Correspondence, 1938-1997, and miscellaneous personal papers, 1944-1995, of John Elwyn, including letters relating to commissions and exhibitions. Among the more notable correspondents are Winifred Coombe Tennant, Nicholas Evans, Alun Hoddinott, Glyn Jones, John Petts, Ceri Richards and Kyffin Williams.
Elwyn, John, 1916-1997
Letters from Winifred Coombe-Tennant,
Part of John Elwyn Papers,
Fifty letters, 1949-1955, from Winifred Coombe-Tennant (Mam o Nedd) to the artist John Elwyn, mainly relating to the progress of his career and the writer's efforts to publicise his work.
Also included are press cuttings, 1950-[1965], relating mainly to Mrs Coombe-Tennant.
Coombe Tennant, Winifred, 1874-1956.
Part of John Elwyn Papers,
Some one hundred and fifty letters, 1944-1997, mostly in English, to John Elwyn from various correspondents (surnames A), both personal and work related.
The correspondents include Sam Adams, 1988, [?1995] (ff. 65-66 verso), Richard Allen, 1971, 1976 (ff. 68-69 verso), David Brynmor Anthony, 1944-1963 (ff. 90-101, English and Welsh; including some (ff. 94-101) on behalf of the Contemporary Art Society for Wales), their friends George and Ann Aceves, 1979-1996 (ff. 7-62), the Alresford Gallery, Winchester, 1991-1997 (ff. 70-89), the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea, 1960 (ff. 102-105), and the Attic Gallery, Swansea, 1988-1997 (ff. 108-178). There are references to a tribute evening to Glyn Jones, 1995 (ff. 2-6), and a memorial exhibition for David Bell, 1960 (ff. 102-104).
Part of John Elwyn Papers,
Over one hundred and fifty letters, 1938-1997, in English and Welsh, to John Elwyn from various correspondents (surnames B-C), both personal and work related.
The correspondents include Menna Baines, 30 July 1992 (f. 1, Welsh), Kit Barker, 1970-1974 (ff. 9-11), David Bell, 1950-1958 (ff. 14-35), H. I[dris] Bell, 4 May 1959 (f. 36), Euros Bowen, 26 March 1976 (f. 43, Welsh), S. Morse Brown, 18 July 1938 (f. 48), David Buckman, 1987-1994 (ff. 55-74), [Miss] E. M. Bush, 1944-1946 (ff. 77-94), Arthur Chater, 1981 (ff. 119-122), and John and Lel Cleal of Workshop Wales Gallery, [1982]-[?1996] (ff. 123-153, 156-189). The letters contain references to Lord Harlech (f. 14) and Denis Reed (f. 70), and to John Elwyn’s portrait of Dr Raymond Edwards (ff. 199-202).
Part of John Elwyn Papers,
Some one hundred and forty-five letters, 1938-1997, in English and Welsh, to John Elwyn from various correspondents (surnames D-G), both personal and work related.
The correspondents include Sir Alun Talfan Davies, 1986 (ff. 2-5), Aneirin Talfan Davies, [c. 1975]-1980 (ff. 7-12), Nan Davies, BBC, 1960-1965 (ff. 20-27), Ogwyn Davies, [early 1990s]-1997 (ff. 28-30), Janina Ede, 1996-[1997] (ff. 49, 53), Dr Raymond Edwards, 1984-1985 (ff. 57-58), Huw [Ethall], 1996-1997 (ff. 63-67), Elwyn Evans, BBC, 1953-1955, 1988 (ff. 68-76), George Ewart Evans, 1953-1986 (ff. 79-94), Gwynfor Evans, 2 September 1954 (f. 95), Nicholas Evans, 1981-1985 (ff. 100-106), Ray Evans, 1965-1967 (ff. 107-109), Tony [Eyton], 10 November 1950 (f. 110), Mick Felton, 1987-1988 (ff. 129-134), Raymond Garlick, 1958, 1995 (ff. 144-147), and Gwennant Gillespie, 9 September 1996 (ff. 159-160). The letters contain references to Leslie Harries (f. 46 verso) and to a memorial fund for John Ormond (ff. 141-143). Also included is a copy of a typescript letter, 1951, from his Uncle, Evan [Davies], to Jim [Miskell], containing reminiscences of his time living in Saskatchewan, Canada (see Evan Davies and Aled Vaughan, Beyond the Old Bone Trail (London, 1960) and Evan Davies and Aled Vaughan, Arswyd yr Unigeddau, trans. by Phebe Puw (Llandysul, 1980)) (ff. 113-126), and a draft letter, [1994], from John Elwyn (f. 183).
