Papers relating to the activities of David Davies, Llandinam, including relating to contracting in the construction of railways, the establishment of the Ocean Coal Co. Ltd, legal papers collected for the 1883 and 1884 Barry Dock Bills, and his son Edward Davies's letter-books.

The collection comprises deeds and documents, 1587-1861, relating mainly to the Mackworth family of Gnoll and to the Gnoll estate; miscellaneous documents, 1801-[1865], mainly relating to Neath; and miscellaneous documents, extracts taken from documents made by Donald H. Jones, mainly of Neath interest; papers relating to meetings, 1923-1933, of the Neath Antiquarian Society; notes made by Donald Jones of tours of north and south Wales; historical and archaeological notes by Donald Jones; a file of letters, 1931-1939, received by Jones; files of press cuttings relating to Neath antiquities, 1925-1935; and many other miscellaneous papers and documents of Neath interest.

General account books, 1868-1911, including cash books, 1884-1900, coal sales and general ledgers, 1872-1903, coal shipment books and files, 1868-1911, and receipt files, 1882-1906; and colliery account books (by colliery), 1865-1912.

Papers of Goronwy R. Jones, 1941-1969, including correspondence, 1941-1969, files relating to trade union activities at several collieries, 1958-1967, notes and notebooks, typescripts relating to the South Wales coal industry, 1962-1967, and printed items, 1958-1963; papers of William J. Fortt, 1958-1968, including papers relating to the South Wales coal industry and the South Wales Area of the National Union of Mineworkers, notes, drafts of speeches and press cuttings.

Records of the Morgan family of Tredegar and Ruperra, later barons and viscounts Tredegar including deeds, 14th-20th cent. of the Tredegar, Ruperra, Dderw and Palleg estates in Monmouthshire, Glamorgan and Breconshire which document much of the growth of the towns of Newport and Cardiff in the 19th century; records of the lordship of Wentlloog (Newport) and many Monmouthshire manors, some 14-16 cent., but mainly 17-19 cent.; records of the manor of Brecon and of other manors in Breconshire, 17-19 cent. including the Great Forest of Brecon; records of industrial interests, mainly coal and iron in Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, 18-20 cent.; records of the Tredegar Wharf Company from 1807; and surveys, audit books, rentals, ledgers and leases for the Monmouthshire, Glamorgan and Breconshire portions of the Tredegar estate, 18-20 cent.; papers relating to Nova Scotia and Canada, 1730-1773, mainly of Richard Phillips, Governor of Nova Scotia, 1717-1749; and rentals and leases for the Mile End and Bow estates in London, 19-20 cent.