This series contains the diaries of Rena Smith Murray written between 1926 and 1990. Throughout the 1920's Rena writes about daily life, cleaning the house (washing the laundry on warm days), going to restaurants, and places for entertainment, including movies and shows (many in downtown Binghamton). The weather, birthdays, visits to family and friends, and illnesses, including several tooth extractions are also noted. For work she makes and sells flowers (unsure what material they are made of) and perfume. Two friends, Gert Dow and Isodene(Dene) Merriam are mentioned in several entries.

In the 1930's Rena continues to write about restaurants, weather, sickness, entertainment, and shopping. She, and other family members, also continue to have ongoing teeth problems. Bills, taxes, and expenditure lists appear more frequently in the diaries. Friends, Gert Dow, Isodene(Dene) Merriam, and Clarace are mentioned in several entries and Rena participates in the social group, Philathea.

The 1940's also has notes restaurants, sickness, entertainment, shopping, vacations, and weather. Some information on local and national elections and famous sporting events are written about. The effects of WWII, such as rationing and practicing blackouts are mentioned. Rena has a medical condition that makes her arms itch and she has all of her teeth taken out and new ones made. She continues to keep track of her bills and expenses at the end of her diaries, including items she knitted and the amount of money she received for each piece of clothing. In December 1948 Roy has a heart attack and entries detail his condition and milestones on his road to recovery.

In the 1950's Rena shares similar notes on eating out, spending time with family and friends, shopping, hair appointments, daily chores, budgets, and weather. Rena and Roy have varying health issues and Roy dies in 1956. Rena starts to work at the Triple Cities Credit Bureau and often takes the bus when she needs to go places.

During the 1960's Rena writes about similar topics as in previous years. She plays card games with her friends and spends time with a man named Louie, but then they stop seeing each other. She continues to keep track of her bills and investments. She is fired from her job at the Triple Cities Credit Bureau and her sister Celia dies in 1968. She spends time visiting friends and family, knitting, watching tv, and reading.

In the 1970's Rena continues to be social and travel. Playing bingo takes up much of her time. She eats out, tends flowers, goes to hair appointments (buys wigs), takes out insurance policies, and keeps notes on the weather. While active, she and many of her friends are having health issues, including several falls. Rena's sister, Edna, dies in 1971, and Rena has cataract surgery.

During the 1980's Rena has some very close friends pass away. She is very thankful for her eye surgery and has several book and magazine subscriptions, and still knits on occasion. Though she still goes on trips and attends bingo games she has episodes of "lameness" and falling. Her neighbor and friend, Toniya (donor of the diaries) helps take her to the store, they go out to eat, and spend time together.

This series also contains a box of loose papers, newspaper clippings, and lists of expenses. Most of the newspaper clippings are obituaries of people she has written about in her diaries. In addition, there are photographs of Rena and Roy, their house on 1 Summer Street in Port Dickinson, NY, and an unknown member of Rena'a family. Lastly, there is Rena and Roy's marriage certificate from September 13, 1920.