Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1854-1936 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
58 volumes.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Jack Edwards (1853-1942) was a bookseller and singer. Born in Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, he worked in the telegraph department of the Post Office there until 1880, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Here he stayed with his brother Ed and worked for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, for a wholesale drug store, and as a music teacher. He spent a great deal of his time singing, as a soloist and in various choirs. During this time he corresponded with his father, Edward Edwards ('Pencerdd Ceredigion', 1816-1897), bookseller, and his sisters in Aberystwyth; he also corresponded with many musicians in Wales. In 1887, he returned home and took over his father's bookselling business in Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth. He developed a great interest in the Esperanto language. He died in 1942.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated to the National Library of Wales by Miss Elizabeth Richards, Aberystwyth, 1941-2.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Letters from Jack Edwards in Cincinnati, Ohio, to his family, 1880-1887, relating family matters, his work and singing engagements and news of the Welsh community in Cincinnati; programme cards of various concerts and festivals, 1882-1885; music notebooks of Jack Edwards, Edward Edwards and others, [19th century]-[early 20th century]; account and memoranda books of Edward Edwards' bookselling and binding business, 1854-1895; correspondence of Edward and Jack Edwards, including some in Esperanto, mainly on musical and literary matters, 1881-1936; and other original manuscripts of Jack Edwards, [before 1942].
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
All records donated to the National Library of Wales have been retained.
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
The letters are NLW MS 20995E, arranged chronologically. The other papers and manuscripts are NLW MSS 14741-14796.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright regulations apply
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
English, Welsh, Esperanto.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogue 'Letters of Jack Edwards From America, 1880-7', covering NLW MS 20995E, is available at the National Library of Wales. The remaining manuscripts are uncatalogued.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title supplied from contents of fonds. The archive contains earlier material relating to Edwards Edwards, Jack's father, and his business.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Edwards, Jack, 1853-1942 -- Correspondence. (Subject)
- Edwards, Edward, 1816-1897 -- Correspondence (Subject)
- Edwards, Edward, 1816-1897 (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows ANW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.;AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
February 2003
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Rhys Jones for the ANW project. The following source was used to compile this description: NLW, Schedule of Letters of Jack Edwards From America, 1880-7; National Library of Wales, Annual Report, 1941-2.