Photocopy of two family diaries written by pioneer James Skerman, covering the periods 25 January 1877 to 31 December 1877 and 6 August 1880 to 30 June 1884.

James arrived in New Zealand in 1877 and on acquiring land near Newbury was soon selling butter in Palmerston North and Feilding. A factory was built around 1880, which made butter, and by 1888 was also making cheddar type cheese. The factory was called Silverleys. This was eventually sold in 1907 to the new co-operative company, Newbury Co-operative Dairy Company. James Skerman died in 1911 and is buried at the Terrace End Cemetery in Palmerston North.

The diaries are available for research and may be freely read. At the request of the donor, no copies may be made without permission.