Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1622-1951 (accumulated [c.1875-1951]) / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.461 cubic metres (25 boxes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
David Rhys Phillips, 'Beili Glas' (1862-1952) from the vale of Neath, Glamorgan, became librarian of the Welsh Department of the Swansea Public Library, and was responsible for the Celtic collection. He was one of the founders and the first honorary secretary of the Welsh Bibliographical Society, and honorary secretary and editor of the Celtic Congress. He did freelance work throughout his life, including for the reading and editorial section of the Oxford University Press. He worked to improve the study of librarianship in Wales. He was a successful competitor at the National Eisteddfod in literary competitions, and was an active member of the Gorsedd. His main interest, however, was the history of the vale of Neath; his magnum opus, The history of the vale of Neath, was published in 1925.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Purchased in 1952 and 1953.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Research and original papers acquired by D. Rhys Phillips, mainly towards a history of the vale of Neath, 1622-1897, including extracts from the letter-books of Alfred Fox of the Neath Abbey Coal Co., 1820-1858, and accounts of the Vale of Neath Railway, 1850-1862; and material towards a history of Swansea, 1622-1814. Papers relating to Nonconformity, 1657-1921, music and hymn books, 1820-1933, Neath Abbey Coal Co., 1865-1874, dialect words, place names, tribannau Morgannwg, poetry, proverbs and folklore, 1896-1948. Correspondence, 1855-1951.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged into papers, 1637-1951 (1-480), sub-divided by content, and correspondence, 1855-1951 (1-5941).
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.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue ia available online.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Numerous publications, including The Celtic Countries: their literary and library activities (1915), A nation and its books (1916), and The history of the Vale of Neath (1925).
Notes area
Note
Title supplied from contents of fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Neath Abbey Ironworks (Subject)
- Neath Abbey Coal Company. (Subject)
- Vale of Neath Railway. (Subject)
- Phillips, D. Rhys (David Rhys), 1862-1952 -- Archives. (Subject)
- Fox, Alfred, fl. 1820-1858 -- Correspondence. (Subject)
- Fox, Alfred, fl. 1820-1858 (Subject)
- Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church (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
March 2003
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Description created by ANW project. The following source was used for the preparation of the description: NLW, Schedule of D. Rhys Phillips Papers. Includes original papers that pre-date D. Rhys Phillips.