He was among a class of educated elites in the early twentieth century who kept private records of their activities and who were also speakers at formal events.
[1] Akinpelu's records from 1920 to 1960 became an important source for elite activities during the colonial era and are used by a few scholars on predefined topics varying from the cultural, political and social history of Ibadan and western Nigeria.
Included in his diaries were stories about Salami Agbaje, one of the wealthiest Ibadan citizens of his time, and socio-political matters of the era.
One of the missionaries was Daniel Olubi, an early Christian convert who was Obisesan's teacher in 1896, the first year of his formal education.
[7] As leader of the cooperative produce society, he was an important voice against foul tactics used by merchant middlemen and Cocoa exporters.
During his early years when he was suffering from financial deprivation, Akinpelu wrote in his diary, I regard my past and present life as being indolent and lazy one.
Nobody in this town will regard anyone of no means; he will be counted as no man.... after all what his our intelligence, our school going, and reading of books without getting money to back these three things up.