Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1865-1962 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.036 cubic metres (72 volumes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
R. Bryn Williams (1902-1981), poet and historian, was born in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merionethshire, but from 1909 to 1923 lived in Trelew, Chubut, Argentina. He then returned to Wales, studying at University College of North Wales, Bangor, and the Theological College, Aberystwyth; in 1932 he became a Welsh Presbyterian minister, and from 1952 he worked in the National Library of Wales. He married Eunice Bryn Williams (d. 1991). He wrote extensively on the history of the Patagonian settlement, including his 'Cymry Patagonia' (1942), 'Y Wladfa' (1962) and 'Gwladfa Patagonia, 1865-1965' (1965) and his collections of reminiscences by the settlers ('Atgofion o Batagonia' (1980)) and prose and poetry written by them, published between 1944 and 1976. He wrote fiction for adults and children about Patagonia, in 'Y March Goch' (1954), 'Bandit yr Andes' (1956) and others. His poetry, published in the volumes 'Pentewynion' (1949), 'Patagonia' (1956), and 'O'r Tir Pell' (1972), was also dominated by the settlement. He also wrote plays, travel books, and an autobiography, 'Prydydd y Paith' which appeared posthumously in 1983.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated to the National Library of Wales by R. Bryn Williams, Llanbadarn Fawr, 1962.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of and acquired by R. Bryn Williams, mainly relating to the Welsh settlement in Patagonia, including a diary of Joseph Seth Jones, one of the first wave of emigrants on the Mimosa to Patagonia, 1865, and correspondence, 1865-1868; correspondence of his brother, Robert Charles Jones, 1867-1877; copy records of the Welsh courts in Y Wladfa, 1872-1881; letters and minute books relating to Vrondeg Baptist Chapel, 1875-1887, Gaiman, 1877-1891, Eglwys Llanddewi, 1891, Eglwys Bryn Gwyn and Cyfarfod Misol Y Wladfa (Calvinistic Methodists), 1881-1955; papers relating to the Centenary Celebrations of the Welsh settlement in Patagonia, 1952-1962; letters from the founders of the Welsh colony, 1866, and from others who had experienced life there; letters to R. Bryn Williams from Patagonia and from Wales relating to Patagonia, [c. 1941-1961]; research notes and manuscripts of books and radio plays by R. Bryn Williams, 1942-1962; miscellaneous records relating to Wales and elsewhere collected by Williams, 1865-1962; papers relating to John S. Williams, 1901-1962; papers and press cuttings on the history, culture and industry of Patagonia, 1869-1962; and typescripts of published and unpublished works, lectures, scripts, etc.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records donated to the National Library of Wales have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged into NLW MSS 18175-18246. The collection had earlier been numbered R. Bryn Williams MSS 1-76. Of these, MS 56, 'Bathodynnau ynglyn ag Eisteddfod Cenedlaethol Caerlleon, 1866, a Rhuthyn, 1868', has been transferred to NLW Print Room. A list of ships from the USA to Patagonia was assigned the number RBW MS 6 / NLW MS 18180, but the donor could not find it at the time the collection was presented: "Yn ôl llyfryddiaeth Y Wladfa, dylai hwn fod yn cynnwys rhestr o longau o'r Unol Daliethiau, ond methais â rhoi fy llaw arno ar hyn o bryd."
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 regulations apply.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
English, Welsh, Spanish.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
The catalogue can be accessed online, or in hard copy at NLW. The collection is described in more detail (in Welsh) in the former schedule, 'Rhestr o lawysgrifau R. Bryn Williams' (1962), which is available in hard copy at NLW.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title supplied from contents of fonds. Include papers which pre-date R. Bryn Williams.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Subject access points
- Religious institutions -- Argentina -- Chubut.
- Human settlements -- Patagonia (Argentina and Chile)
- Welsh literature -- 20th century.
- Welsh -- Argentina -- Chubut -- Research.
- Welsh -- Patagonia (Argentina and Chile)
- Poets -- Wales -- Archives.
- Poets, Welsh -- 20th century.
- Welsh literature -- Patagonia (Argentina and Chile)
- Patagonia (Argentina and Chile)
- Argentina.
- Patagonia (Argentina and Chile) -- History -- Sources.
- Wales -- Emigration and immigration.
- Patagonia (Argentina and Chile) -- Emigration and immigration.
Place access points
Name access points
- Mimosa (Clipper ship) (Subject)
- Jones, Joseph Seth, 1845-1912 -- Correspondence. (Subject)
- Jones, Joseph Seth, 1845-1912 -- Diaries. (Subject)
- Williams, R. Bryn -- Archives. (Subject)
- Jones, Joseph Seth, 1845-1912. (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows ANW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.;AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
April 2003.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Annette Strauch for the ANW project. The following source was used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Rhestr o lawysgrifau R. Bryn Williams (1962);