Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1975-2014 (Creation)
Level of description
File
Extent and medium
303 ff.
Placed in melinex sleeves within two ringed boxes at NLW.
Context area
Name of creator
Name of creator
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
Archival history
The papers were given to Martin Bidgood by James Coutts's widow, Stevie.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Martin Bidgood, son of Ruth Bidgood; Llanwrtyd Wells; Donation; July 2022; 993496610002419.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Some ninety-nine letters and postcards, 1975-2013, from the poet and local historian Ruth Bidgood, Abergwesyn and later Beulah, Powys, addressed to the Rev. James Coutts, and frequently also to his wife Stevie, discussing her poetry, publications and public readings, her daily life and her family, containing frequent references to friends including Anne Cluysenaar, Angela Morton and A. M. (Donald) Allchin (ff. 1-188, 191-214).
Also included are typescript copies of eighteen of Bidgood's poems and sequences of poems, published and unpublished, [c. 1979]-2014, notably 'Hymn to Sant Ffraed' (ff. 215-225), most given by her to Coutts and a few re-typed by him, and cuttings and photocopies of a further fifteen poems from periodicals, 1983-2002 (ff. 25, 37-38, 52-53, 70, 116, 120, 215-265); typescript drafts, cuttings and photocopies of articles, interviews and reviews, [1978]-2006 (ff. 266-299), including two typescript articles by Donald Allchin (ff. 279-293); and a letter from Bidgood's friend Mary [MacGregor], of Myddfai, to James Coutts, 2 June 2009 (ff. 189-190). Many of the letters were written on the backs of sixty-three of Bidgood's own photographs, so as to resemble postcards; besides these a further twenty-nine of her photographs are also included amongst the letters.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Arranged at NLW as follows: correspondence and photographs; poetry; articles, interviews and reviews; and miscellaneous. Each group is arranged chronologically. Where possible photographs sent with specific letters have been placed with those letters; orphan photographs have been included alongside the correspondence on the basis of the dates supplied on their versos. Poems sent by Bidgood to Coutts have been placed alongside the relevant letters, where known, however the majority are collected separately.
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 set out in information provided when applying for their Readers' Tickets, whereby the reader shall become responsible for compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 in relation to any processing by them of personal data obtained from modern records held at the Library.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright laws apply.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents.
Alternative identifier(s)
Alma system control number
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Bidgood, Ruth -- Correspondence (Subject)
- Coutts, James, 1935- -- Correspondence (Subject)
- Cluysenaar, Anne (Subject)
- Morton, Angela (Subject)
- Allchin, A. M. (Subject)
- Coutts, Stevie, 1947- -- Correspondence (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
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
November 2023.
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Description compiled by Rhys Jones.