This collection comprises fourteen diaries written by John W. Gates, a dairy farmer from Chittenango, Madison County, New York. The diaries cover the years 1902, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929. They recount activities of the farm, meetings attended as an elected official, and family and business trips. A 1922 book contains accounts for gasoline, oil, and kerosone. Three bank account books and assorted loose documents from 1864 to 1897 belonged to Daniel Gates, John W. Gates' grandfather.

Gates was also a New York state Assemblyman in 1925 and 1926, and a state Senator from 1927 to 1932.