The diary includes daily activities of Lillian North, noting chores around the house, farm life, meals prepared for family members, weather, and travel. Lillian also documented the organizations with which she was involved, notably the women's suffrage movement. She was an active participant in the Presbyterian and Episcopal church, attended concerts and plays, and took lessons in painting, cooking, and music.

North also remarked on events such as the rallies she attended and mentioned several speakers, including Elsie Benedict, Mrs. Philip Snow, and Sarah Rorer. She recorded being present at the official establishment of Batavia as a city, seeing the Liberty Bell come through town, experiencing the local flooding of 1916, hearing Governor Whitman speak, and reading the announcement of World War I declared by President Wilson.

There are several acronyms used by North throughout the diary. Spencer Library staff believe these acronyms stand for

B. B. of L. A. S. – Brooklyn Branch of the Ladies Aid Society (she spells this out early on); typically only "L. A. S." appears as the diary goes on; L. T. L. – Loyal Temperance Legion; Children’s branch of the W. C. T. U. [uncertain identification]; M. E. – Methodist Episcopal (often proceeds the word "church"); S. S. – Sunday School--the original seller’s description indicates she was in a ladies' sewing society so could be that potentially, but S. S. occasionally proceeded by M. E. (see above) and always appears on a Sunday, so "Sunday School" seems more likely; W. C. T. U. – Women's Christian Temperance Union; and Grange - The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry; Frank North's obituary indicated he was a member of the Elba Grange.