The correspondence spans the period from Tait's arrival at Beale's laboratory, his visit to the Department of Microbiology at the University of Colorado Medical Center in 1973 and his continuing work at the Institute of Animal Genetics. There are also letters regarding Beale's recommendations of Tait for Fellowship of the Royal Society.

Much of the correspondence appears to consist of Tait's letters to Beale, with copies of Beale's replies not present.

Chiefly contains correspondence with professional colleagues and students, the Royal Society (generally concerning proposals for Fellowships) and the Genetics Department at the University of California, Berkeley. Subjects include Beale's early career, applications for positions, army service and plans for the Protozoan Genetics building on Edinburgh's King's Buildings site.

Except where noted, copies of Beale's replies are usually present.

Interview with Andrew Tait by Grahame Bulfield, 5 September 2014.

Contains copies of papers published by scientists based within the Protozoan Genetics Unit at the Institute of Animal Genetics, including J.K.C. Knowles, Margaret R. Mott, E. Olszewska, R.E. Sinden and Andy Tait.