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).
Twenty-three letters, 1940-1971, from David Jones, artist and writer, to his friend T. F. (Tom) Burns, nineteen of which date from the period 1940-1944 and form a valuable source for the life and work of the writer during the war years. The principal subjects discussed in the others are the history of Wales, the early history of the compass, Malory's Morte Arthur and the writer's experiences in the First World War. Twelve of these letters were printed, wholly or in part, by René Hague in Dai Greatcoat: A self-portrait of David Jones in his Letters (London, 1980).
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).
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.
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).
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).
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.
Nine letters and a postcard, 1925-40, 1954-72, from David Jones, artist and writer, to Philip Hagreen. The first letter, which includes two drawings in ink, was published in Hague, René (ed.): Dai Greatcoat ... (London, 1980).
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.
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).
A letter, November 1954 (dated 'Calan Gaeaf MCMLIV' [1 November 1954] but completed at a later date), and decorated with a coloured inscription, from the artist and writer David Jones to the dramatist, poet and critic Saunders Lewis. The letter contains personal news and refers to the Lewis's contribution to a radio broadcast about David Jones transmitted on the Welsh Home Service, 29 October 1954 (see NLW, Alun Oldfield-Davies Papers 27 for a copy of the script).
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.
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, 27 May 1961, from the artist and poet David Jones, Harrow on the Hill, to Geoffrey Robinson, general editor at publishers Barrie & Rockliff, thanking him for the page proofs for his foreword (on pp. vii-ix) to R. W. Barber, Arthur of Albion: An Introduction to the Arthurian Literature and Legends of England (London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1961), and suggesting a very few minor emendations.
A letter, 26 October 1969, from the artist and poet David Jones, Harrow, to Ann Sidgwick of the Ganymed Press, London, giving permission to transfer the reproduction rights in Ganymed Press's facsimile of Jones's watercolour 'The Chapel in the Park' to a potential buyer (f. 6). Sidgwick's draft reply, 29 October 1969, is also included (f. 7). The letter is written in reply to Sidgwick's of 29 September 1969 (now NLW, David Jones (Artist and Writer) Papers CT4/13, ff. 29-32).
A letter, dated 10-11 July 1967, from the artist and writer David Jones, Harrow, to the novelist [Anthony] Powell, mainly discussing Welsh genealogy and history. Jones also refers to the anniversary of his involvement in the battle of Mametz Wood, 10-11 July 1916, the subject of part 7 of his poem In Parenthesis (London, 1937) (f. 16 verso). The letter contains references to the recent 'David Jones Special Issue' of Agenda, 5.1-3 (Spring-Summer 1967), Powell's television producer and director son Tristram, with whom Jones was acquainted, Kenneth Jackson, Saunders Lewis, and Jones's knowledge of Welsh (all f. 16), and the Eliseg Pillar inscription (f. 16 recto-verso).