This collection consists primarily of a diary that John Richards Jr. of Knoxville, Tennessee kept between April 6, 1917 and October 20, 1918. After warning his readers that "he or she who read these pages without my consent are cussed by me," Richards discusses his desire to fight in World War I, his admiration for classmates who have joined the Navy, seeing these new recruits off at the train station, his studies and activities at Central High School, cross-dressing in order to play pranks, and his feelings of loneliness. The collection also houses a number of letters discussing Richards' later career in the theater and various social activities.