The collection consists primarily of files of correspondence (the format changing to represent the shift in technologies from typing, through the use of fax machines, to printed emails). The papers demonstrate the wide range of activities M. Balls was involved with, including teaching, collaborating with fellow scientists in industry and academia, peer reviewing of books and articles, engaging with politicians to influence policy or raise funding, navigating the bureaucracy and politics of working for the European Union, editing a peer-reviewed journal and publishing scientific papers, acting as a trustee for a charity and travelling the world to present at workshops and symposia. There is relatively little raw scientific data, but instead the papers represent the work involved in running research projects (sharing findings and samples with fellow scientists, purchasing lab equipment, hiring research assistants, etc.).
Professor Balls career was dedicated to persuading others to move away from using animals in scientific experiments by demonstrating that the use of alternatives yielded better and more human-relevant ways of conducting biomedical research and testing, which was in the interest of both animal welfare and human welfare. His early correspondence filing (PMB/2/1) does feature some details of his early research work, which involved using amphibians (such as the procuring of Xenopus Laevis, the South African clawed toad). However, material which might be considered distressing (featuring graphic images or descriptions of animals used in experiments), tends to be found solely in the press coverage of animal welfare campaigns or in leaflets produced by animal rights activist organisations, which are present in small numbers in the collection. The collection would be of interest to anyone examining the changing approaches used by animal welfare advocates of all types, from animal rights extremists, to politicians and scientists from industry and academia. The collection also reveals how M. Balls own stance has developed over time.
His published autobiography, 'Dewing things differently', is essential reading and features a useful timeline and list of acronyms. A second edition was published in 2021 with an updated comment on the coronavirus pandemic (PMB/1/18).
The early correspondence filing (PMB/2/1) show the nature of the work M. Balls was involved in during the planning for and on his return to the UK from the USA. It includes correspondence with fellow researchers in the US, which provides a fascinating account of a time of great change in American society, including Anti-Vietnam War protests and concerns about free speech and policing on campus (at Berkeley), and the segregation still evident in the education system in the southern states. Later correspondence relates to the transfer of the papers of William Russell to Manuscripts and Special Collections (PMB/2/2)
The main series of files (PMB/3), which forms the bulk of the collection, is organised roughly chronologically and reflects the various activities M. Balls was involved in. There is a small amount of material relating to his early research and a series of files relating to his lecturing and other duties at the University of East Anglia. There are also some papers from his short spell of teaching at Eton, and papers relating to his role as Secretary/Treasurer for the British Society for Cell Biology (1973-1980) and Secretary/Treasurer for the British Society for Developmental Biology (1978-1983).
Professor Ball's interest in education comes across in the papers relating to the teaching of science in schools and universities and the files (PMB/3/3) relating to the Campaign for Advancement of Education in Norwich (CANE). It is clear from numerous files that throughout his academic career, he took his pastoral role seriously and put a lot of energy into developing the careers of junior researchers.
There is also a file relating to his work with the European Research Group for Alternatives in Toxicity Testing (ERGATT) and a number of files relating to the trials and tribulations of his time at the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), revealing the stresses he was under due to the ambitions of the programme of work, the constant travelling and the frustrations of dealing with bureaucracy (PMB/3/8).
A series of files relate to his interest in the development of the Three Rs and the origins of the work 'The Principles', containing correspondence with William Russell and Rex Burch and published articles about their work (PMB/3/9).
The collection of reprints (PMB/4) provides a useful overview of the research work Professor Balls was involved in, although it is not a comprehensive collection of everything he has published. Some of the articles report the findings of scientific research, others, particularly editorials written by M. Balls for the journal Alternatives to Laboratory Animals (ATLA), would be a good starting point for reading about campaigns and issues which he considered to be of particular concern (for example, the use of chimpanzees, progress in promoting the Three Rs, moral questions concerning the use of animals, the ethical responsibilities of the cosmetics industry). There are also a number of PhD theses and files of offprints written by others (PMB/5).
Scans made by Professor Balls of original photographs still in his possession provide a visual overview of some of the key moments and people in his life (PMB/7). Some of these have been published in his autobiography.