Holliday's diaries, the first covering 1 May through 8 August 1864 and the second covering 1 September 1864 through 4 July 1865, begin with the regiment's entry into Virginia's New River Valley and conclude with his return to Ohio at the conclusion of the war. Holliday includes information on his participation in action in and around the New River Valley, including the battles of Cloyd's Mountain and New River Bridge.

The collection also includes four photographs, believed to be of Holliday, and one of his wife. Two of the images have locks of hair under the glass and several have hand-painted details added.