The archive is comprised of papers (including maps) and visual material, primarily research data (consisting of site registers, field notebooks, site investigation files, photographs and slides). Key to these records are four minute books containing West’s East Anglia site register 1977-1985, which are fair copies summarising his field notes and key features of the sites. Records also document fieldwork in other locations in Northumberland, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Svalbard, Alaska and Yukon. West also made trips to China and New Zealand. In addition, the archive includes files relating to West's career (e.g. Clare College, Department of Botany, Royal Society), papers relating to the Sub-Department for Quaternary Research and the history of quaternary science, administrative papers and correspondence including papers relating to and West’s involvement with the Royal Society, International Union for Quaternary Research and the Natural Environment Research Council, references for colleagues, and the development of research publications. There are 11 folders of alphabetically arranged correspondence with individuals, including scientists and museum curators, and 1 folder containing West's early talks.