Photograph of William Cooper in his later years.

The collection consists of six diaries for 1864, 1867, 1876, 1882, 1884, and 1887, and a photograph of Cooper in his later years. The diaries contain daily entries made by Cooper and, in his absence from home, his wife, and give a great deal of information about the community, his activities, and his family. Many entries include small drawings, some in color. The diaries chiefly record weather conditions, but include accounts of travels to Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee, neighborhood news, births, deaths, and plantings in Cooper's garden. The diary for 1864 was primarily kept by his wife, who made pencil entries from mid-January until August. The remainder of the diary has few entries. A slip of paper laid in says “All the pencil entries in diary 1864 made by our grand mother -- Papa in Miss valley looking after plantations and negroes.” The entry for August 15, 1887, includes a notice (incorrect) of his death in his own hand. The entry is corrected the next day in his wife’s hand.