Showing 50 results

The file consists of a scrapbook of press cuttings, 1984-1992, of obituaries of Richard Burton, Emlyn Williams, Dr Kate Roberts, Sir Geraint Evans, Dylan Thomas, Ivor Novello and others prominent in Welsh literary, theatrical and musical circles.

Miscellaneous material of or relating to Father Littleton Alfred Powys, son of John Cowper Powys. They comprise Littleton Alfred's baptismal certificate, [1914]; his Declaration of Ordination, 1927, 1928; birthday greetings to him from his mother Margeret Powys, 1930; a press cutting relating to his service as army chaplain during the Second World War; a holograph copy of his poem 'The Sound'; four photographs showing a procession of nuns and children from Nympsfield Orphanage, Dursley, Gloucestershire, 1950 (with notes on dorse by Littleton Alfred); an undated photograph of Dinah White, close friend of Littleton Alfred, with Dinah's name inscribed on the back cover in Phyllis Playter's hand; press obituaries (one in Welsh) of Littleton Alfred Powys, [1954], including one taken from The Beda Review; an envelope containing an embroidered handkerchief and photograph [?of Littleton Alfred], undated, the envelope inscribed 'From Littleton Alfred's Silver Box' in Phyllis Playter's hand; a copy, in the hand of Littleton Charles Powys (Littleton Alfred's uncle), of a letter from Dinah White, dated 22 August 1954, to Littleton Charles, together with typescript notes by Littleton Charles on Littleton Alfred's poem 'Ode to the West Wind', including public response to the work (see also NLW MS 24061D); and a printed copy of Littleton Alfred's poem 'Ode to the West Wind', at the back of which is inserted a press cutting from The Listener, 24 June 1954, relating to Theodore Francis Powys's possible influence on Dylan Thomas's 'Under Milk Wood'. There is a note in Morine Krissdottir's hand on f. 8.

Eighty letters, 1939-1966, to John Davenport, literary critic and friend of Dylan Thomas, much of the correspondence relating to literary matters (ff. 1-91). There are references to Thomas throughout, including detailed (and contrasting) accounts, by John Malcolm Brinnin (ff. 12-13) and George Reavey (ff. 71-72 verso), of events surrounding his death.
The correspondents include Kingsley Amis, 1955-1965 (ff. 1-6), John Malcolm Brinnin, 1952-1953 (ff. 11-13), Walford Davies, 1963-1965 (ff. 16-23), Constantine FitzGibbon, 1950-1966 (ff. 27-52), Glyn Jones, March-April 1965 (ff. 57-59), T. H. Jones, 9 November 1961 (f. 60), George Reavey, [November 1953] (ff. 71-72), Roger Roughton, 1939-1940 (ff. 73-80), Caitlin Thomas, 1947-[?1952] (ff. 81-85, including a postcard also signed by Dylan Thomas), and Vernon Watkins, 1956-1965 (ff. 86-90). Also included are further papers relating to Dylan Thomas, comprising manuscript notes by Davenport, [1956x1966] (ff. 92-100); a postcard, [?1950], to Thomas from Jack Lindsay in Prague (f. 101); a typescript, 10 November 1953, of a radio obituary to Thomas by Davenport (ff. 102-104); a typescript article, [mid-1950s], on Thomas by Davenport (ff. 105-114); and press cuttings, 1954-1965 (ff. 115-121). A typescript table of contents is ff. i-iii. Three of the Kingsley Amis letters (ff. 1, 2, 4) are published in The Letters of Kingsley Amis, ed. by Zachary Leader (London, 2000) (pp. 448-50, 464-5, 527-8).

Forty-six letters, ?1908-1961, to Augustus John from various correspondents (surnames Symons-V), including Arthur Symons (11, and forty-three poems) ?1908-[1935], Dylan Thomas (1) 1950, and G. M. Trevelyan (1) 1956.

Correspondents include Ernest Rhys (2, including a signed photograph of Ernest Rhys and a typewritten copy of 'The Lament of Llywarch Hen'), Keidrych Rhys (7), Dylan Thomas (3), Ifor Williams (7), and Kyffin Williams (2).

