Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1875-1965 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.114 cubic metres (4 boxes, 1 wallet)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Sir Alfred Thomas Davies (1861-1949) received his university education in Aberystwyth and later became a solicitor in Liverpool. He was permanent secretary to the Welsh department of the Board of Education from its establishment in 1907 until 1925. During the 1914-18 war he was instrumental in the establishment of the British Prisoners of War Book Scheme (Educational), a project designed to provide educational books to students in prisoners' camps to enable them to continue their studies and even to acquire professional and academic qualifications. He was the author of Student captives: an account of the work of the British prisoners of war book scheme (educational) (1917), Student captives: a further account of the work of the British prisoners of war book scheme (educational) (1918), Light through prison bars: some war-time adventures in education, The Lloyd George I knew (1948), and Robert Owen (1771-1858): pioneer, social reformer and philanthropist: a memoir (1948).
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by the sons of Alfred T. Davies in two groups: by A. Mervyn Davies of Connecticut, USA, in 1971 (Annual report 1971-72, pp. 36-7), and by Rev. Alfred T. Davies of Ohio, USA, in 1981 (Annual reports 1981-82, p. 47).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Alfred T. Davies, 1875-1965, including family and personal correspondence, 1887-1949; papers relating to the British Prisoners of War Book Scheme, 1914-1918; and papers relating to his works, including Student captives, I (1917), Student captives, II, Robert Owen... a memoir (1948), The Lloyd George I knew (1948), and intended books Light through prison bars and Owned of God: or Moody and Sankey, 1875 and 1883: some memoirs and a tribute, with a Welsh translation by Rev. E. K. Jones, 1945. Also three bound volumes of the printed magazine produced by civilian prisoners at Ruhleben Camp near Berlin.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged into the following: correspondence folders; press-cuttings, collection of pamphlets and lectures, speeches, and miscellaneous.
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 laws apply.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
The 1971 group remains uncatalogued. A hard copy of the catalogue of the 1981 group is available in Minor Lists and Summaries 1982, pp. 9-10, at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue can be accessed online.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents of fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- British Prisoners of War Book Scheme (Educational) (Subject)
- Owain Glyndwr Institute. (Subject)
- Davies, Alfred T. -- Archives (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
January 2004.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Annette Strauch for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Minor Lists and Summaries, 1982; Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941-1970 (London, 2001);