The collection comprises correspondence, research notes, publications and drafts compiled by Alan Clinton during research for his book Printed Ephemera: Collection, Organisation, Access published by Clive Bingley in 1981 (1976-1980); Correspondence, organisational documents, ephemera, handwritten notes and other material regarding Clinton's involvement with the Oxford University Labour Club and other groupings, including the Socialist Labour League, his time serving on Islington Council, various publications and articles (1964-1990), Trotskyist and other left-wing pamphlets and journals, 1960s-1980s, including Workers Press and Newsline.

Papers relating to an Economic and Social Research Council funded project to index fire insurance policies of the Sun and the Royal Exchange, including copies of the indexes.

Material relating to Bedford College Library, 1849-85, notably Minutes of the Library Committee, 1886-1983; Library working files, 1918-1985, on subjects including war arrangements, grant, University libraries, estimates and expenditure, staff and salaries and departmental matters; correspondence between the Librarian and the Secretary of the Council, 1889-1950; Library correspondence relating to alterations and repairs, 1932-1954; Library lists and registers, 1849-1985, including a Visitors' Book, 1953-1985, and Withdrawals Registers, 1917-1922 and 1954-1974; papers relating to insect problems in the Library, 1951; Doris Bains's statistics book and Library Staff Book; miscellaneous literary works, [1940-1959]; University Grants Committee (UGC) liaison reports, 1964; papers relating to the reclassification of the Library stock, 1969-1970; Library Accessions Register, 1897-1971; Pamphlet Accessions Register, 1921-1971; Donations Register, 1963-1970; plans by Maxwell Ayrton relating to the Tate Library extension, 1932-1950; plans by Easton and Robertson relating to the Tate and Herringham Library extension, 1961-1963.

Papers of Iris Murdoch, comprising correspondence with Hazel Bell, editor of The Indexer, concerning Bell's request that an index to all Murdoch's novels be created. The collection comprises Bell's initial letter seeking permission, 1987, and Murdoch's response, stating that she would not like an index to be compiled, 1987; Bell's later letter asking for permission to publish a quote from the letter from Murdoch, 1992, and Murdoch's written response, granting Bell permission to quote her, 1992.

Correspondence and papers of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS) Secretary/Librarian, 1946-1984, primarily comprise a selection of the general and administrative files of K Howard Drake, with a small amount of correspondence of W A F P Steiner and J A Boxhall. 'British Museum' file, holding correspondence of Drake and Steiner, 1947-1972; 'General correspondence' file relating to Library acquisitions and binding, 1956-1967; 'General correspondence' file on cataloguing and indexing procedures, 1965-1967; 'International Association of Law Libraries: course in law librarianship, Luxembourg, 1966', Drake's file as President of the IALL, 1965-1966; 'International Association of Law Libraries: Uppsala, 1966', Drake's file as President of the IALL, 1965-1966; correspondence between Drake and Elizabeth Moys, Acting Librarian, University of Lagos and later of Glasgow University Library, 1962-1968; 'Nuffield Foundation', correspondence and papers relating to grants to the IALS Library, 1946-1970; 'Standing conference of librarians of the libraries of the University of London', correspondence, 1954-1969; 'University Grants Commission: annual returns', 1948-1965; 'Library policy', draft policy statements, background papers, Library Committee minutes, 1947-1984; correspondence with the Library, Osgoode Hall Law School, Canada, 1949-1961; lists of current legal research topics, 1949-1966; correspondence and papers relating to the K Howard Drake memorial fund, 1968-1975; Secretary/Librarian's telephone directory; printed Finding list of primary source materials for British and Irish Law held by London libraries compiled by W A Steiner (IALS, 1974).

Papers of and relating to George Bernard Shaw, 1927-1928, comprising 2 letters and a compliment card to Beatrice White (later Professor White), 1927, concerning the indexing of his book The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism (Beatrice White indexed the book); press cuttings of a review of the book, 1928.