Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1845-1977 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
62 boxes (1.774 cubic metres)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Hughes a'i Fab, Cyhoeddwyr was established by Richard Hughes (1794-1871) in 1820 as a printers and publishing company. Its history before 1870 is quite vague due to the company's records being lost and some historians argue that the company may have been established as late as 1823. The company however is known to have specialised in religious, scholastic and music publications. In 1848, Richard Hughes' son Charles joined the firm and the company 's name changed from Richard Hughes to R. Hughes a'i Fab. Charles Hughes (1823-1886) ran the company until his death when his sons, Charles Tudor Hughes and Albert Llewelyn Hughes took over the business and this era saw great expansion in the company and The Principality Press/Gwasg y Dywysogaeth was established in 1895. In 1921, both Charles Tudor Hughes and Albert Llewelyn Hughes had no heirs and, continuing as Directors, allowed for Rowland Thomas - Messrs. Woodalls, Minshall, Thomas & Co Ltd of Wrexham to take over the company. In 1982, Hughes a'i Fab, Cyhoeddwyr was bought by S4C in order for them to publish Welsh language books based on new television programmes.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Messrs Hughes & Son (per Mr D. Tecwyn Lloyd); Wrexham; Deposit; 1957-1958.
Christopher Davies (Publishers), Ltd; Swansea; Deposit; 1978-1979 and 1981-1982.
Sianel 4 Cymru (per Mr Stephen Beynon Jones); Deposit; 1990-1991.
HSBC Trust Company (UK) Ltd, Sheffield, executors of the late Mrs Gwyneth E. Lloyd (widow of D. Tecwyn Lloyd); Purchase (2 volumes); 2006; 4170294.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers relating to Hughes a'i Fab, Cyhoeddwyr, including correspondence, 1887-1975; financial papers, 1947-1976; business papers, 1830-1971 and printing and publishing material, [1930-1975]. There are many letters from prominent Welsh authors regarding their work being published and papers concerning the history and general administration of the company.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Duplicates of no historical value have been disposed of. Authority to dispose of duplicates is given in Departmental Appraisal Form TD/2010/1.
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged at NLW into four groups.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions noted on the 'Modern papers - data protection' form issued with their Readers' Tickets.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright laws apply.
Language of material
- English
- German
- Welsh
Script of material
Language and script notes
English, Welsh (see series/file level descriptions).
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
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.
Note
Please note that access to some records may be not be available because they contain sensitive information about individuals who are still alive, in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Access points
Subject 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 NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.; AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
November 2009.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Hughes a'i Fab papers archive; Richard Hughes a hanes cynnar Hughes a'i Fab, by Philip Henry, Casglwr, No 54 (1994/95) p3-5; Byr-goffhad am y diweddar Mr Richard Hughes, by J.H. Symonds, 1871; http://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_a'i_Fab and http://www.cwlwmcyhoeddwyr.com/s4c.php
Archivist's note
Compiled by Teresa Davies.