The notebooks and engagement diaries cover Ascherson's career as correspondent for the Manchester Guardian (1956-57), The Scotsman (1959-60), Observer (1960-1975 and 1979-1990), and The Independent on Sunday (1990-1998), as well as his later career as a writer and academic. They contain descriptive notes relating to his research and reporting on international and home politics and affairs. From 1987, the notebooks also contain detailed personal diary entries.

Ascherson's time as Scottish politics correspondent for the Observer (1975-1979) is represented here by an edited version of his 'Devolution Diaries' for 1977.