The documents comprise notes by Joseph Needham and Lu Gwei-Djen; copy of a chart prepared by Kimura Koichi providing an historical bibliography of the 本草 [Pen Tshao / Ben Cao] literature, (Tokyo, 1942); notes of literature held in the library of Dr. Ching Li-Pin; copy of a letter from Joseph Needham to John Lust , Librarian of the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, enquiring about relevant works, (19 October 1966); 2 letters from Lust, (23 and 26 October 1966)
Specific headings for notes include 'Why uneasy about calling 本草 herbals', 'The Pên Tshao Tai Chao question'.