These notebooks form a chronological sequence, and were kept continuously by Rackham from his youth right up until his death. They record observations on plants seen on his travels as well as in his home surroundings, as well as other kinds of information, for example about weather and college duties. They are paginated continuously and include some sketches. A label on the outside usually lists the locations covered in each notebook, with page numbering, thus serving as a kind of contents page.