Bullet Journaling, also called “BuJo” is a popular system for organizing to-do lists, thoughts, schedules, and other activities. The name derives from the practice of using bullet points and abbreviated text to organize information. Users customize their journals, organizing content in ways to suit their needs.  

While the type of content varies by creator, the organization of a bullet journal usually contains the same elements:  

Index: a table of contents 

Rapid logging: the symbols- bullets and dashes- used to simplify and organize information 

Logs: to do lists, organized by day, week, month, or other unit of time 

Collections: organization of content by type, such as an activity tracker or long term projects 

Migration: the activity of updating lists and logs into new formats 

The letters between Dard Hunter and Harrison Elliott reflect their professional and personal relationship. A letter such as Elliott’s may touch on personal topics, and then include reference to an article or book that would be of interest. Hunter and Elliott were friends for decades, and this is shown in the informality of the letters back and forth. 

Harrison Elliott used numerous versions of Paper Notes. Produced by Glatfelter, these pocket-sized volumes were promotional pieces, showcasing the brand’s monoplate bond paper. Each volume is filled completely with penciled writings. Elliott seldom dated the books, and rarely included contact information either. Dates of use are based on citations Elliott included from magazines. He included citation information for his quotes and article summaries.  

89.5.23 – Burgandy cover, ca. 1939 

89.5.8 – Green cover, “Bronxville 7078”, ca. 1935 

89.5.21 – Green cover, insect damage, ca. 1941 

89.5.22 – Green cover with Glatfelter seal, ca. 1937 

89.5.26 – Red cover, ca. 1939 

89.4.2 

Notebook contains paper production information from 1900 - 1902. Inserted at the front of the notebook is a slip of paper with “Seras lo que debes ser/ Y simo no seras nada” written on one side, and the translation on the reverse: “Thou must be what thou oughtest to be/ And without that thou shalt be Nothing”   

89.5.31 

Handmade notebook with electrical tape reinforcement. Notebook contents are primarily copied sections of articles. ca. 1948 

676.09.Vo89

Harrison Elliott saved copies of articles about paper-related subjects, and frequently bound them into small booklets. Paper and Civilization includes photos from the Dard Hunter museum, and the cover paper is handmade by Elliott. The back page is embossed with a stamp reading “Elliott American Handmade” 

Harrison Elliott began making paper in the 1930s. He produced paper for use in books, broadsides, and cards. These notecards are primarily double couched with inclusions, meaning there are two thin layers of paper sandwiching a decorative object in between.  

1993.006.557 - Rooster on yellow paper 

1993.006.653 - Double couched abaca with a cedar twig embedded 

1993.006.556 - Double couched cotton with cedar twig embedded. Hand-written note inside: “A greeting with Best Wishes from Harrison Elliott” 

1993.006.560 - Mottled green and beige handmade paper with “A greeting” in white ink on the cover 

89.4.3 

Hard-bound volume with notched index pages. The first entries are commercial papermaking notes, dated 1899. The indexed pages reference specific types of paper from different manufacturers. Many of the entries are in ink, which is unusual for Elliott. The more formal script and ink, as well as the age, suggests the book may not have been used by Elliott.  

89.4.1 

In 1891, Elliott was 12 years old, and given the contents of the book, he probably started using it later in life. At least two different forms of handwriting are in the notebook: Elliott’s distinctive scrawl and an older, copperplate style.  

89.4.11 

A few pages have been removed at the start of the book, so the first date is July 13, 1911.  

The entries for the first weeks are about papermaking, but by October the entries are a record of Elliott’s activities. Elliott was 32 in 1911.