Part of John Elwyn Papers,
Some one hundred and twenty-five letters, 1946-1997, in English and Welsh, to John Elwyn from various correspondents (surnames H-K), both personal and work related.
The correspondents include Leslie Harries, 1948-1957 (ff. 3-6), Alun [Hoddinott], [?1958]-[1978] (ff. 18-24), Shelagh Hourahane, 1967 (ff. 26-27), Bert Isaac, 20 May 1997 (f. 40), Herbert Lloyd-Johnes, 18 September 1959 (f. 52), Ewart Johns, [1996] (ff. 53-57), Bedwyr L[ewis] Jones, [1958] (f. 67), Emyr Wyn Jones, 1996-1997 (ff. 73-80), Glyn Jones, 1946-1992 (ff. 81-151), Harri [Pritchard Jones], 15 November 1985 (f. 152), Iorwerth Hughes Jones, 1949-1952 (ff. 158-159), Jack Jones, 9 June 1957 (f. 161), John [Gwilym Jones], 1 August 1997 (f. 163), Jonah Jones, 15 January 1984 (f. 164), and Jim [Parc Nest, T. James Jones], 1992-1997 (ff. 165-171). The letters contain references to Carmarthen School of Art (ff. 60-66). Also included are ten typescript poems, [1969], by Glyn Jones (all published) (ff. 100-107), along with sketched designs for some of them by John Elwyn, [1969] (ff. 109-112); a corrected typescript draft of Glyn Jones's article on John Elwyn, published in Y Genhinen, 26.2 (1976), 69-74 (ff. 124-129); brief autobiographical notes by Glyn Jones, 1987 (ff. 145-146); and a cutting from The Western Mail, 3 February 1996, Television Wales section, p. 12 (f. 168).
Part of John Elwyn Papers,
Some one hundred and sixty letters, 1938-1997, in English and Welsh, to John Elwyn from various correspondents (surnames L-N), both personal and work related.
The correspondents include Morland Lewis, 16 October 1939 (f. 15), Richard Macdonald, 1938-[?1939] (ff. 26-28), Ronald Maddox, 1995-1996 (ff. 96-98), Roland Mathias, 1957, 1992 (ff. 101-102), Robert Morgan, 1980-1993 (ff. 112-141), Prof. T. J. Morgan, [c. 1980] (f. 150), Carey Morris, 14 August 1944 (f. 153), James Nicholas, 20 February 1992 (f. 176), W. Rhys Nicholas, 7 January 1976 (f. 177), and Leslie Norris, 1972-1997 (ff. 178-201); there are also two letters on behalf of the actor Robert Morley, 1957 (ff. 151-152). Letters from Nicolas and Frances McDowall of the Old Stile Press, Llandogo, 1979, 1990-1997 (ff. 30-93), relate mainly to the volume Dafydd ap Gwilym, Houses of Leaves (Llandogo, [1993]), illustrated by John Elwyn; letters from Megan Ellis, National Library of Wales, 1959-1961 (ff. 157-173, 175), relate mostly to an exhibition at the Library in 1959 to which John Elwyn contributed. Also included are copies of poems by Robert Morgan (ff. 137, 139) and Leslie Norris (ff. 184, 186, 198), cards produced by Old Stile Press, 1979-1991 (ff. 33-34, 38-41, 53, 57), and an exhibition catalogue relating to Robert Morgan, [?1994] (ff. 142-147). The letters from Leslie Norris contain references to John Arlott (f. 180), R. S. Thomas (f. 180), John Petts (f. 183) and Robert Morgan (ff. 193, 194).
