Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1762]x1955 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.099 cubic metres (11 boxes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Edward Morgan Humphreys (1882-1955) was born and brought up in Maeldref, Ardudwy Valley, Merionethshire. His family had a strong tradition of Liberalism. He became a journalist and author, after having given up his legal career due to ill-health. He continued to suffer from ill-health throughout his life. He started writing when he moved with his family to Liverpool and became newspaper correspondent, for the Barmouth Advertiser in 1904 and then the Liverpool Courier, reporting on Evan Roberts' revival meetings in Liverpool in 1905. He became the editor of Y Genedl Gymreig and The North Wales Observer in 1908. He was also editor of Y Goleuad for two terms. He resigned from Y Genedl in 1930, having returned there in 1918, to become a freelance writer. He wrote a weekly column and reviews for the Liverpool Daily Post and the Manchester Guardian, and from 1919 he used the pen-name Celt for his articles for the Liverpool Daily Post. Morgan Humphreys made many radio broadcasts, including one on the occasion of Lloyd George's funeral, and addressed many societies in Wales and England. A pioneer of the Welsh detective novel, he published a number of books, including Dirgelwch yr Anialwch (1911), Rhwng Rhyfeloedd (1924), Yr Etifedd Coll (1924), Y Llaw Gudd (1924), Dirgelwch Gallt y Ffrwd (1938), Ceulan y Llyn Du (1944), and Llofrudd yn y Chwarel (1951). Morgan Humphreys was a staunch supporter of the National Eisteddfod, adjudicating on many occasions and serving on various committees. Among his other published works are Gorse Glen (1948), a translation of Hugh Evans' Cwm Eithin; David Lloyd George (1943), and Y Wasg Gymraeg (1945). He was closely associated with many major literary figures in Wales, including T. Gwynn Jones and W. J. Griffith, Henllys Fawr. He was also close to many of the leading political figures of his time including many Liberal Members of Parliament.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Purchased in 1956 from Mrs Annie Morgan Humphreys, widow of E. Morgan Humphreys.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers relating to the life and career of Edward Morgan Humphreys, including letters to E. Morgan Humphreys, from several prominent Welsh figures, 1900x1955, relating to professional matters, such as his articles and contributions to newspapers, requests for articles, radio talks, addresses, literary works, public appointments, his involvement with the eisteddfod and various committees; together with some letters relating to personal affairs, politics and literary matters and letters written to him in his role as an editor; miscellaneous and family ('Dyffryn') correspondence, which are mostly letters of the families of E. Morgan Humphreys' great-grandfather, the Rev Richard Humphreys, and of his grandfather, the Rev Edward Morgan, [1800]x1953; articles, radio scripts and addresses by E. Morgan Humphreys, 1902x1955; together with some personal and family papers, 1841x1955; articles, poetry, adjudications and letters to the editor of Y Genedl etc., by T. Gwynn Jones, 1890x1949; and other miscellaneous papers accumulated by E. Morgan Humphreys, [1762]x1955. Some of the family correspondence was published in 'Some Nineteenth Century Letters', in The Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, 1925-1926.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records have been retained.
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged into the following: letters to E. Morgan Humphreys in alphabetical order; family ('Dyffryn') correspondence; miscellaneous correspondence; articles; radio scripts; addresses; other works; personal; T.Gwynn Jones material; and miscellanea.
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, French, Spanish.
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 online.
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. Some of the records acquired by E. Morgan Humphreys pre-date his birth because they are the papers of his family.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
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
February 2003
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, Edward Morgan Humphreys Papers, 1996, Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941-1970 (London, 2001).