Diary, 1865-1867, of Warren Bates Osgood (1844-1880), a Methodist preacher based in the Chicago, Illinois area. During the period in which this diary was written, Osgood was working as a teacher to support himsself through his studies.  The diary contains detailed, daily entries by Osgood related to religion, methodism,  looking for a teaching position, the treatment of individuals who have fallen ill, the differences between the North and South after the Civil War, and various sermons he has preached. Many names of fellow theologians and others are mentioned. There are also several clippings from various newspapers and journals related to religion and the Bible that are glued over some of the diary entries. Towards the back of the diary is a listing of Bible scripture passages for his sermons, accounts of how much Osgood was paid for his sermonsand when and where they were delivered, and lecture notes about theology.

Subjects include: football, moral science, logic in religion, sermons, theological debates in the 1860s, Camp Meetings, education of freed slaves,  malarial fever, school teaching 1860s, sermons 19th century, Sunday School, Phrenology, Methodist Episcopal Church, Influenza, The Northwest Advocate, Short stories written by diarist, and Belief statements on everything from Transfiguration to Temperance.