Comprised of biographical materials, material related to Needham's time at Cambridge, documentation of his work with the Sino-British Science Cooperation Office (SBSCO), materials relatd to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), documentation of research, publications, lectures and broadcasts, visits and conferences, records of involvement with societies and oganisations, documentation of work in politics and interest in religion and society, and a large quantity of Needham's correspondence.