Researchers are advised to consult the manuscripts, particularly the essay and personal narrative sections, for works which fill the chronological gaps in the journals. Manuscripts series covers all literary works. Categories of manuscripts include novels, plays, short stories, essays, personal narratives, memoirs, collections, miscellaneous works, untitled and incomplete works, prefaces, reviews, poems and music. If substantial notes existed for particular manuscripts they have been placed with those manuscripts. A second category of notes consists of those Saroyan kept on various scraps of paper, envelopes, junk mail and so forth.
Content is similar to the typed notes, although there are no extensive notes regarding manuscripts.
Most notes in this category are fairly brief. Includes items such as catalogs, playbills, ticket stubs, menus, and miscellaneous printed materials. Travel items include the above as well as travel brochures, itineraries, airplane tickets and miscellaneous notes. Tearsheets consist mainly of Saroyan pieces published in magazines as well as some feature stories on Saroyan and family members. Especially strong for Saroyan's apprentice years, the collection contains manuscripts of his earliest work, including unpublished novellas, stories, and essays that pre-date his breakthrough in 1934 with The Daring young Man on the Flying Trapeze .