The collection covers nearly every aspect to Abrams's career and comprises: market research and social survey data; reports on results of surveys produced by the organisations for which Abrams worked, including the London Press Exchange and his own business Research Services Ltd. and their clients; papers covering Abrams's consultancy and committee work for the Labour Party, Social Science Research Council, and Age Concern; and published articles and talks by Abrams himself.

The largest series in the collection consists of 'working papers' connected with Abrams's private research, survey preparation, and talks and publications. Arranged alphabetically by subject, these cover a wide range of topics including advertising and communication, children and youth culture, education, entertainment and leisure, retailing and consumerism, class formation, politics and political parties, economics and personal finance, food, housing and town planning, ageing, racial prejudice, and social forecasting.

Also present are papers connected with Abrams's work for the BBC Overseas Research Unit analysing foreign broadcasts and propaganda during the Second World War.