The documents comprise a letter from Prof. J. D. Bernal of Birkbeck College, University of London, about the conditions which led to the development of Greek geometry and Chinese mathematics, (18 February 1957); copy of Joseph Needham's reply to Bernal, (19 March 1957); letter from Jerry Ravets of Leeds, about conditions for the development of mathematics, (4 February 1957).
The correspondence is grouped together by a Joseph Needham note stating 'Important points raised by Derek Price, Desm Bernal & now Jerry Ravetz, + Crombie & Gillespie'. He notes that this material was taken 'From Maths & Sci in 中 & the West subfile'.