Fonds GB 0210 JOHNDAV - Jonathan Davies (Porthmadog) Papers,

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0210 JOHNDAV

Title

Jonathan Davies (Porthmadog) Papers,

Date(s)

  • 1853-1957. (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

17 boxes, 1 outsize volume, 1 outsize item.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Jonathan Davies was born at Nantmor, Beddgelert, Gwynedd, in 1857, the son of Pierce and Jane Davies. He was brought up in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merioneth, before moving to Porthmadog where, in 1877, he began work as a trader in the slate industry. In January 1879, he formed Davies Brothers Slate Merchant Co. with his brother Richard Davies. He held a number of public offices within this locality including deacon of the local Tabernacle chapel and later secretary and treasurer for over 40 years; President of the Calvinistic Methodist Association in North Wales in 1923; President of the National Association of Slate Merchants; member of the Porthmadog Urban District Council; governor of Porthmadog County School; treasurer of the Caernarfonshire Liberal Association; a magistrate for Caernarfonshire for nearly 40 years, serving as vice-chairman of the Porthmadog bench; and chairman of the Anglesey and Caernarfonshire Agricultural Wages Board. In 1885 he married the daughter of John Hughes, a deacon of Tabernacle chapel, Blaenau Ffestiniog. He lived in Bryn Eirian, Porthmadog and had two daughters (names not known) and two sons, Ithel and John Pierce Davies (1886-1908). Jonathan Davies died 18 August 1933, aged 75.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Ithel Davies of Messrs Davies Brothers; Porthmadog; Donations,; 1950, 1957

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Business papers of Jonathan Davies, 1859-1933; papers of Davies Brothers slate merchants, Porthmadog, 1872-1947; personal papers of Jonathan Davies, 1875-1936; and papers relating to friends and family members, [c.1853]-1957. The archive contains a wealth of statistical information about the slate industry in Caernarfonshire, Merioneth and Pembrokeshire and the development of Porthmadog as a slate port.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Action: All papers donated to NLW have been retained..

Accruals

Accruals are not expected.

System of arrangement

Arranged into two groups; business papers, 1859-1957, and personal and family papers, 1853-1957.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions noted on the 'Modern papers - data protection' form issued with their Readers' Tickets.

Conditions governing reproduction

Usual copyright laws apply.

Language of material

  • English
  • Welsh

Script of material

Language and script notes

English, mainly Welsh in the final group (see appropriate level descriptions).

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

The main archive of Davies Brothers Slate Merchants, Porthmadog, is Gwynedd Archives, Caernarfon XD/60 and XD/86.

Plans and sections of the Diphwys Casson Slate Quarry, 1857-1886 (all by Spooner & Co., Portmadoc) were transferred to the Library's Map Collection, and catalogued separately.

Related descriptions

Notes area

Note

Title supplied from contents of the fonds. Some papers pre-dating the life of Jonathan Davies were inherited in his role as company liquidator, and from the business of Davies Brothers Slate Merchants, Porthmadog. The archive also includes papers of his father and additional papers collected by his son some years after his death.

Alternative identifier(s)

Virtua system control number

vtls006004708

Access points

Place access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales

Rules and/or conventions used

Description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.; AACR2; and LCSH

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

December 2010.

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

Archivist's note

Compiled by Robert Evans with reference to the following sources in the compilation of this description: Davies Brothers Slate Merchants, Porthmadog, Gwynedd Archives, Caernarfon Record Office, XD/60 and XD/86. W.W. Price Biographical Index (unpublished), National Library of Wales;

Accession area