Materials related to Aerial Magazine, a poetry magazine founded by Rod Smith in 1984, that focuses on avant garde and experimental poetry. The collection includes submissions of poems related to Ariel/Aerial issues one through nine, letters to the editor, promotional material, financial records, and other printed materials.

Series II includes poems submitted and letters to the editor that are not directly related to a particular issue of Aerial. The other submissions are poems found within the collection that do not appear in Issues of Aerial. Letters cover a variety of topics from business related correspondence to personal letters to the editor Rod Smith. Included amongst the letters are three floppy disks.

Series III contains materials related to purchases and other financial transactions made by Rod Smith for Aerial. Included are invoices and receips for shipping, printing, and other expenses. Access to some materials in this series are restricted.

Series IV includes other printed material and ephemera included in the collection. Printed materials range from newspaper articles, catalogs, subscription notices, and reviews. Ephemera, such as brochures and flyers, are split between "Aerial Ephemera" and "Ephemera."