The Esteemed Note-Takers That Inspired Field Notes

Do you remember the rare joy of having class outside? My tenth-grade Biology class cherished our nature walks, which we were allowed to take every so often as long as we took copious notes while our teacher lectured on the local flora and fauna. It was then that I learned the importance of thorough and detailed field notes – not because there would be questions about them on the exam, but because if we didn’t take proper notes, we would be trapped in the classroom on beautiful spring days.

Pencils.com is thrilled to welcome Field Notes to the Pencils.com family. To celebrate I’d like to share a brief history of field notes and the esteemed note-takers that inspired the brand.

Henry Cadell

Henry Cadell was a Scottish geographer and geologist during the late 1800s and early 1900s. He traveled extensively, including an extended journey along the entire length of the Irrawaddy River in Burma. Cadell’s notebooks include sketches as well as detailed scientific observations. One sketch depicts two elephants leaping on hilltops, one with a bottle clutched in its trunk. You can see a collection of scans from his notebooks here.

Image credit: BGS

Lewis and Clark

When one thinks of Lewis and Clark, their first thought is undoubtedly of the epic journey the two undertook to cross the continental United States. As one might expect, their field notes describe a vast variety of topics, from the land they traveled to the Native Americans they encountered to their day-to-day affairs. Their notes read like diary entries, and provide a fascinating look into the history and sociology of early America . You can read their notes here.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

John Muir

The notebooks of John Muir most closely resemble the field notes we took in Biology, since their primary focus is on nature. Muir was a naturalist and was very involved in the preservation of America’s wilderness. He wrote about his experiences and observations hiking in Yosemite, Sequoia National Park, and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Muir often described himself as a “disciple of Thoreau,” and his field notes led to publications in support of his nature-centric philosophy and political activism.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Field Notes notebooks are designed by Portland-based designer Aaron Draplin, and they are available in many different sizes and colors. From modest beginnings as the notebook style of choice for farmers to use to take notes on their crops out in the field, the style have found their way into some famous hands, including those of Breakfast Club screenwriter John Hughes. We’re very excited to bring Field Notes to you, and we bet you’ve already got some great ideas for the places they will go and the purposes they will serve.

In my notebook, I keep everything from titles of songs I hear on the radio, to funny things my friends say, to doodles of ice cream cones. How are you going to use (or are currently using) your Field Notes notebook? Share with us in the comments.

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