ABOUT FIELD NOTES

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Inspired by the vanishing sub-genre of agricultural memo books, ornate pocket ledgers, and the simple, unassuming beauty of a well-crafted grocery list, the Draplin Design Company of Portland and Coudal Partners, a Chicago creative firm, have created Field Notes Brand, a collection of smartly-designed, vintage-styled pocket notebooks, calendars, and various office accoutrements.

In 2006, Aaron Draplin, a designer and collector of American ephemera, decided to create an homage to the utilitarian pocket notebooks found in the first half of the 20th century at full-service gas stations, midwestern feed stores, and all points in between. (Lots more on the products that inspire us here.) He called the hundred or so books he’d printed, “Field Notes,” and sent them out to friends, including Jim Coudal. The day that first book arrived in Chicago, Jim called Aaron. In less than a week, a company was born.

Beginning with packages of three graph-ruled booklets wrapped with a thick “kraft” brown cover, Field Notes has since printed dozens of variations and introduced wildly popular limited editions, exploring new colors, papers, printing processes, and special packaging.

From the very beginning, every Field Notes paper product has been manufactured in the U.S.A. From the paper, sourced from some of the finest mills in the Midwest, to even the inks used, the production of Field Notes has never required travel on a cargo ship or plane; just the roads crisscrossing the country.

Midwest HQ Shop in Chicago

The Shop at our Midwest HQ is open for in-person shopping Thursdays and Fridays from Noon to 7:00pm.

We also offer local pickups if you order online. The Local Pickup shipping option only appears after you enter an Illinois shipping address during checkout. If you're visiting from out of state you can use our address (401 N Racine Ave, Chicago IL 60642) for shipping and then choose the Local Pickup option.

Pickups are available Monday through Friday from 10am to 5pm (7pm on Thursdays and Fridays). Order online and we'll have your order waiting for you on the bench just inside our front door.

Shipping Monday through Friday

Orders ship out from our warehouse Monday through Friday, typically within 24 hours of ordering. Sometimes it can take a little longer if we have special offers or product launches.

2023 Holiday Hours

January 16 - Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 20 - Closed for Presidents' Day
May 29 - Closed for Memorial Day
June 19 - Closed for Juneteenth
July 4 - Closed for Independence Day
September 4 - Closed for Labor Day
October 9 - Closed for Columbus Day
November 23-24 - Closed for Thanksgiving
December 25 through January 1, 2024 - Closed for the Holidays

FAQ, Shipping, Returns, Terms & Conditions

Answers to frequently asked questions, information on exchanges or returns, and more details on how we use your information.

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