Showing 50 results

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).

Some one hundred and thirty letters, 1936-1938, to William Ronald Rees Jones (Keidrych Rhys) from over forty contributors and supporters, mostly covering issues 1-3 of 'Wales'. Some of the most notable correspondents are Roy Campbell (1), Idris Davies (6), Rhys Davies (6), Caradoc Evans (3), George Ewart Evans (5), Margiad Evans (3), Ll. Wyn Griffith (2), Nigel Heseltine (8), Richard Hughes (1), Augustus John (1), Glyn Jones (20), John Lehmann (1), Cedric Morris (2), Mervyn Peake (1), A. G. Prys-Jones (1), Goronwy Rees (2), Ernest Rhys (1), Dylan Thomas (10) and Vernon Watkins (7). Many of the letters are accompanied by manuscript and typescript drafts of poetry and prose, mostly published in 'Wales' nos 1 - 3 (1937). Also included are a few notes and press cuttings compiled by Keidrych Rhys.

A letter, 12 December 1964, from Vernon Watkins, Pennard, to the poet and editor Neville Braybrooke, in which he discusses 'The Beach of Falesá', the recently published adaptation by Dylan Thomas of R. L. Stevenson's novella (see Dylan Thomas, The Beach of Falesá (New York, 1963)), as well as his recent work and his visit to Seattle the previous Spring.

Two typescript letters, 1953-1955, from Vernon Watkins, Pennard, to poet and publisher John Lehmann, the first, 13 November 1953, concerning the death of Watkins's close friend Dylan Thomas four days earlier (f. 46), the second, 8 August 1955, concerning his foreword to Dylan Thomas, Adventures in the Skin Trade (London, 1955) (f. 47).

Thirty-five letters, 1944-1957, to the artists' model Mary Keene, comprising twenty-three from her friend Caitlin Thomas, 1945-1954 (ff. 1-30), six from the latter's sister Brigit Marnier, 1944-1949 (ff. 33-43), and six from Florence Thomas, mother of Dylan Thomas, 1954-1957 (ff. 44-53), all containing personal and family news.
Also included is a letter, 11 October 1950, to Caitlin Thomas from her domestic help, Dolly Long of Laugharne (ff. 31-32). There are numerous references to Dylan Thomas (ff. 1 verso-10 passim, 19, 20 27 verso) and his funeral (ff. 43-44) and to Caitlin (in addition to her own letters) (ff. 36 verso, 44-54 passim). There are also references to Laurie Lee (f. 16 verso), Anthony Devas (f. 23 verso), Louis MacNeice (f. 45 verso) and Daniel Jones (f. 47 verso).

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.

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).

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.

Papers relating to the incident when SOE commando William Killick fired bullets into Majoda, New Quay, in 1945 and was later charged with, but acquitted, of the attempted murder of Dylan Thomas and friends. Also included are papers from the Foreign Office relating to William Killick and his own account of his war experiences in Greece, from where he had just returned when the shooting happened.

Papers, 1935-1945, of the Rev. B. George Rees, Curate of Llangynwyd, Maesteg (1936-38), and Laleston (1938-44), Rector of Llansannor (1944-48), and a WEA lecturer on literature at the Maesteg Unemployed Centre and elsewhere. The papers include letters, 1939-1940, from a number of authors and poets, responding to requests by Rees for their thoughts on lecture subjects such as 'Life and Literature'.
The respondents include W. H. Auden, [1939] (ff. 2-3), Winston Churchill, 17 January 1939 (f. 8), C. Day Lewis, [?1939]-1940 (ff. 10-12), Aldous Huxley, 27 March 1940 (f. 16), Glyn Jones, April 1939-February 1940 (ff. 19-27), Herbert E. Palmer, February-March 1940 (ff. 35-44), John Cowper Powys, February-March 1940 (ff. 45-47), J. B. Priestley, 10 January 1939 (f. 48), Dylan Thomas, September 1939-February 1940 (ff. 56-60), and Emlyn Williams, 8 February 1940 (f. 63); a few respondents, such as Glyn Jones (f. 25) and Dylan Thomas (ff. 59-60), supplied Rees with brief essays. Also included are notes, newspaper cuttings and other papers relating to Rees's lectures (ff. 66-91); and papers, 1935-1945, relating to his Church career, including letters and telegrams concerning his Institution at Llansannor, August-September 1944 (ff. 92-100), sermon notes (ff. 102-109), and parish magazines and pages from annual reports relating to Laleston, 1935-1944 (ff. 110-120).

