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Papers, 1901-1991, of dramatist, poet and literary critic John Saunders Lewis consisting mainly of correspondence and comprising letters, 1914-1955, between Saunders Lewis and Margaret Lewis (née Gilcriest), including letters written whilst Saunders Lewis was serving in the First World War and whilst he was imprisoned in Wormwood Scrubs in 1937; letters, 1919-1984, to Saunders Lewis from various correspondents, including seventy-three letters, 1923-1983, from Kate Roberts, and fifty-three letters and cards, 1948-1974, from artist and writer David Jones, together with letters, 1937, to Margaret Lewis from David Jones and from various correspondents to her, 1919-1951; letters, 1919-1924, to Saunders Lewis from his father Lodwig Lewis, and letters, 1952, 1984-[c. 1986], to Mair Saunders Jones, daughter of Saunders and Margaret Lewis, including a letter, 1952, from Kate Roberts; together with autograph and typescript drafts of plays by Saunders Lewis, 1936-1983, articles, notes and addresses by him, including students notebooks of 1914-1920, and poetry, 1912-1947, by both Saunders and Margaret Lewis.
References include those to Plaid Cymru, Welsh nationalism, contemporary Welsh literature, the state of the Welsh language at the time, and Roman Catholicism.

Seventy-three letters in Welsh, 1923-83, from the novelist and short-story writer Kate Roberts to Saunders Lewis, reflecting the growth of Kate Roberts as a writer and the early recognition and constant encouragement shown to her in her literary career by Saunders Lewis. Other matters discussed include the activities of the Welsh Nationalist Party mainly before 1945 and the state of Welsh literature in general during the period of the correspondence.

Fifty-three letters and cards, 1948-1974, from the artist and writer David Jones to Saunders Lewis, discussing his creative work, the Welsh language, aspects of Welsh and Classical antiquity and literature, the Roman Catholic faith and culture in general. Drawing on f. 51 and inscriptions on ff. 10-13, 29 verso, 36 verso, 44 verso. Also included are three letters, 1937, from David Jones to Margaret Lewis, written during her husband's imprisonment (ff. 91-3 verso) and a copy of a speech by David Jones, delivered in absentia when he was awarded the honorary degree of DLitt by the University of Wales in 1960 (ff. 21-7).

Ninety-four letters, 1919-1984, in Welsh and English, to Saunders Lewis from various correspondents, together with a few draft letters from Saunders Lewis and four letters to Margaret Lewis, written during her husband's imprisonment in 1937. Subjects discussed include Welsh nationalism, the award of DLitt honoris causa to Saunders Lewis, the Welsh Burial Grounds issue, 1928, and literary topics; enclosures include a copy of a draft constitution and articles of agreement, 1934, relating to self-government for Wales (ff. 161-95). Among the main correspondents are Edward Glyn Jones (13) 1919-28, Robert Williams Parry (14) 1927-44, John Arthur Price (5) 1928, E. Prosser Rhys (3) 1927-9, D. J. Williams, Fishguard (7) 1948-67, and Griffith John Williams (3) 1935-56.

Articles and notes, [c. 1920]-1979, in Welsh and English, mainly by Saunders Lewis, some written on the back of letters addressed to him, including an apparently unpublished article, 'Y Bomiau a Chwm Dulas' and drafts of articles on Gutun Owain and Siôn Cent, published in Meistri a'u Crefft (Caerdydd, 1981).

A notebook containing transcripts by D. Myrddin Lloyd of over eighty poems by Robert Williams Parry, mostly composed between 1924 and 1948, many of which later appeared in Cerddi'r Gaeaf (Dinbych, 1952). Details of date and place of first publication are appended to most of the poems.

First draft of Saunders Lewis's address to the jury during his trial at Caernarfon Assizes, October 1936, for arson at Penyberth Bombing School. The address was subsequently published as a pamphlet, Why we burnt the Bombing School (1936). Also included is a draft of his account entitled 'The Story of the Burning' (ff. 32-8).

