Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1929-1962 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.058 cubic metres (2 boxes).
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Maurice James (1916-1968) was an English teacher and a veteran of the Second World War. His father Maurice Lewis James was a railway worker, originally from Haverfordwest. At the age of twelve or thirteen he moved to Birkenhead where he met Maurice's mother. Maurice was born there on 26 February 1916. Subsequently, the family moved to 44, Heol y Domen, Bala. He was educated at Bala Grammar School between 1928 and 1934 before going to University College of Wales Aberystwyth where he graduated with First Class honours in English in 1938, before going on to gain a Teacher's Diploma. After spending a year doing research in the English Department he was called up to the army in September 1940.
During the Second World War he served initially as a signalman. However, his linguistic skills, particularly his knowledge of Italian and his interest in Italy, led to him being transferred to the Intelligence Corps. He participated in the first British War Crimes Commission trial in Italy in 1945 as the official interpreter. He eventually became Company Sergeant Major with the rank of W.O. II.
In 1947 he returned to Aberystwyth to continue researching for his MA but did not complete the thesis. He taught English at Huddersfield College from 1948 to 1957. In 1960 he returned to Bala to care for his widowed mother. He died there, 21 October 1968, aged 52. Maurice James was well travelled. He spent four months studying in Italy in 1937, and between May 1957 and August 1958 travelled through Canada, the United States of America and Mexico.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by Mrs Gwyneth Lloyd, Corwen, widow of D. Tecwyn Lloyd, May 2000 (collected from Mr Dewi Davies, Ysgol y Berwyn, Bala, November 2000); A2000/28.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The fonds comprises the personal papers of Maurice James including exercise books and notebooks relating to his academic career, 1931-1947, and his work as a teacher, 1948-1957, as well as documents relating to his military service, 1940-1946. There are also examples of his literary works as well as letters to and from family and friends.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged at NLW into eight series: undergraduate work, 1934-1938, postgraduate work, 1938-1948, military career, 1940-1946, teaching career, 1948-1957, poetry and prose, 1929-1943, letters, 1938-1962, scrapbooks/diaries, 1937-1956, and miscellaneous papers, [c. 1934]-1939.
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 laws apply.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
English unless otherwise specified.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of this list is available at NLW.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
GEAC system control number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- James, Maurice, 1916-1968 -- Archives. (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
This description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) Second Edition; AACR2; and LCSH.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
August 2001.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Rhys Jones.
Archivist's note
The following sources were used in the compilation of this list: NLW Maurice James Papers; NLW MS 22834E;