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.

Papers of Colin Edwards (d. 1994), a radio journalist of Welsh descent, relating to his incomplete book on Dylan Thomas ('Dylan Remembered'), comprising typescript chapters of the work and index cards; transcripts of audio tapes including interviews with Philip Burton, Gwynfor Evans, Glyn Jones, Vernon Watkins, and Florence Thomas, mother of Dylan Thomas; and address books containing names and notes on Dylan Thomas's relatives, acquaintances and persons interviewed by him

Further papers of Colin Edwards, to be added to the papers received in July 1996 and April 1999, comprising press cuttings, mainly 1970s, relating to Dylan Thomas (1914-1953); copies of Dylan Thomas Remembered published by the Dylan Thomas Society Welsh Branch in 1978; the Adam International Review, no. 238, 1953, dedicated to Dylan Thomas, Ethel Ross's Dylan Thomas and the Amateur Theatre, published by Swansea Little Theatre, and The New Welsh Review, Spring 1992 ('Dylan Thomas Special'); together with a typescript transcript of an interview with Philip Burton, and a script entitled 'Dylan in His Youth'

Additional papers of Colin Edwards, mainly relating to Dylan Thomas, including letters from Glyn Jones, Ralph Maud, Constantine FitzGibbon and Bert Trick, a script of an interview with Sada Thompson and Nancy Wickwire on Dylan Thomas, notebooks, and press cuttings.

Second draft screenplay by Bill Forsyth titled Rebecca's Daughters, adapted from the 1948 novel of the same name by Dylan Thomas.

Edited and annotated screenplay by Wayne Parker titled Adulation, together with plot synopses and brief critical evaluations. The storyline centres around a series of murders carried out in New York in the days preceding the death there in 1953 of poet Dylan Thomas.

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 papers relating to A new romantic anthology, ed. S. Schimanski & H. Treece (London, 1949), in which the chapter 'Welsh poetry' was selected and introduced by Glyn Jones. Included are manuscript drafts of his introduction, 'Romanticism and Welsh Poetry', and transcripts by Glyn Jones of selected pieces by various authors. The file also contains a draft letter by Glyn Jones to Dylan Thomas, letters, 1945-1946, from publishers and literary agents, and a letter to Lynette Roberts.

Deunydd yn ymwneud ag Ysgol Haf Ryngwladol Dylan Thomas, 2014-2016, a gynhaliwyd yng Ngholeg Prifysgol Dewi Sant, Llanbedr-Pont-Steffan a lle bu Menna Elfyn yn un o'r tiwtoriaid, gan gynnwys rhaghysbysiadau, amserlenni a gwybodaeth ar gyfer y cwrs, rhestr myfyrwyr, araith gan Menna Elfyn wrth gyflwyno Gwobr Farddoniaeth Ryngwladol Dylan Thomas, gwybodaeth am Dylan Thomas, ynghyd ag enghreifftiau o'i waith, ac adborth un o'r myfyrwyr.

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

Draft score in ink with pencil annotations, dated 1956-1961 and titled Opus 10: 'Canticle for Tenor and Piano: Words by 20th-century Anglo-Welsh Poets'. The score is in six parts: Part 1, 'Lean on the Rail' by Randal Jenkins, dated 1 - 12 January 1957; Part 2, 'I Will Give you a Golden Flower' by David Harries, dated 16 December 1956; Part 3, 'Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed' by Dylan Thomas, dated 24 July 1957; Part 4, 'When I was a Child' by R. S. Thomas, dated 24 November 1959; Part 5, 'Is There a Cause?' by Vernon Watkins, dated 21 April 1960; and Part 7, 'There is No Time' by Raymond Garlick, as a loose page draft pencil partial score, dated 24 January 1961. Part 6 is wanting.

Full score transparencies, 1961, of 'Cantata' (opus 32) by Denis ApIvor, being a setting for four solo voices, chorus, speaker, and orchestra of the ten 'Altarwise by owl-light' sonnets by Dylan Thomas; and vocal score, 1961, of the same work in a photographic reproduction from transparency. Autograph additions to the vocal score include corrections made in 1985 and a note on performance on back flyleaf.