Ward's experiences with Percy Scholes, and his mentor's letters of introduction, paid off, and in 1957 he became Manager of the Music Department of Oxford University Press in New York. A large portion of the collection deals with Ward's career at Oxford, which would last until 1972. The materials relating to Oxford University Press include not only general memos and financial records, but also Ward's vast subject files which he used to update and revise the Oxford Companion to Music after Percy Scholes's death.

In his position at Oxford University Press, Ward oversaw the publication of a large music catalogue, and naturally became a close confidant of many important musicians. Below are just two of the many letters from well-known musical families.

Upon her husband's death in 1958, Ursula Vaughn Williams sent this touching letter to Ward.

Another prominent composer in Oxford's catalogue was William Walton, who sent this letter to Ward's wife, Maya, in 1976.