Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1947-1973 (predominantly 1966-1973) (accumulated 1966-1973) / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.324 cubic metres (30 boxes, 1 envelope, 3 volumes)
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
On the morning of 21 October 1966 in Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, 144 people, of whom 116 were children, were killed when a coal waste tip slid into the village engulfing some 20 houses and Pantglas Junior School. Following the disaster, a Tribunal of Inquiry was appointed by the Secretary of State for Wales under the chairmanship of Sir Herbert Edmund Davies. The Inquiry lasted from 29 November 1966 until 28 April 1967. Its report was published on 3 August 1967. During the Tribunal and afterwards the Aberfan Parents' and Residents' Association was represented by the firm of solicitors Morgan, Bruce and Nicholas, Pontypridd, with Desmond Ackner QC, Aubrey Myerson and Cyril Moseley being present at the Tribunal.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by Mr Cyril Moseley of Morgan, Bruce and Nicholas, Solicitors, Pontypridd, 1984.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers, 1966-1967, relating to the public inquiry into the Aberfan tip disaster of 21 October 1966, together with some additional material relating to the Aberfan Parents' and Residents' Association, 1966-1973, including copies of the Proceedings of the Public Inquiry in the form of typescript notes taken by Treasury Reporters, 1966-1967, other notes and speeches relating to the Tribunal by Cyril Moseley, Aubrey Myerson, and Desmond Ackner, QC, 1966-1967, various Tribunal documents with an index, 1947-[1967], correspondence, 1966-1973, and original statements and copies taken on behalf of Aberfan Parents' and Residents' Association [1966]-[1967]. It should be noted that these are not the official records of the Tribunal, although a largely complete set of documents, plans and photographs submitted to the Tribunal is included.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records donated to the National Library of Wales have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged into the following: proceedings of the Public Inquiry, correspondence, statements, and other notes of the proceedings by Cyril Moseley. These are mostly arranged chronologically. The various Tribunal documents are arranged mostly in the order of their original listing.
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.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales and the National Register of Archives.
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 Inquiry papers include documents submitted in evidence, dating between 1947 and 1966.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Aberfan Parents and Residents Association -- Archives (Subject)
- Morgan, Bruce and Nicholas. (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
August 2003.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Rhys Jones for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW Schedule of Aberfan Papers; The Aberfan Disaster website (www.nuff.ox.ac.uk/politics/aberfan/home.htm), viewed January 2003;