Desk diaries and Desk calendars (Note: 2 for1961), 1960-1962, 1966, 1969

The material in this series documents not only Cummings’ daily appointments at the NPL but also his appointments related to church affairs, community events, and committee meetings; details regarding talks, tours, and exhibits; personal activities such as dinners with friends, travel, and leisure pursuits; and addresses and phone numbers.

The later desk diaries act in some ways as scrapbooks and include business cards of individuals and businesses, clippings, tickets to concerts, museums, exhibits, etc. and more detailed descriptions of activities and events.

The pocket diaries contain the briefest of records, but can be illuminating even in their brevity. Consider this entry from the week of November 18, 1974 for example:

"Harris kept very good order Meeting interrupted by 1 - cursing & moving about 2 - sneezing 3 - prolong. applause 4 - Riot broke out Baraka showed to agitate, Mrs. Jones showed up Meeting disrupted 1 hour -- cat call; Earl takes 10% off top; police refused to remove agitators; screams of Heil Hitler; character assn. of council president; screams radical; fascism shouting; Harris called fag;"