The file comprises photocopies and mainly transcripts of extracts from letters referring to Augustus John, including [W. B.] Yeats to Lady Gregory and others, 1907-1935; H[elen] M[aitland] to [Henry Lamb], 1920; Christopher (Kit) Wood to his mother, 1921-1926; Horace de Vere Cole to [J. B.] Manson, 1926; W[illiam] R[othenstein] to Flora Russell, 1935-1944, and to Wyndham Lewis, 1927-[1942]; Dylan Thomas to Frances Hughes, 1939; [Jack] Knewstub to his family, [1940]-[1949]; correspondence between William de Belleroche and Frank Brangwyn, 1943-1950; John Cowper Powys to Louis Wilkinson, 1955-1956; Vivien White to Vera Stubbs, 1959, together with a photocopy of a letter from Bertrand Russell to Lady Melchett, 1964, relating to Augustus John's memorial and extracts from the D'Abernon Papers at the British Library relating to Augustus John's portrait of the Lord.

The file includes letters, [1939]-1978, from Cyril Connolly (1), Dorothy Daly (7), Aneirin Talfan Davies (2), Kay Dick (33), Kathleen Farrell (29) and Constantine Fitzgibbon (1), together with a draft of Rhys Davies's reply to him relating to Dylan Thomas.

A typescript draft of Caitlin Thomas's autobiography, Leftover Life to Kill (London, 1957), apparently typed from tape or dictation (see, for instance, ff. 64-65), bearing her more or less final autograph revision, and containing some passages which do not appear in the published work, e.g. the summary of Dylan's usual domestic small talk (f. 39), and his inability to cope with the pestilent 'Bible manglers' of New York (f. 83).

A collection of over 200 books and pamphlets from the library of the donor's husband, the late Rev J. Seymour Rees, Seven Sisters, most of these being typescript volumes (NLW MSS 18628-707). The collection consists of some original work by J. Seymour Rees and his father, John Rees, such as poetry, short stories, essays, biographies, and guide books, much of which was submitted for competition at various national and local eisteddfodau, and volumes of collected material on various topics, including essays, articles and other material on such eminent Welshmen as W. Llewelyn Williams, Daniel Silvan Evans, Sir John Morris Jones, and Rev William Edwards, Groeswen, and on Welsh hymnology, and collections of poetry by D. Emrys James ('Dewi Emrys'), I. D. Hooson, R. Williams Parry, and T. J. Thomas ('Sarnicol'), of prose by 'Sarnicol', W. Llewelyn Williams, O. M. Edwards, and W. J. Gruffydd, and of hymns by H. Elvet Lewis ('Elfed'), J. D. Vernon Lewis, J. R. Davies, Pentyrch, and others, and selections of prose and verse compiled for competition at various national eisteddfodau. In addition to the collection of Elfed's Welsh and English hymns, there are twelve volumes containing some of his prose and verse and material on his life and work. There are also indexes to Y Beirniad, Y Geninen, and Y Geiriadur Bywgraphyddol; typescript copies and cuttings, from periodicals and newspapers, of articles and essays by various persons, and by 'Sarnicol' and J. Seymour Rees in particular; typescript transcripts of several printed books, in particular of collections of hymns published in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; and scrapbooks of newspaper cuttings relating to D. Lloyd George, Dylan Thomas, 'Dewi Emrys', W. Llewelyn Williams, Sir John Morris Jones, 'Elfed', Rev John Evans, Brecon, Rev Jubilee Young, and others. The collection also contains letters to J. Seymour Rees and Mrs. Seymour Rees and a small group of other correspondence. The largest donation of printed books received during the current year was that which the Library was invited to select from the very extensive library of Rev J. Seymour Rees (Dept of Printed Books). It numbered several hundreds of volumes primarily of literary, historical, and theological interest, all in very good condition, and many having been bound by Mr. Rees himself. Additional material from the library of the donor's husband, the late Rev J. Seymour Rees, Seven Sisters. It includes typescript collections of 'Cyfansoddiadau sydd yn fy modloni i' and 'A short anthology of the world's greatest Christian prayers' (NLW MS 19384B); three scrapbooks of typescripts and newspaper cuttings (NLW MSS 19385A, 19386B, 19387C); a typescript copy of 'Casgliad o gyfarwyddiadau i wneuthur hen fwydydd nodweddiadol Gymraeg' by Miss Mati Thomas ('Mati'r Ddôl'), Nanternis, New Quay (awarded the prize at the Treorchy National Eisteddfod, 1928) (NLW MS 19383B); Evan Thomas: Galareb S. Griffiths o Horeb (Castellnewydd-Emlyn, 1960), and J. Lloyd Williams: Byd Natur (Caerdydd, 1924) (Dept of Printed Books). A holograph letter of David Jones (1856-1937), Aberdare, afterwards Independent minister at New Quay, co. Cardigan, and at Scranton, Pa., U.S.A. (NLW MS 18866E, No 246C); and a printed postcard to the donor from the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, [March 1965], acknowledging a message of sympathy and good wishes (NLW MS 16726A).

