude for his service.
• [1859] September 22. Angelina [Grimké Weld], S[arah] M. G[rimké], and Theodore D. Weld ALS to Eliza [Philbrick] and Edward [Philbrick]; s.l. 4 pages. Condolences upon Samuel Philbrick's death. Remarks on his character, faith, and consolation of having family nearby. One-page transcript of Theodore Weld's message included.
• [1859] September 23. Maria Weston Chapman ALS to [Edward] Philbrick; Weymouth, [Massachusetts]. 7 pages. Attended Samuel Philbrick's funeral. Reflections on how his encouragement in the anti-slavery cause influenced her and her husband. Notes on bereavement.
• [Undated]. Letter Copy to C. H. Shipman; s.l., 4 pages. A handwritten copy of a letter, possibly written by Samuel Philbrick, to Shipman with comments on the education of children and abiding by the Divine Laws. Gives an account of his youth growing up in New Hampshire exposed to "vulgar & corrupted classes of workmen" and alcohol. Describes his turn to temperance and education. Religious reflections and beliefs.

Willard T. Perrin kept this pocket diary while attending Harvard University in 1869. Perrin wrote about daily activities such socializing with friends and family, attending church, playing baseball, and traveling around Massachusetts.

Willard T. Perrin kept this pocket diary while attending Harvard University in 1869. The diary contains supplemental printed information and labeled sections for each date, laid out 3 entries to a page. Perrin wrote irregularly throughout the year; the final pages contain additional notes and memorandums such as addresses, a debate question, an illustrated geometry problem, and Perrin's body measurements.

Most of Perrin's entries pertain to his social life and activities, such as Sunday school and services in Methodist, Congregational, and Unitarian churches. He frequently visited with members of his family and sometimes traveled to Waltham, Lowell, and other Massachusetts towns, often as a member of Harvard's baseball team; the diary records several results from games in which Perrin participated. Perrin sometimes noted events of interest such as a birthday party for his 80-year-old aunt (January 16, 1869), a viewing of the Aurora Borealis (April 15, 1869), the National Peace Jubilee and the dedication of a soldier's monument (July 15-20, 1869), and the inauguration of Charles W. Eliot as President of Harvard University (October 19, 1869).