They constitute the handwritten minutes of the council's proceedings. The legislature began keeping journals with the creation of the territory in 1851.
Most early minutes appear to have been discarded following publication.
The entries were kept by a clerk and signed by the president of the council. The territorial secretary was to keep custody of the journals and arrange for their publication and distribution. Each day's entry covers a standard order of business. The place and date is entered, there is note of the call to order and roll, a prayer, then the daily legislative business, reading of minutes, adjournment, and a closing benediction. While the activities are noted, details are not.