The letters, which span the years 1945-56, largely relate to Swanzy's work as editor and regular producer of the BBC radio programme Caribbean Voices , a literary programme which ran for many years between 1945 and 1958. The programme, which was broadcast back to the West Indies, featured poems, stories and other literary material by West Indian writers and provided an important and rare opportunity for writers of West Indian poetry and fiction to have their work publicised. The letters, which include correspondence between Swanzy and Gladys Lindo, the BBC's local representative in Jamaica, give detailed information about the format, content and organisation of the programme and provide evidence of the significance of the programme in raising the literary standard of Caribbean writing.
Other correspondence includes letters to and from contributors who included such well-known individuals as Derek Walcott and Figueroa; and letters of comment, criticism and appreciation from listeners. The papers also indicate the enormous level of support and encouragement which Swanzy gave to West Indian writers, by assisting them in their efforts to find publishers for their work and by finding them employment as readers on the programme.