Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1893-1935 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.176 cubic metres (5 boxes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
'Bodfan', John Bodvan Anwyl (1875-1949), was a Congregational minister, lexicographer and author. He was born in Chester, the younger brother of Sir Edward Anwyl (1866-1914). In 1899 he became minister of Elim Welsh Independent Church, Ffynnonddrain, Carmarthen, but resigned due to deafness in 1904 and became a missioner at Glamorgan Mission to the Deaf and Dumb in Pontypridd. He edited Spurrell's Welsh-English Dictionary, 6th edition (Carmarthen, 1914), and the English-Welsh Dictionary, 7th edition (Carmarthen, 1916). After a period working in the National Library of Wales, 1919-1921, he was appointed Secretary of the University of Wales Board of Celtic Studies Welsh Dictionary, 1921-1935. During this period he also wrote several books: Englynion (Wrexham, 1933), Fy Hanes I Fy Hunan (Carmarthen, 1933) and Yr Arian Mawr (Carmarthen, 1934) and edited Ellis Wynne's Gweledigaethau y Bardd Cwsc (Carmarthen, 1927) and Theophilus Evans' Drych y Prif Oesoedd (Carmarthen, 1932). He spent his final years in Llangwnnadl, Caernarfonshire, his mother's family home, and died there by drowning on 23 July 1949.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Source of the main group is not recorded. The sermons were donated by his niece Miss E.C. Anwyl, Gainsborough, and Mr J. Emrys Anwyl, Bala, 1976.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Bodfan, 1893-1935, comprising letters received by him, 1899-1935, mainly from friends discussing current literary trends and etymological and lexicographical matters; sermons, 1895-1901; miscellaneous poems, notes and printed matter, 1905-1933; and papers, mainly notebooks, relating to his brother Sir Edward Anwyl, 1893-1918.
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: correspondence; sermons; miscellaneous papers; Sir Edward Anwyl material.
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
- English
- Welsh
- Spanish
- Italian
- French
- German
- esp
Script of material
Language and script notes
English, Welsh; some letters in Spanish, Italian, French, German and Esperanto; some items written in shorthand..
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue can be accessed on-line.
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.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
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
September 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 Bodfan Anwyl Papers; Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940 (London, 1959); Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941-1970 (London, 2001).