Part of John Elwyn Papers,
Over one hundred and thirty letters, 1938-1997, in English and Welsh, to John Elwyn from various correspondents (surnames O-R), both personal and work related.
The correspondents include John Ormond, 1977-1987 (ff. 4-20 verso), [Sir] Thomas Parry, 17 December 1959 (f. 29), John Petts, 1953-1991 (ff. 35-55), Thomas Rathmell, December 1988 (f. 119), Dennis William Reed, 1938-1957 (ff. 120-155 verso), Ceri Richards, 1947 (ff. 161-163), and Frank Roper, 12 May 1959 (f. 165). Letters, 1959-1962, relating to commissions for the Shell County Guides, from the publishers Rainbird, McLean Ltd (later George Rainbird Ltd) (ff. 80-117, 174-180), include letters from Kenneth Rowntree, 1959-1960 (ff. 96, 104, 174-175), and Edward Young, 1962 (ff. 113-117), notes by Geoffrey Grigson, 1959-1960 (ff. 99-101, 176-180), and a letter from John Elwyn (f. 92). Also included is a copy of John Ormond's tribute to Graham Sutherland, 1980 (ff. 5-13). The letters contain references to Dannie Abse (ff. 16-17), Leslie Norris (f. 17), John Petts's declining health and death (ff. 31-34), Richard Macdonald (ff. 120 recto-verso, 123-124, 131, 142 recto-verso, 143 verso, 145) and Frank Dobson (ff. 131 verso-132); and to the Second World War (ff. 124-146), including air-raids on Bristol (ff. 135-138).
Part of John Elwyn Papers,
Some one hundred and forty letters, 1948-1997, in English and Welsh, to John Elwyn from various correspondents (surnames S-W), both personal and work related.
The correspondents include Christopher Sandford, 1953 (ff. 12-13), Meic Stephens, 12 December 1995 (f. 22), Winifred Coombe-Tennant, 19 February 1948 (f. 33), Dewi-Prys Thomas, 1977-1978 (ff. 36-37), David Tinker, 1967 (ff. 44-45), John Ward, 1967-1992 (ff. 75-78 verso), George Weber of Edmonton, Alberta, 1987-1994 (ff. 81-97 verso), Sir Huw Wheldon, 1961, [?late 1970s] (ff. 116-118), Phillip Whitfield, 1991-1996 (ff. 119-146 verso), the Rev. G[wilym] O[wen] Williams, 20 February 1952 (f. 158), Kyffin Williams, [1960s]-1995 (ff. 161-167), Stan Williams, [?early 1990s], (f. 171), and the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art, 1965-1967 (ff. 148-153). Also included are draft letters from John Elwyn (ff. 53, 58 verso-59 verso, 63 verso, 100) and drafts of two poems by Phillip Whitfield, 1991-1992 (ff. 124, 127, 129, 131, 134, 138, 141), with a translation into Welsh of one of them [?by John Elwyn], [?1992] (f. 147).
Part of John Elwyn Papers,
Miscellaneous papers, 1944-1995, of John Elwyn, in English and Welsh.
They include testimonials, 1947, from his tutors at the Royal College of Art, including Percy Horton and Gilbert Spencer (ff. 1-4); notes for teaching painting, 1944-[?1970s] (ff. 5-63); prize certificates, 1982, 1984 (ff. 66-67); tributes to Glyn Jones by John Elwyn, 1995 (ff. 76-91), M. Wynn Thomas, 1995 (ff. 92-93), and Harri Pritchard Jones, 1991 (ff. 94-95); a curriculum vitae, [1993] (ff. 96-100); and designs, proofs and photocopies of illustrations by the artist for various publications (ff. 101-168), including Leslie Harries, Chwe Drama Fer (Llandysul, 1944) (ff. 107-121), Tywysydd y Plant, 90 (1946) (ff. 122-128) and Dafydd ap Gwilym, Houses of Leaves (Llandogo, 1993) (ff. 129-163).