Writings include works by Gill and others. Writings contain source materials, notes, drafts, published versions, reprints, related correspondence, and bibliographies. Works generally relate to the fields of criminology and penology. Book reviews in this series include notes, drafts, galleys, and copies of the journal in which the review appeared. Gill’s book reviews and letters to the editor are arranged by year only, and not all were published. Gill... worked on three major writing projects in the 1970s and 1980s: Clinical Criminology, Prison Reform is No Picnic, and his autobiography. Gill's autobiography, also originally titled Prison Reform is No Picnic, is in Series IV. Biographical materials. Later, this title was repurposed for a more general work on the history of penology, the drafts for which may be found in this series. Clinical Criminology was considerably revised over several decades and includes extensive drafts. The drafts for both Prison Reform is No Picnic and Clinical Criminology incorporate source materials that date back to the 1930s. Gill often reworked speeches for publication, and speeches that were widely republished are in this series. Most of Gill's speeches are found in Series XIII, with some small areas of overlap.

While the majority of Gill’s works reflect his professional interests, his reply to Nancy Barr Marity’s article "The Two-Income Family" sheds light on his personal life, especially his strong support of his wife Isabelle Kendig and her career. Other notable authors in this series include Charles V. Morris, assistant director of the Institute of Correctional Administration; John D. Case, warden of the Bucks County Prison in Pennsylvania; and Benedict Alper, professor of sociology at Boston College. Many prisons and professional associations sent Gill their publications and newsletters, also in this series.