Series contains books, newspaper clippings, conference programs and published proceedings, exhibition catalogs and announcements, film and video programs, flyers, periodicals, poetry publications, and posters, and materials relating to the artist Al Robbins, which includes an obituary written by Ryan. Also found are publications of the Raindance Corporation, which have been filed together under that heading. Raindance publications include the book, (1971), and four issues of their magazine, (1971-1972). Most of the material in this series was either written by Paul Ryan, contains articles by Paul Ryan, or documents activities of Paul Ryan. Other materials found contain works by Ryan's associates and collaborators.

Arrangement is alphabetical by type, then chronologically within each type. Additional material related to the Raindance Corporation is found in series 4, Organizational Records. Additional writings in draft form are in series 3, Writings. Illustrations from many of Ryan's publications found here are found in draft and mechanical form in series 5.2, Threeing Projects. Additional posters related to projects are found in series 5, Project Files.