George R. Heusinkveld was born May 31, 1917, in Hull, Iowa, to Dick and Ella (De Boer) Heusinkveld. He was a graduate of Northwestern Junior College, Orange City, Iowa (1936) and Central College, Pella, Iowa (1938); he obtained an M.A. in Journalism from University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa (1939). He wrote for newspapers in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, as well as Guthrie Center, Forest City, Sheldon, Newton, Subula, and Oskaloosa, Iowa. Later, he worked as a Marion County Social Worker, as a director of Camp Sunnyside in Des Moines, and as a salesman for the American Automobile Association. The collection consists of four volumes of handwritten diaries. Heusinkveld begins with family history (1887–1933) and then keeps a daily diary for three years detailing life as a senior in high school and two years at Northwestern Junior College. He describes his family, farm work, church, social activities, school work, and current events.