Correspondence and papers, 1987-1989, relating to John Petts's work for the Golden Grove Book Company Ltd, including nine letters from Lynn Hughes, together with notes and draft illustrations by Petts. Amongst the latter are papers relating to the republication of Ivor Thomas, Top Sawyer (1988), and sketches for a proposed but unpublished volume of 'Laugharne Poems' by Dylan Thomas, with a draft layout of the book by its designer, Nicholas Thirkell.

Full score transparencies, 1973, of 'Fern Hill' (opus 56) by Denis ApIvor, being a setting for solo tenor voice and chamber orchestra of the poem by Dylan Thomas; and a study score, 1973, on transparency of the same work for solo tenor voice and two pianos.

Papers, [1986]-[2001], including offprints of the articles 'The universal penman' [Clough Williams-Ellis], 'John Ryder' and 'Letters from the Romans' by Jonah Jones published in Matrix [annual review for printers and bibliophiles], and a copy of Mark Jones, Contemporary British medals (1986), with a photograph of the bronze medal of Dylan Thomas (1975) designed by Jonah Jones.

Papers relating to Dylan Thomas and to the Dylan Thomas Trust, [1944x1947]-1975, comprising miscellaneous personal items of Dylan Thomas, 1948-1953, letters addressed to him, 1952-1953, contracts, 1951-1953, and his manuscript map of Llareggub, [1944x1951]; passports of Dylan, Caitlin and Colm Thomas, 1947-[1961]; a fragment of a memoir by Caitlin Thomas, [?1957]; and letters relating to the Trust, mainly addressed to Stuart Thomas, 1953-1975.

Correspondence and papers, 1980-1982, relating to the laying of a memorial stone to Dylan Thomas in Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey, together with papers relating to the presentation of the first Dylan Thomas Award, 1983 (ff. 130-3) and two letters, 1964, to Mervyn Levy concerning the poet (ff. 134-6). The correspondents include Daniel Jones (3) 1982, John Ormond (4) 1981, Aeronwy Thomas-Ellis (15 draft and copy letters) 1981-1982, and Llewelyn Thomas (2) 1982.

Miscellaneous printed material, 1971-1983, relating to Dylan Thomas, in particular to the laying of the memorial stone in Westminster Abbey, 1982, including photographs of the unveiling ceremony, and to the opening of the Dylan Thomas Theatre in Swansea, 1983.

Material relating to the Dylan Thomas Jazz Suite 'Twelve Poems', a piece commissioned by the Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the death of celebrated Swansea-born poet and writer Dylan Thomas. Composed by Jen Wilson, the Suite comprises jazz settings of twelve of Thomas's poems. The work was performed as part of the Sean Dunne Writer's Festival in Waterford, Ireland, at the 2003 Brecon Jazz Festival and at the Madog Center for Welsh Studies, Unviersity of Rio Grande, Ohio; however, funding for a tour of 'Twelve Poems' to mark the Dylan Thomas 100 centenary festival of 2014 was rejected. The material includes copious correspondence; funding applications; projected expenses; list of potential performance venues; enquiry sheets; press releases and previews; posters; concert programmes; performance contracts; and press cuttings; together with general material relating to Dylan Thomas and Dylan Thomas festivals.

The file comprises a scrapbook, press cuttings, articles and programmes, 1954-1998, relating to the life and work of Dylan Thomas.

Miscellaneous drawings by Ceri Richards comprising a Christmas card, c. 1930; a series of nine preliminary sketches, [November 1953], in pencil and ink, for the decorations executed by him on four copies of the first edition of Dylan Thomas's Collected Poems (1952) (see note to 544 and 581, below); a signed collage entitled 'Hammerklavier' presented to the artist's daughter, Rachel, Christmas 1953, together with four printed cards announcing his exhibition of lithographs on the 'Hammerklavier' theme, 1959, each with different original decorations by the artist in crayon and ink (see 544, below). Also included are an untitled, numbered lithograph signed by Frances Richards, [1970s], and miscellaneous notes, [?late 1940s], by Ceri Richards, comprising notes for a lecture on art, and transcripts, in English translation, of writings on art by Henri Matisse.

A copy of a paper by B. William Murphy, Maryland, USA, entitled 'Creation and Destruction. Notes on Dylan Thomas' used by Colin Edwards (d. 1994), California, when preparing his incomplete and unpublished work on Dylan Thomas.

A script, 1948, featuring the Isle of Thanet in the 'Country Magazine' series, a BBC Home Service transmission, with Dylan Thomas introducing the programme.