Papers relate to Sir Arthur Vick's career and interests from the time of his postgraduate studies and the Second World War until his death in 1998. The collection comprises correspondence and subject files and includes papers relating to his career (1936-97); the various professional associations and bodies to which he was attached (1930-96); his correspondence and personalia (including two diaries for 1937-38 and a 1915 Niels Bohr manuscript article, "The Spectra of Hydrogen and Helium", printed in 'Nature' the same year) (1915-98); published scientific material and papers relating to his own lectures, publications, conferences and visits (1887-1998); besides a variety of material relating to African and British universities and higher education on a national and international level (1930-96). A later deposit of papers and personal correspondence relating to his career and interests covers the period 1939-98.

The material concerning his career (correspondence, minutes, notes, newscuttings and publications) relates to: the Ministry of Supply (1939-1981); University College, London (1936-1992); the University of Manchester (1937-1981); the University College of North Staffordshire, Keele (1949-1996); the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell (1959-1991); and the Queen's University, Belfast (1965-1996). Also included in this series are papers relating to his involvement with Warwick University (essentially after his retirement in 1976) (1964-1997).