Black notebook inscribed on cover 'Family History 1946'; inside front cover are notes of salient episodes and of 'Dramatis Personae'. Pages numbered 1-86.

The main content is an account of Darlington's family history (from 1837) and his own career up to the purchase of Bayfordbury as a new site for the John Innes Institution in 1947; there is a later note on other members of the Darlington family pasted in, dated 1977, and it is possible that the narrative was written at more than one date.

The book was originally the address book of his father, W.H.R. Darlington, 1885-1916, and there are entries of names and addresses at the rear of the book, several annotated by Darlington.