Writing
The Writing series (1933-1983, approximately 2 linear feet) contains the bulk of Randall's poetry and writing in the collection, with some drafts and copies found scattered in other series, and contains correspondence, rough drafts, personal notes and diaries, newspaper clippings, and printed material. The series is separated into four subseries: Correspondence, Drafts, Notes, and Published.
Correspondence (1953-1981) documents Randall's more pointed conversations about his own writing, as well as submissions for publication. Included in this subseries are three folders of rejection letters Randall received for his submissions between 1953-1969. The Drafts subseries (1927-1966) contains the bulk of the series, and includes both handwritten and printed drafts of his works. His more famous poems, Dressed All in Pink andBallad of Birmingham, can be found in this subseries in multiple draft forms, along with other poems and writings that were published either under his name, under a pseudonym, or were left unpublished. Randall's Notes (1937-1970) include multiple notebooks and journals, as well as loose leaf notes and newspaper clippings. Topics range from his personal life to the publishers to whom he submitted his writing. It should be noted that some notebooks and journals are less full than others in the series. Material of Randall's that was published outside of the Broadside Press can be found in the Published subseries (1949-1980).