Forty-eight letters, 1934-1980, to John Petts from various correspondents including David Jones (7) 1954-1956, Professor Gwyn Jones (5, together with a draft introduction for a projected but apparently unpublished volume entitled 'Woodcuts of Wales'), 1947-1949, Alun Lewis (15) [1940]-1943, and Gwyn Williams, Trefenter (2) 1949-1951; also included is one letter, 1942, to Alun Lewis from Huw Menai, enclosing three autograph poems.
Over one hundred and twenty letters, 1928-80 (correspondents A-M), to Ceri and Frances Richards, many of them concerned with their work as artists, together with one letter, 1985, to the artists' daughters. The correspondents include Francis Bacon (1) [1940s], Benjamin Britten (1) 1957, R. A. Butler (2) 1967, Sir Kenneth Clark (1) 1942, Arthur Giardelli (1) 1970, Ivon Hitchens (3) 1957-66, Imogen Holst (3) 1966-70, Augustus John (2) 1960, David Jones (4) 1961-70, and Henry Moore (15) 1942-62.
Correspondence and other papers, 1965, concerning the production of a limited edition of The Fatigue by David Jones to mark the author's seventieth birthday, together with galley and page proofs, heavily corrected by the author, and a few related papers, 1975. The correspondence includes ten letters from David Jones to the printers, Will and Sebastian Carter, Rampant Lions Press, Cambridge (NLW MS 21925E, ff. 25-7, 29-34, 43).
Nine letters and one card, 1953-1967, from David Jones, artist and writer, to Stuart Piggott (d. 1996), Abercromby Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology, University of Edinburgh, 1946-77 (ff. 1-11); together with a photocopy, 1996, of a journal entry by the latter, 16 June 1967, describing a visit to David Jones (ff. 12-14).
Fifty-three letters and cards, 1948-1974, from the artist and writer David Jones to Saunders Lewis, discussing his creative work, the Welsh language, aspects of Welsh and Classical antiquity and literature, the Roman Catholic faith and culture in general. Drawing on f. 51 and inscriptions on ff. 10-13, 29 verso, 36 verso, 44 verso. Also included are three letters, 1937, from David Jones to Margaret Lewis, written during her husband's imprisonment (ff. 91-3 verso) and a copy of a speech by David Jones, delivered in absentia when he was awarded the honorary degree of DLitt by the University of Wales in 1960 (ff. 21-7).
Five letters, 1942-1943, from the artist and writer David Jones to the art historian and critic Robin Ironside, relating to the preparation of Ironside's illustrated booklet David Jones (Harmondsworth, 1949). Jones discusses painting from nature and the selection of paintings for the volume. A sketch of a balcony view is on f. 4.
Thirty-four letters from David Jones (1895-1974), artist and writer, to Petra Tegetmeier, 1930-1970, mostly 1930-1935, including letters from Egypt in 1934. Drawings on ff. 24, 35v, 36 and 54; inscriptions on ff. 28 ('Exsultet iam angelica turba ...') and 53 ('Gloria in excelsis ...').
Twenty letters, 1964-74, from David Jones (1895-1974), artist and writer, to the archaeologist Nancy K. Sandars. As well as containing references to his work, the letters discuss a range of topics including the history and prehistory of Wales.
Five letters, 1949-51, from David Jones to Mildred Mary Ede, mother of Jim Ede, founder of Kettle's Yard, Cambridge. The letters refer mainly to the painting 'Vexilla Regis' purchased by Mrs Ede and now at Kettle's Yard. Also included is a letter, 1951, from David Baxandall of the Manchester City Art Gallery, concerning a proposed exhibition.
Ten letters, 1953-1964, from David Jones, artist and writer, to the painter and engraver Richard Shirley Smith and his artist wife Juliet Wood, mostly written, 1960-1961, while the latter were abroad studying in Italy. The letters, containing comments on David Jones's work and that of the recipients, were published in a limited edition, David Jones, Ten Letters ..., ed. by Derek Shiel (London: Agenda Editions, 1996); copy no. 1/150 was acquired with the letters and is filed with them.
Seven letters and a postcard, 1953, from David Jones, artist and writer, to Elwyn Evans, principally concerning the arrangements for broadcasting 'Wales and the Crown', a radio talk by David Jones (see David Jones, Epoch and Artist, ed. Harman Grisewood (London, 1959), pp. 39-48); with some related papers, 1953-1962.
Thirty-three letters and cards, 1926-1929, 1954-1965, from David Jones, artist and writer, to Douglas Cleverdon. The earlier series (ff. 1-37) concerns David Jones's engravings on copper for the edition of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner published by Douglas Cleverdon in 1929.
Six letters, 1969-1972, from David Jones, artist and writer, to Colin Hughes concerning the attack made by the 38th (Welsh) Division on Mametz Wood, 1916, in which David Jones took part, and the re-creation by him of the attack in part 7 of his In Parenthesis (London, 1937). The recipient quotes from these letters in his short study entitled David Jones, The man who was on the field: 'In Parenthesis' as straight reporting (Manchester: The David Jones Society, 1979).
Letters to Rachel Bromwich from David Jones, artist and writer (3) 1961-1965, together with a copy of Agenda, vol. 4, no. 1 (April-May 1965), containing David Jones's poem The Hunt, with notes and corrections in the author's hand, and from Colin Wilcockson, Cambridge (2) 1974, one enclosing a copy of a letter, 1974, from David Jones (ff. 39-46).
Letters from David Jones (1895-1974), artist and writer, to Maurice Percival (11 and a postcard), 1950-1972, and Mrs R. H. Cobb (3), 1953, some embellished with inscriptions (ff. 1-23); together with autograph prose draft and notes (ff. 24-27).
A letter, 1 March 1972, from David Jones, artist and writer, to Alun R. Jones, Professor of English at UCNW, Bangor (f. 1), enclosing a typescript draft of sleeve notes, prepared by the latter, for a gramophone record entitled Poets of Wales: David Jones (Argo, 1972), with copious manuscript notes and corrections by David Jones (ff. 2-9). David Jones' notes include comments on his poems 'A, a, a, Domine Deus' (ff. 1 verso, 5), 'The Sleeping Lord' (ff. 1 recto-verso) and 'The Tribune's Visitation' (ff. 6-7). Also included is a revised typescript draft of the sleeve notes (ff. 10-17).
An autograph letter, 1955, from David Jones, artist and writer, enclosing proof corrections to his article 'History and pre-history' to be published in the literary magazine Dock Leaves.