The Martin Root Papers consist of four volumes of records of this Newbury, Massachusetts, physician, including one volume of Essex North District Medical Society records. They probably represent only a small portion of Root's records, given that one is labeled "Daybook #7" and one "Ledger #3."

Daybook #7 (Sept. 1852- July 1859) lists patients seen, and the costs of visits and medicine. While occasionally some specific medical information is given ("dressing finger"), more often the consultations simply state "to visit and med." Root was sometimes paid in labor, such as hauling or chopping wood, rather than cash. Inside the back covers of the book are pasted newspaper notices of estates in which Root was involved. The inlaid materials removed from this volume (1830-1874, n.d.) include primarily receipts.

Ledger #3 (1862-1882) lists patients' names with reference to books and pages, probably referring to Root's daybooks. The entries in Ledger #3 all come from Books 9, 10, and 11, and date from 1862 to 1882, although most date from 1868 on. The inlaid materials removed from this volume date from 1867 to 1876, n.d., and include primarily receipts.

The Medical Society Account Book contains accounts from 1853 to 1855 as treasurer of the Essex North District Medical Society, then continues from 1855 to 1867 as "Mass. Medical Society in account with M. Root Treasurer ENDMS."

The Household Daybook (1831-1860) contains nearly daily entries from 8 January 1831 to March 1835, but they drop off sharply after that, ending in September 1858. The accounts include entries for calico, candles, flour, corn, ribbon, sugar, oil, silk, postage, window shades, spelling book, etc. Also contained in this volume are accounts of some of the estates Root settled (1855-1860), boarding accounts (the Root family apparently took in boarders), accounts for his son Martin N. Root, and labor accounts.