This collection consists of a single diary maintained by Emily Augusta Shade, an unmarried schoolteacher living in Pike County, Illinois during the mid-19th century. In very infrequent entries from 1853 to 1860, Shade focuses on her religious devotion and frequent self-admonishments to be a better person, while also describing various church meetings and services that she attended. The diary also contains works of poetry and essays (at least some of which had been copied from other writers), together with memorials to deceased family members and others. Glued into the diary are three newspaper clippings relating to religious subjects. The diary is accompanied by two cross-stitch bookmarks and a newspaper clipping.