The collection includes numerous items related to his work as a translator of Arno Schmidt's works. There is a large body of correspondence regarding Schmidt written by Ernst Krawehl and others, as well as manuscripts of Schmidt writings translated by Woods, such as Evening Edged in Gold, School for Atheists and "Lake Scenes with Pocahontas." Also present are an array of published and unpublished manuscripts translated from the writings of such German authors as Thomas Mann, Libuŝe Monikóvá, John Rabe, Christoph Ransmayr, Jan Philip Reemstma, and Ingo Schulze. Most of the manuscripts include the handwritten edits and annotations made by the translator.