Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [early 18th century]-1952 (accumulated [1891x1952]) (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.319 cubic metres (395 volumes, 2 boxes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
'Brythonydd', the Rev. David Pryse Williams (1878-1952), was a writer, local historian and Baptist minister. He was born at Penboyr, Carmarthenshire, and brought up in Troed-yr-aur, Cardiganshire. After studying at Dunoon Evangelical College, Argyll, Scotland, 1908-1910, he became pastor of the Baptist churches of Ffynnonhenri, Cynwyl Elfed, Carmarthenshire, 1910-1913, Philadelphia, Swansea, 1913-1920, and Libanus, Treherbert, Glamorgan, 1920-1952. He died on 27 October 1952. His personal researches were concerned, in early life, with the history of the lower Teifi Valley, especially the parishes of Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, and Penbryn, Cardiganshire. During this time he wrote articles and poems, published in periodicals such as Seren Gomer and Archaeologia Cambrensis and local newspapers. In 1902 he won the prize at the Newcastle Emlyn eisteddfod for an essay on the history of Cenarth. In later years he took an interest in Rhondda antiquities, with particular emphasis on his own church at Libanus. He was an assiduous collector and was responsible for the preservation of several valuable groups of manuscripts such as those of his paternal grandfather Benjamin Williams ('Gwynionydd', 1821-1891) and others and also original records of several parishes of the lower Teifi Valley.
Archival history
Brythonydd acquired papers of the following: Benjamin Williams (Gwynionydd, 1821-1891); David James (Defynnog, d. 1928), Treherbert; Myfyr Emlyn (1836-1893); Thomas Cynfelyn Benjamin (Cynfelyn, 1850-1925); John Morris Jones (Ioan Cunllo, d. 1884); John Thomas (1852-1914), Rhydlewis; and Baptist ministers, including Lewis Jones (d. 1882) of Pwllheli and Treherbert, Rees Price, and David Price (1865-1931).
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by his widow, Mrs A. Pryse Williams, Treherbert, 1953-1955.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Brythonydd and others, [early 18th century]-1952, comprising essays and notes on Teifiside history, 1902-1909; notes on sermons and lectures; diaries, 1906-1923; transcripts of various historical, literary and religious material including Ystradyfodwg parish records, 1735-1930, and Howel Harris' diaries, 1738-1771; transcripts of poetry by Cardiganshire poets including Gwinionydd; letters, 1898-1952; vestry books and account books of Cenarth and Penbryn and other parishes, [pre 1798]-1876; records of Libanus, Treherbert including minute books, registers and account books, 1842-1946; papers of Benjamin Williams (Gwinionydd), including letters, sermons, 1855-1890, essays, notes and poetry; papers of David James (Defynnog), Treherbert, relating mainly to the column he edited in The South Wales News and including sermons and adjudications of his uncle, Benjamin Thomas (Myfyr Emlyn), 1875-1928; papers of John Morris Jones (Ioan Cunllo), John Thomas, Charles Davies, Thomas Cynfelyn Benjamin, Lewis Jones, Treherbert, Rees Price, David Price, Joseph Davies and Rhys Lloyd Jones, Troed-yr-aur, and others, consisting mainly of poetry, accounts, letters, addresses, notebooks and sermons, [19th century]-[20th century].
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
All records donated to the National Library of Wales have been retained.
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged according to NLW MSS reference numbers: NLW MSS 15622-15963, 15985-16039.
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
Welsh, English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales.
Generated finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents of fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Libanus (Church : Treherbert, Wales) (Subject)
- Ystradyfodwg (Wales) (Subject)
- Williams, D. Pryse (David Pryse), 1878-1952 -- Archives (Subject)
- Harris, Howell, 1714-1773 -- Diaries (Subject)
- Gwynionydd, 1821-1891 -- Archives (Subject)
- Benjamin, Thomas Cynfelyn, Cynfelyn, 1850-1925 (Subject)
- James, D. (David), 1865-1928 (Subject)
- Ioan Cunllo. (Subject)
- Jones, Lewis, 1826-1882 (Subject)
- Price, David, 1865-1931 (Subject)
- Thomas, B. (Benjamin), Myfyr Emlyn, 1836-1893 (Subject)
- Thomas, John, of Rhydlewis. (Subject)
- Gwynionydd, 1821-1891 (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
January 2003
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedule of Brythonydd Papers; Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940 (London, 1959); Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941-1970 (London, 2001).
Archivist's note
Compiled by Rhys Jones and Seri Crawley for the ANW project.