This series consists of five floppy disks with an attached sticky note from Giardina that identifies them as containing backups for The State of Appalachia and The Unquiet Earth .

This series pertains to Giardina's first novel, Good King Harry (1984), a fictional re-telling of the life of Henry V of England. This series contains four notebooks: one containing research notes, the other three containing manuscript drafts. The research notebook contains news clippings, maps, and other material, some which was collected during Giardina's time studying abroad in England in 1972. The three draft notebooks contain the fourth notebook of the first draft, the first notebook of the second draft, and the last notebook Giardina used before she began to type a final version of the novel for her agent.

This series regards Storming Heaven (1987), a historical novel that tells the story of the coal town of Annadel, West Virginia through the eyes of its residents, culminating in the Battle of Blair Mountain. This series contains five notebooks. There are two research notebooks, the first of which is also the last notebook in Series 2. The remaining three notebooks contain draft versions of the novel. The first research notebook contains research notes, news clippings, and photocopies, most regarding labor and Charleston history, and other material. The second research notebook contains Giardina's earliest notes for Storming Heaven . The draft manuscript notebooks include the second and third notebooks of the first draft and the first notebook of a revised draft.

In the second notebook of the first draft of Storming Heaven (green notebook in box 3, folder 2) is an episode that was not included in the finished novel; it is titled "From the Diary of Lytton Davidson" and appears on pages 298-310.

This series regards The Unquiet Earth (1992), a historical novel and sequel to Storming Heaven . The series consists of three notebooks, each of which contains an early draft version of the novel.

This series regards Saints and Villains (1998), a historical novel concerning the life and death of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian who was executed by Nazi Germany for crimes against the regime. This series contains two notebooks: the first containing research notes, and the other a draft version of the novel. The research notebook mostly consists of notes from a German language class that Giardina took. The second notebook also contains early notes for Giardina's subsequent novel, Fallam's Secret .

This series regards Emily's Ghost (2009), a fictionalized re-telling of the life of Emily Bronte. This series contains two notebooks, the first containing research notes, and the second containing a draft version of the novel. Inside the front cover of the research notebook are a New Yorker article regarding cholera and a copy of a review of "Emily's Ghost" by Jennifer L. Holberg that was published in "Books and Culture: A Christian Review;" the review has underlining by Giardina.

This series includes manuscripts for several unpublished and unfinished works, including:

The State of Appalachia (undated), an unfinished and unpublished work of non-fiction. It consists of one notebook containing research notes and draft versions of the book.

Robert and Ted (2011-2013), an unfinished play about Senator Robert C. Byrd. Box 6 includes one typescript copy of the first draft of the first act of the play and an email authored by Giardina to a director regarding a staged reading of the play. Box 7 includes drafts 4-6 of the play; collection also includes digital files for these drafts.

Can These Bones Live? (2002). Notes for a speech created by Giardina on 25 October 2002 delivered at Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, West Virginia regarding biblical stories.

This addendum includes both a printed and digital copy of a draft of a memoir titled Animals . This memoir recounts episodes from Giardina's life, focusing on the pets she and her family owned. She also writes about Italian immigration in WV, race relations and civil rights, life in coal camps, coal companies, her time in school, her political views, travel to England, religion, music, her mother, and her personal experience writing.

This addendum includes assorted professional and personal correspondence, photographs, and other material regarding Giardina's career and personal life.

This addendum includes Giardina family photographs, assorted correspondence, and other material.

This addendum includes research notes, correspondence, and other material used by Giardina in writing Saints and Villains and other material regarding Giardina's 2000 West Virginia gubernatorial campaign.