Series I. Diaries, 1914-1957, undated

Arranged chronologically by date, this series contains an incomplete set of personal diaries kept by James Cloyd Downs between 1914 and his death in 1957. These diaries mainly document his everyday activities during his retirement in Saranac Lake, New York. The diaries from 1914 and 1923 provide some documentation of Downs’ work at Roessler & Hasslacher Chemical Company. A small amount of information regarding Downs’ consultant work for various clients, including DuPont and National Distillers Chemical Corporation, is also found in these diaries. Downs’ observations of historical events of his time, including United States presidential elections and World War II, are also recorded here.

The actual diaries make up the bulk of the materials in this series. An index compiled by Downs’ granddaughter Helen Downs Haller, which lists notable entries in the diaries is also found in this series. Small amounts of miscellaneous accompanying materials found inside of the diaries, including, but not limited to, photocopied newspaper clippings, magazine clippings, notes, and business cards are preserved here as well.