Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1773-1949 (accumulated [1906]-1949) / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.143 cubic metres (5 boxes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
David John Williams (1886-1950) ('Y Ddeilen Werdd', 'Hen Lanc Llan y Mynydd', 'Strabo', 'Y Telynor Bach'), teacher, from Llanbedr, Merionethshire, was a local historian and author of children's books. He researched Merionethshire placenames and Welsh agricultural terms, publishing 'Rhai o Eiriau Amaethwyr Penllyn', Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies, III, and collecting papers of John Jones ('Tudur Llwyd') and John Peter, 'Ioan Pedr'. Between 1926 and 1941, he published textbooks for schools, on Merionethshire poets, Welsh sailors, and spelling, and the Welsh readers Cyfres Chwedl a Chân. He was an active member of the Merioneth Association of the National Union of Teachers, drafting lists of books suitable for translation into Welsh, and a member of Pwyllgor Llyfrau (book Council), Undeb Cymru Fydd. He founded the Welsh comic 'Hwyl', launched in 1949. He was also a County Councillor for Merionethshire.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by the executors of D. J. Williams per W. F. Gapper, in 1950.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of D. J. Williams, Llanbedr, Merionethshire, 1773-1949, comprising notebooks and other papers belonging to John Jones ('Tudur Llwyd') and John Peter, 'Ioan Pedr', 1773-1850; miscellaneous business papers, 1846-1903; notes, essays, books, and poems by D. J. Williams, 1911-1949; manuscripts of translations (by others) of books into Welsh, 1942-1945; notes and materials on the history of Llanderfel and Ardudwy, 1935-1938; manuscript and sources for Cyfres Chwedl a Chân, [1930s]; letters to D. J. Williams concerning children's stories, 1933-1949, from various authors; general correspondence of D. J. Williams, 1909-1941; papers relating to the translation into Welsh of school books and Welsh publications, 1932-1949; and radio scripts, stories, plays and lectures, by D. J. Williams and others [20th century].
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records have been retained.
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged by box.
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. The catalogue can be accessed online.
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. Some papers relating to John Jones and John Peter, collected by D. J. Williams, pre-date his birth.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
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
April 2003
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, D. J. Williams (Llanbedr) Papers, 1950; Stephens, Meic, Oxford Companion to the Literature of Wales (Oxford, 1986).
Archivist's note
Compiled by Annette Strauch for the ANW project.