This series includes original Frank Marshall Davis correspondence and interview transcripts spanning Davis's early adult life through his death. Much of the correspondence is between Davis and other poets, including Irma Wassall and Langston Hughes. Other correspondence relates to Davis's work at the Associated Negro Press in Chicago. Most of the later correspondence is between Davis and Tidwell and relates to Tidwell's publications on Davis, as well as Livin' the Blues, Davis's memoirs that Tidwell sought to get published prior to Davis's death. Also included is the transcript of an interview of Davis by Maryemma Graham just one year before Davis's death.

Files have been arranged chronologically, as apart from a few exceptions, correspondence was not originally filed by sender or recipient. Oversize materials have been separated into appropriate housing and are listed at the end of the series.