Fonds GB 0210 EPHEMERA - Welsh Political Ephemera Collection,

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0210 EPHEMERA

Title

Welsh Political Ephemera Collection,

Date(s)

  • 1837-2023 (accumulated [1911]-2023) (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

3.407 cubic metres (198 boxes, 2 vols)

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The National Library had acquired a small quantity of election addresses, political leaflets and circulars, and some printed records deriving from the political parties and their local branches ever since its inception in the early twentieth century. However, no systematic attempt was made to collect these, and the National Library's holdings were consequently patchy with major gaps. Following the establishment of the Welsh Political Archive in the spring of 1983, a systematic attempt was made to acquire these materials by creating a network of local contacts in every constituency in Wales and by establishing contact with the Welsh headquarters of each of the political parties. Other individuals and groups have also presented similar material from time to time.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The collection consists of election addresses, leaflets, circulars and other printed matter, 1837-1991, generally acquired before the establishment of the Welsh Political Archive; election addresses, leaflets etc., 1905-2019, collected by the WPA; and printed materials, 1887-2019, concerning the political parties in Wales, various pressure groups and organisations, subject files, and other miscellaneous papers.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Action: All the papers acquired have been retained. Duplicate leaflets received since 2014 have been discarded.

Accruals

Additions will come to hand following future election campaigns.

System of arrangement

Arranged into three groups: election addresses, leaflets, circulars and other printed matter generally acquired before the establishment of the WPA; election addresses, leaflets, circulars, manifestos etc. collected by the WPA; and printed materials concerning the political parties in Wales, various pressure groups and organisations, subject files, and other miscellaneous papers.

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
  • Welsh

Script of material

Language and script notes

English, Welsh

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

There are many election addresses, political leaflets and circulars and other printed matter of political interest in a large number of the political archives, both personal collections and party records, in the custody of the National Library. The papers donated by the Rev. Ivor T. Rees, Swansea, also include a large number of parliamentary election addresses deriving from the Welsh constituencies. The Library has also purchased microfilm copies (MFL 36) of the election addresses from English, Welsh and Scottish constituencies, 1892-1931, held at the Special Collections Department of Bristol University Library. This collection was originally in the custody of the National Liberal Club, London.

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Virtua system control number

vtls004321562

GEAC system control number

(WlAbNL)0000321562

Access points

Place access points

Name 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

June 2004 [revised April 2008, Dec. 2010,Sept. 2011, Oct. 2013, June 2017, February 2018].

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

Archivist's note

Compiled by J. Graham Jones. Additions made by Robert Phillips.

Accession area