When it came time to put away childish things, the role of the copy
book was assumed by its close cousin, the "commonplace book." The
process of maturation required the production of more-personal
collections of writings, meant to provide inspiration, direction, and
moral fortitude. Reading the commonplace books of historical figures
like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or any number of antebellum
Southern ladies gives us an interior view of each person's self-image
and the words that motivated him or her.
-- Rachel Toor
"Commonplaces: From Quote Books to 'Sig' Files"
The Chronicle of Higher Education May 25, 2001