Civil War diary of Lewis A. Willard, who settled in Kirksville, Missouri, and scrapbooks about his son Arthur Lee Willard, a Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy. Lewis' daughter and Arthur's half sister, Louise Willard, was married to P.O. Selby, who curated six scrapbooks with ephemera from Vice Admiral Willard's life, including his graduation certificates, articles about his military success, and letters between him and his father, along with other family and friends. Lewis A. Willard fought with the Confederacy in the Civil War and kept a diary of his experiences, which Selby also donated to the library.

This collection also contains two photo albums that once belonged to Hattie Lawrence Spencer Willard Snyder, Louise's mother. The photo albums are in fragile condition, and contain convex glass photos, cabinet cards, postcards, and photos. While the exact date of the album is unknown, there are markings on a few photos from the year 1885. Convex glass photos became common in the 1840s, and cabinet cards became common in the 1860s through the turn of the twentieth century.