These notebooks, written in pencil and ink, contain numerous memos, miscellaneous notes, hasty jottings, lists of expenses, itineraries and addresses, etc., most of which relate to Ingall's lecture tours. There are also notes about his publications in various magazines.

These notebooks were begun by Ingalls after he resigned as president pro tem of the Senate. In 1892 Ingalls toured Europe, possibly under a contract with the magazine Truth. Upon his return Ingalls was in demand as a lecturer.