Forest Bennett was born and raised on Thames Street in Norwich, Connecticut. He was an employee of State of Connecticut. The diaries contained in this collection commence in 1935 and continue until Mr. Bennett's retirement in 1945. Mr. Bennett not only notes personal events, but also includes many comments on world politics, and its effect on the New London region.

Among local events, Mr. Bennett records the October 9, 1936 passage of the Hindenburg over New London, the September 21, 1938 hurricane that devastated southern New England, the annual Yale-Harvard Boat Races watched from his bridge, and events surrounding the war in Europe and the United State's eventual inclusion.

In 1943, the New London bridge closed and Mr. Bennett commuted to the Mystic River Highway bridge, and also occasionally to the Niantic River Bridge. During his two years in service at these locations Mr. Bennett comments quite freely on events in those towns also.

On December 31, 1945, after "23 years and 7 months (15 days)" Mr. Bennett retired from employment for the State of Connecticut and the diaries end.