This collection includes diaries, letters, financial documents, professional correspondence, and other papers by Maurice Leyden (1836 - 1906) of Rochester, Monroe County, New York. It also includes family correspondence, as well as diaries and school essays written by his daughter, Blanche Eloise Leyden (1874 - 1936), and diaries written by a maternal aunt of Maurice Leyden's wife Margaret Leora Garrigues Leyden (1841 - 1928), Sarah Woodruff Pottle (1815 - 1887).

Sarah Woodruff Pottle's diaries cover the years 1860 to 1886; Maurice Leyden's diaries cover the years 1871 to 1905, with the last diary partly written by his daughter Blanche. Blanche Leyden's diaries cover the years 1897 to 1908. Note that Maurice Leyden's diaries for 1871 through 1874 have been digitized and are available via New York Heritage Digital Collections. A final diary by an unidentified writer documents the start of an ocean voyage from Boston with entries dated June 27-30 of an unspecified year (possibly 1907).

The diaries document mid-nineteenth and early twentieth century life in Rochester, Monroe County, New York. Leyden writes of day-to-day life with entries about the weather, family life and activities, his dental practice and business travel. A member of the Republican Party, Leyden also writes of his involvement in local politics. The financial accounts of family and business expenses provide additional insight into the cost of living at this time.

Of particular interest are entries concerning the Women’s Suffrage movement. Leyden and his wife, Margaret were supporters of the movement and friends with Susan B. Anthony. The diaries contain entries of attending lectures by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, as well as other notable suffrage speakers. Leyden provides details of his wife Margaret’s involvement in the movement, including of her arrest along with Anthony and several other women for registering to vote in 1872, and Anthony’s subsequent trial for refusing to pay the fine imposed up her for the illegal registration.

Box 8 includes several financial ledgers, notebooks, and wallets, as well as ten photographs of Maurice Leyden and a copy of Maurice Leyden's military service record.

Box 9 includes written correspondence to the Leyden family, financial receipts, legal documents, four essays (likely by Blanche Leyden) on historical topics, and a family tree of the Garrigues family.

The oversize boxes house framed photographs of Maurice Leyden, as well as his military service certificates and his Masonic certificate.