Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1890-1926 (Creation)
Level of description
File
Extent and medium
35 items.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
Sir John Williams (1840-1926), royal physician, president of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, and chief founder of the National Library of Wales, was born in Gwynfe, Carmarthenshire. His private library included important manuscripts from the estate of Peniarth, Merionethshire. It was Sir John who, amongst others, pioneered the setting up of a Welsh hospital in South Africa during the Boer War. Amongst the many honours bestowed upon him during his lifetime, he was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1894.
Name of creator
Biographical history
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.
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.
Name of creator
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Content and structure area
Scope and content
Some thirty-one letters, 1890-1926, to J. H. Davies, both personal and professional, from various correspondents including R. D. Roberts, 1902 (enclosing a letter, 31 December 1828, from David Davies, Bristol, to his aunt, Miss Jane Davies, Machynlleth), [Sir] J[ohn] W[illiams], 1904, [Sir] John Morris-Jones, 1918, 1922, D. Rhys Phillips, 1919 (2), the Rev. J. Bodvan Anwyl, 1922, and Daniel Protheroe, 1926. Also included are four carbon copy letters from J. H. Davies, 1925-1926.
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Language of material
- English
- Welsh
Script of material
Language and script notes
English, Welsh.
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Title based on contents.