The fonds consists of 15 diaries in the form of numbered booklets of around 30 - 32 pages each, handwritten, with the inclusive dates recorded on the front cover. The collection starts with Diary 13, March 11 to May 8, 1855, moves to Diaries 33 - 35, November 6, 1858 to June 20, 1859, and finally Diaries 45 - 55, December 18, 1860 to December 31, 1862. The location of the missing diaries, which presumably started with his incumbency at Portugal Cove and included a trip to Labrador and the death of his first wife in 1860, is unknown.

The diaries record the weather, the texts on which all his sermons were preached, the size of the congregations, number of communicants, amount of offetory and other collections, names of the sick and other parishioners visited, baptisms, churching of women, burials and occasional weddings. His duties took him on many journeys, walking, on horse back, by cart and by catamaran, to visit his various parishes, as well as on visits to his brother R. Malcolm Johnson, friends, fellow clergymen, church services, meetings and the Colonial Building. Personal activities, such as tending his horse and garden, reading, writing sermons and letters, listening to his children's lessons, picnicking and boating, are also listed. There is very little reflection on the politics or worldly news of the day.