Comprises general policy memoranda and many legal records. Included are bills of complaint, opinions, arguments, briefs, injunctions, depositions, etc., deeds, decrees of sales, by-laws, articles of incorporation, minutes of directors' meetings, statements, accounts, lists of directors and stockholders, and letters of policy concerning CB&Q and subsidiary roads. Also included are contracts and agreements with other roads and with telegraph, coal, oil, water companies, and papers concerning right of way and privileges in towns along line.

First set is 25 volumes numbered A-Z (except "I"); Second set is numbered (starting with Book 6, missing Book 17); third set is unnumbered. The unnumbered set contain legal opinions and cases, letters about legal affairs, statements of Fort Dodge Coal Company, list of stockholders of Peoria and Hannibal Railroad, etc.

Most of them are letterpress copy books: Books U, V, 7, and 15 are scrapbooks containing mostly printed materials, including legal documents and contracts. Books W and X are copies of Articles of Incorporation, charters, and by-laws for various rail lines. Book 11 is labeled "Secretary's Office." Book 19 ends with a typed death announcement for George Bacon Harris, 1918.

Indexes follow: Index, Volume 1 (in oversize box +2) includes references to the first, alphabetical set of volumes; Volume 2 (in oversize box +2) includes few entries, with no page references; Volume 3 is an alphabetical list of subject headings and cross-references. At end of series are books listing letters and instruments signed by C.E. Perkins, and volumes indicating what documents received the official CB&Q official seal, 1883-1914. There is some overlapping in dates in these record books.