The initial pages of this volume pertain to the Youths Literary Society, which met in Norwalk, Connecticut, throughout the early months of 1867. The first 4 pages contain a copy of the organization's constitution, which states its intention "to cultivate and improve the literary talent of, and encourage all good and noble sentiments in its members," and lays out several basic rules for its general membership and officers. Three pages of bylaws follow, concerned primarily with the structure of individual meetings and drawing heavily on rules previously established by similar groups. Meeting minutes, usually one or two pages long, follow a gender-divided list of the society's members, and chronicle the group's activities over the course of 15 meetings, with the final entry dated May 25, 1867.
The remainder of the volume contains 52 handwritten recipes, most of which are for cakes and desserts, though four outline remedies. In addition to the handwritten recipes, there are a number of recipes and housekeeping tips on newspaper clippings dating from the 1880s. Of note is a clipping containing George Wilson's cure for cancer, whose principal ingredient is sorrel. The final pages of the book contain knitting instructions, as well as a recipe for duck feed.
