This collection consists of nine handwritten diaries detailing the life and work of Walter E. Burton. The first diary, written when Burton was 53 years old, sets the tone, with all of the diaries containing full-page entries for each day of the year. The run of diaries is incomplete; years included are 1957, 1960 to 1962, 1982, and 1984 to 1987.

As a freelance writer and inventor, Burton worked at home, creating and/or researching mechanical projects and writing them up for journals. He spent much of his time puttering and experimenting in his basement, meticulously recording each project, its completion, amounts paid him, etc. A major client was B.F. Goodrich Company, for whom he traveled to various cities and wrote technical manuals and a film script. Burton was an active member of the Portage Camera Club; the diaries describe his club work, equipment, and home darkroom.

Burton's entries contain details about his daily life with his sister, Louisa Burton. He lists every restaurant they visit and what they order (they eat out most nights).

He also provides insights into his daily home activities, mentioning, for example, a visit with an old roommate while on a business trip to Marysville, Ohio. He describes every local business he goes into, every library opening, bridge opening, doctor consulted, and so forth.

Researchers interested in the development and process of analyzing the mechanics of devices would find this collection of particular significance.