Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1317-1943 (accumulated [late 19th cent.]-1943) / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.772 cubic metres (27 boxes).
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Robert Henry Gough Smallwood (1864-1943), antiquary, local historian and an authority on shorthand, was born at Burslem, Staffordshire, but spent most of his life in the Wrexham area, having married Mary Pritchard of Gresford, Denbighshire, in 1893. His interests were numerous and wide-ranging, but (in his own words) concentrated on 'old deeds, numismatics, local history (chiefly the personal side) and shorthand'. Smallwood was a member of several genealogical, antiquarian and archaeological societies, and assisted Alfred Neobald Palmer (1847-1915) in his historical studies of Wrexham and its neighbourhood. He also published a number of articles on the history of freemasonry and shorthand, and collected a considerable amount of material during the course of his research.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Purchased in 1944 (probably from R.H.G. Smallwood's estate).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of R. H. G. Smallwood, together with deeds and documents collected by him, 1317-1943, mainly relating to the Wrexham area and mainly 17th-19th cent., comprising deeds and other papers, 1317-1890, concerning various families and properties in Wales, England and Jamaica; Smallwood's notebooks, files, indexes, etc., on genealogy, especially of the Smallwood family, and local history, freemasonry, numismatics and archaeology; material relating to shorthand, including volumes written in shorthand, [17th cent.]-[18th cent.], catalogues, letters, and material relating to Welsh, American, German, Austrian, Italian, French and English shorthand systems; and various letters, bills, receipts and memoranda [late 18th cent.]-[early 19th cent.).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records purchased by the National Library of Wales have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged into: deeds and documents (relating to families (Warrington; Apperley and Speed; Lloyd of Plas Power; Meredith of Pentrebychan Hall; Cunliffe of Pant Iocyn and Acton Park); to Welsh parishes and counties; and to English parishes and counties); notebooks, files, bundles of cards, etc.; material relating to shorthand; and letters, bills, receipts and memoranda.
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, Latin.
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 supplied from contents of fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name 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 David Moore for the ANW project. The following source was consulted in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedule of R. H. G. Smallwood Deeds and Papers;