Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1926-1977 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.054 cubic metres (6 boxes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Sir Ben Bowen Thomas (1899-1977) served as the Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Department of the Ministry of Education, 1945-1963. He played an important role in the sphere of education throughout his career, beginning as a tutorial class lecturer in UCW Aberystwyth, 1922-1927, and then as Warden for the newly-founded Coleg Harlech, 1927-1940, working with its founder, Dr Thomas Jones (1870-1955). He also served on the McNair Committee on the Training of Teachers and Youth Leaders, 1942-1944. Sir Ben quickly rose to an international status in the world of education, as a UK delegate to UNESCO, 1946-1962, and a member of the Executive Board, 1954-1962 (being chairman from 1958-1960). His interests in education took him into the field of television, and he was closely involved in the Independent Television Authority (ITA) Commission, 1964-1970. He also became President of University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He wrote numerous articles on education and religion for newspapers and pamphlets, as well as several of an autobiographical nature. His grandfather was the Rev. Benjamin Thomas (1838-1913), a Baptist minister in Ystrad Rhondda, Glamorgan.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Bequest in 1977
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Sir Ben Bowen Thomas (1899-1977), educationalist and public servant, comprising autobiographical material on his career, interests and family, 1954-1972; biographical articles and an interview, 1964-1966; letters to his wife and daughter with references to his work with UNESCO and Welsh educational matters, 1947-1960; letters from Dr Thomas Jones and Sir Percy E. Watkins relating to educational issues and Coleg Harlech, 1926-1955; correspondence concerning BBT's work with UNESCO, 1954-1962; miscellaneous correspondence, 1948-1976; addresses and speech notes, 1949-1977; pamphlets, offprints and articles, 1941-1973; research notes on regions and towns of Wales during the 18th and 19th centuries; circulars, articles, reports, etc. relating to education and educational bodies in Wales, 1942-1975, to UNESCO, 1946-1958, and to public and cultural bodies such as the Welsh Language Council, ITA and the Rural Development Board, 1965-1973; McNair Report on the Training of Teachers, 1942-3; memorials, tributes and obituaries of other educationalists; and miscellaneous press cuttings and notes. The archive also includes a collection of sermon notes and exercise books of his grandfather, the Rev. Benjamin Thomas, (1838-1913), a Baptist minister in Ystrad Rhondda, Glamorgan.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records bequeathed to the National Library of Wales have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged into the following groups: autobiography/biography; correspondence; address and speech notes; pamphlets, offprints & articles; research notes; education & educational bodies; public & cultural bodies; religious material; memorial services, tributes, obituaries; and miscellaneous.
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
Welsh, English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title compiled from content of fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Coleg Harlech -- Correspondence. (Subject)
- Coleg Harlech. (Subject)
- Unesco. (Subject)
- Council for the Welsh Language (Great Britain) (Subject)
- Thomas, Ben Bowen, 1899-1977 -- Archives. (Subject)
- Watkins, Percy E. (Percy Emerson), Sir, 1871-1946 -- Correspondence (Subject)
- Thomas, Benjamin, 1838-1913 -- Archives. (Subject)
- Jones, Thomas, 1870-1955 -- Correspondence (Subject)
- Thomas, Ben Bowen, 1899-1977 -- Correspondence (Subject)
- Thomas, Benjamin, 1838-1913. (Subject)
- Watkins, Percy E. (Percy Emerson), Sir, 1871-1946 (Subject)
- Jones, Thomas, 1870-1955 (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
March 2003
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Seri Crawley for the ANW Project. The following sources were used for the preparation of the description : NLW Schedule of Sir Ben Bowen Thomas Papers; Thomas, Ben Bowen, "Aber" 1872-1972 (Cardiff, 1972)