The file contains correspondence, handwritten notes, an itinerary of Joseph Needham's visit with Lu Gwei-Djen 15-19 May 1980, administrative papers for the degree ceremony on 17 May 1980 and the symposium held in the Institute of Marine Biomedical Research on 16 May 1980, receipts, typescript copies of Joseph Needham’s address given at the convocation and tourist brochures for historic sites in Wilmington.

Interestingly, before accepting the honour, Joseph Needham made enquiries with Ping Ferry about the role of the University with the Wilmington 10. A letter from Anne Braden to Ping Ferry dated 11 Mar. 1980 reports an opinion given by Joe Wright and encloses a fact sheet entitled ‘A decade of persecution: The story of the Rev. Ben Chavis’ dated 1979.

A copy of the certificate with the citation for Joseph Needham is held in a green-bound folder (stored separately).