So last week we were introduced to the GDP diarist James B Williams' first volume of diaries - Cornwall to Bolivia... Vol 2 (1884-6) reports on the three years he spent working in Bolivian mines (entries become shorter as life becomes more routine); and the third reports on the trip home to England. There is a gap of about 10 months between the last entry in volume 2 and the first in volume 3. These diaries include additional material, including financial records, scraps of manuscript poetry, and a passport issued to the diarist in Chile. The diarist was married to [...]

James Bennetts Williams aged 27 (1883) emigrated to Bolivia to work in the silver mines, following the decline of Cornish tin-mining in the second half of the nineteenth century. The first volume gives a detailed, vivid account of the diarist's journey from Cornwall to Bolivia: including, sightings of flying fish and mirages; shooting wild ducks; lashings of drunkenness and death and encounters with native women and spying. Locations: Truro, Birkenhead, Bordeaux, Vigo, Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Punta Arenas, Lota, Talcahuano, Valparaiso, Los Vilos, Tongoy, Coquimbo, Sarco, Huasco, Caldera, Taltal, Paposo, Antofogasta, Cobija, Tocopilla, Barriles, Calama, Huanchaca, Atocha, Tatasi.  

GDP 386 are the diaries of a train spotter. The entries are frequent and regular. Mr John-Miller recounts at the top of most entries - as a form of perfunctory subtitle - the weather for the day. He often writes in some detail about his whereabouts throughout the day and in the evening; generally spent at work or home, he often notes what entertainment he decides on in the evening or what type of evening meal he had. Through these brief details a portrait of a man is pieced together - and yet another piece of history is made.

GDP 385 - spent much of her life fruitfully caring for her family. During the second world war she was one of a new army of women called on to become over-night engineers and worked assiduously on plane exit slides for the RAF.

A recent addition to the archive consists of the motorcycle diaries of Father Wilkinson, a beloved and loving priest, who had a passion for the open road. And butter. He created - possibly - the first motorcycle butter fridge. Will travel BUT will also have butter. The diaries chart over 50 years of motorcycling - a little bit about dairy and some ecclesiastical - history.