This ledger houses the notes, essays, research, and observations of Dr. Barnabas Wood, a dental surgeon who lived in Nashville before the Civil War. His interests included (among other things) physiognomy, phrenology, slavery, spirituality, morality, botany, and zoology. Dr. Wood inserted many notes and illustrations, including a broadside that advertises his new dental practice in Nashville. Other insertions show sketches of facial types, measurements of his friends, an allocation of his time organized by various types of activities, and assorted addenda to his essays and notes.

Some entries about the human mind are titled Mind not dependent on its faculties--It could exist without them, and Connection of Phrenological Organs with the Senses. A few of his scientific titles include To ascertain specific gravity, New Application of Steam, Bees--The Supposition of their making certain cells exclusively for their eggs, Why carnivorous Animals cannot subsist on Vegetables, and Saliva--Allotted time for secretion of. A section on sociological topics provides essays such as The Seat of the passions in other organs than the Brain, Standard of Beauty modified by Contrast & Habit, Disposition for Marriage at Mature Age dependent upon a natural desire of authority & control, Of Friendship & Sociability, and How to Treat Scorn & Pride. A section entitled Morality and Religion includes essays such as Proof of Revelation in the Constancy of its Relation to Science, Natural Love of ones Identity a cause of rejecting religion, and The Resurrected Body.

Near the end of the ledger, Wood added an elaborate outline of the book's topics followed by a list of female writers and a chronology of authors and poets.