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 Hours in Chicago

Open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm for in-person shopping.

Local Pickup in Chicago

Order online for local pickup at our Midwest HQ. Pickups are available Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and we'll have your order waiting for you just inside our front door.

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.

Orders Ship Monday through Thursday

We ship orders daily from our warehouse Monday through Thursday, typically within 24 hours of ordering. Sometimes it can take a little longer if we have special offers or new product launches.

2025 Holiday Hours

January 20 - Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 17 - Closed for Presidents’ Day
May 26 - Closed for Memorial Day
June 19 - Closed for Juneteenth
July 4 - Closed for Independence Day
September 1 - Closed for Labor Day
October 13 - Closed for Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day
November 11 - Veterans Day
November 27-28 - Closed for Thanksgiving
December 23 - Closing at Noon
December 24 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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