First draft, [1940s], of an unfinished television play in Welsh by Saunders Lewis, based on the novel Journal d'un curé de campagne (Paris, 1936) by Georges Bernanos. A note, 1975, by Saunders Lewis (f. ii) explains why the play was never completed.

Typescript of an English version of Saunders Lewis's libretto 'Serch yw'r Doctor', adapted from Molière's L'Amour Médecin, for an opera by Arwel Hughes. The Welsh text was published in Esther a Serch yw'r Doctor (Llandybïe, 1960).

Two typescript copies of Saunders Lewis's play, Problemau Prifysgol (Llandybïe, 1968), which was written in 1962.

Typescript, with some autograph revision, of Saunders Lewis's novel Merch Gwern Hywel (Llandybïe, 1964).

Typescript draft (end wanting), with some autograph revision, of Saunders Lewis's play Cymru Fydd (Llandybïe, 1967), first performed at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, Y Bala, 1967; together with a photocopy (ff. 72-118) of ff. 1-29, 55-71 of the typescript and of the final page missing from the typescript. The typescript bears some revision not included in the photocopy.

First draft, June-July 1968, of Saunders Lewis's radio play, 'Y Cyrnol Chabert', based on a story by Honoré de Balzac. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Wales, 19 December 1968, and repeated on 13 March 1970. The play was published in 1989.

Printer's copy of Y Cyrnol Chabert (Pen-y-groes: Gwasg Dwyfor, 1989), bearing emendations by R. Geraint Gruffydd, literary executor of Saunders Lewis. The copy is a photocopy of a typescript containing minor revisions by the author. 'Darlledwyd gyntaf ar Radio Cymru, B.B.C., 5 Mawrth 1970' (f. i) is presumably incorrect (see MS 22957C).

An exercise book and loose papers containing notes and drafts made by Saunders Lewis, [c. 1970], when working on two plays in Welsh, one based on the life of St Catherine of Siena (d. 1380) and the other on the life of the nuclear physicist Niels Bohr (1885-1962). Neither of these plays appears to have been completed. Also included (ff. 39-52) are notes for, and a fragmentary draft of, a play set in the Pope's palace at Orvieto, 1281.

Typescript, with some autograph revision, of Saunders Lewis's play Dwy Briodas Ann, first performed on BBC Wales Television, 16 October 1973, and published in Dramâu'r Parlwr (Llandybïe, 1975).

Typescript draft, with minor autograph revision, of Saunders Lewis's radio play 'Cell y Grog', first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Wales, 2 March 1974, and subsequently published in Taliesin 31 (1975).

Typescript draft, with some autograph revision, of Saunders Lewis's television play, '1938', first performed on BBC Wales Television, 27 February 1978, and subsequently published in Y Cyrnol Chabert a 1938 (Pen-y-groes: Gwasg Dwyfor, 1989); together with photocopies, some bearing autograph revision, of earlier typescript drafts containing some variation of text and passages omitted from the final version.

Seventeen letters, mostly in Welsh, to Saunders Lewis from Lascelles Abercrombie (2) 1926 and n.d., W. R. P. George (1) 1978, David Howell ('Llawdden') (1) 1901, R. S. Thomas (1) ?1970s, and Lewis Valentine (12) 1972-83; together with three letters, 1936-7, to Margaret Lewis from P. Mansell Jones, J. E. Jones, and Siân Williams, written during Saunders Lewis's imprisonment.

Draft of the charge to the ordinands delivered by the Reverend Lodwig Lewis, Saunders Lewis's father, at the Quarterly Association of the Presbyterian Church of Wales held at Aberystwyth, November 1925; and a typescript draft, 1976, with autograph revision, of an article by Saunders Lewis on Dafydd ab Edmwnd, published in Ysgrifau Beirniadol 10 (1977).