Most notebooks are highly technical and difficult to follow without subject expertise. However, researchers sometimes inserted reports, correspondence, or meeting records into the books. More frequent are printouts, charts, and photographs pasted onto the pages.

As notebook titles are often incomplete or nonexistent, researchers studying a specific technology should consult progress reports (Record group 27) and technical reports (2464.69) to discover the names of the scientists involved.

Information about some missing notebooks can be found in the card index maintained by the Research Library (see Record group 3, Series XII).

Special Series

Notebooks with the prefix “G” (for government) were used for classified government contract work. They were stored separately until the restriction expired (usually five years or less).

Notebooks with the prefix “P” (for Princeton) were introduced in 1944 and were largely phased out by the end of 1954. Instead of being issued numbered bound notebooks, researchers turned in papers to be bound together and numbered. As a result, these notebooks often contain a wider range of materials, including correspondence, reports, and meeting records. Particularly valuable are the notebooks of Edward W. Herold, Harold B. Law, Rolf W. Peter, and Robert P. Stone.

Some notebooks were given the prefix “N” (for new?) starting in the early 1980s, but the reason is unclear. Patent disclosure notebooks, used during the 1930s and early 1940s, are also included in this record group. Finally, some scientists turned in notebooks not issued by RCA.