Showing 132 results

Papers of the journalist Geoffrey Woolley, including a group of letters, 1906-1915, from the poet Edward Thomas to W. H. Hudson.

Original file of poems of William Downing Evans ('Leon', 1811-1897), including acrostics, hymns, songs ('The Tories defeat. Tune, Crawshay Bailey's engine'), eisteddfod entries ('A song in honor of George Crofts Williams Esq'r of Glanrhymney Hall' by 'Lucas' for the St Mellons Eisteddfod, 1877; 'The death of Saul (a poem)' by 'Cwynwr'). Most are drafts, but include some fair copies. Many of the poems are on Christian themes. Most of the poems are in English, but a few, including 'Aderyn Mai' and at least three englynion, are in Welsh, including one composed entirely of vowels. Also at least one translation, 'God, in death sufficient'. Many of the poems re-use the backs of envelopes and other papers, including printed letters from W. Downing Evans as [secretary?] of the committee to promote a national testimonial to Rev. William Roberts ('Nevydd') (1866), and clerk of the Newport Union (1879). Also printed copies of poems, 1843-1892, many inscribed W.D.E. or Leon, on printed cards, 'In memoriam' cards, pamphlets, single sheets and newspaper cuttings, including 'Patriotism, an ode', medal poem at the Llandudno Eisteddfod, 1864; topical verses including 'Hymns for the anniversary of the Newport Sunday school union, 1843', 'Cutting the sod; for the formation of the Alexandra Docks, Newport', 1868; 'Epithalamium on the marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh with the Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna', 1874; 'In the pit (An impromptu memorial of Tynewydd)', 1877; 'A hymn of praise written for the jubilee of the English Baptist Church, Commercial Street, Newport', 1879; 'An anthem for the Queen's jubilee', 1887; and elegies, including on Prince Albert, 1861, Rev. David Dudley Evans, 1873, Crawshay Bailey, esq., 1874, Lord Tredegar, [1875], S. K., 1877, Catharine Mabli Evans (his daughter), 1880, William Evans JP, 1880, Sir Hugh Owen, 1881, James Salter, 1880, John Andrew Williams, 1881, Caradawc y Venni, 1882, Samuel Homfray, esq., 1882, Henry Collier, 1883, Minna Jones of the Mumbles, Swansea, 1883, Edmund B. Edwards, esq., 1884, Ceiriog, [1887], R. F. Woollett, 1887, the emperor of Germany, [1888], James and Mary Baker of Peterstone, co. Mon., 1891, Rev. Jeremiah Davies, 1891, Rev. J. W. Lance, 1892, Rev. John Jones, Congregational minister of Caerleon, [n.d.], Matthew Jones, jun., of Swansea, [n.d.], T. F. Mullock, [n.d.], Brinley Richards, [n.d.], and Edward Thomas, [n.d.]. Also includes a copy (front and back covers and fly-leaf loose) of a printed book 'Catharine Mabli Evans. Born 5th January 1858. Died 6th November 1880. Memorial chords, by her father, W. Downing Evans, (Leon.)' ([s.l.] : printed for private circulation only, c.1880), containing twenty-five poems, dated 6-30 Nov. 1880. Also a typescript transcript of 'Some poems by Leon (mainly 1880's)'. Also 'Cywydd marwnad yr urddasol bendefig Robert Davies, o Lannerch, yswain, yn sir Flint' by Evan Evans (pp. 23-24), and 'Awdl foliant Risiart ap Sion' by Sion Tudur, 1580 (pp. 23-26), both extracted from [18 cent.?] volumes; and a pamphlet of the 'Speech of Mr. Sheriff Lawrence, M.P., at the state banquet in the town Hall, Manchester' during the state visit of the lord mayor and sheriffs of London to Manchester, 2-10 Aug. 1901.

Copy will of Elizabeth Morgan of Pentrebach, [p. Llantarnam, co. Mon.?], 1592, extracted from the PCC, [mid 19 cent.]; 'A monody on the late patriot the Rev'd Joseph Hughes (Carn Ingli), translated from the original Welsh, by Mr R. A. Rees, and for which the prize was awarded at the Llandudno eisteddfod, 1864; translated by Pem', (1875 watermark); and 'Lines proposed to be sung at the Working Men's banquet to Lord Bute', [by Leon?], 1868.

Original bundle of letters from Edward Thomas to W. H. Hudson, 1 December 1906-25 December 1915; letter to C. F. Cazenove, 8 May 1913; letter to James Guthrie, 21 January 1917; a letter from W. H. Hudson to an unnamed recipient, 5 October 1892; and proofs of Poems by Edward Eastaway [Edward Thomas's pseudonym] (London: Selwyn & Blount, 1917) (pp. 1-16 only); and the dealer's original envelope and description, 1942. Also a letter from Joan Stevens, indexing Garnett (ed.), Hudson's Letters, exploring the possibility of publishing something in connection with Edward Thomas's centenary, 1973.

Mainly letters relating to Geoffrey Woolley's interest in Edward Thomas.

Original bundle of letters from James Ashcroft Noble, usually of The Grove, Wandsworth, to Coulson Kernahan of Southend on Sea, 30 Jan. 1893-25 Dec. 1895. Also signed copies of poems: 'A lover in June', March 1894, 'To a sonneteer', May 1894. James Ashcroft Noble was the father of Helen Thomas, Edward Thomas's wife.

Original bundle of letters to and from W. H. Davies, 23 July 1908-12 Oct. 1928, including from Arthur C. Fifield of London, publisher, July 1908-March 1909; letter from R. Hamilton Edwards re. the sale of the serial rights of 'The autobiography of a super-tramp' to the 'Penny Pictorial', July 1909, forwarded by Davies to [C. F.] Cazenove, his agent, Aug. 1909; from Alston Rivers of London, publishers of 'The soul's destroyer', Aug. 1910-Dec. 1915; and a letter to Coulson Kernahan with a signed print of Davies, Oct. 1928. Also signed, corrected typescript copies of four poems, probably for publication in the Mercury: 'The two stars', 'The doll', 'Timepieces' and 'Secrets', undated.

Loose pages from 'The bookman', comprising copies of Edward Thomas's poetry columns and book reviews, and articles about Edward Thomas, 1909-1930. Also a printed copy of 'Sowing ; song by Edward Thomas, music by Ivor Gurney', 1925.

Letters, 3 Dec. 1922 (postmark)-27 July 1927 (school report), usually from Brean House School during term time. The more juvenile letters are almost invariably undated, although a few have been kept with their envelopes. Also includes a number of fortnightly school reports and a few letters from Geoffrey's brother Keith.

School, college and university letters, reports, ephemera and publications, including copies of 'The Breanian', the termly magazine of Brean House school, Weston-super-Mare, vol. 1, no. 1 (March 1926) and vol. 2, no. 2 (Dec. 1927), and 'The Cliftonian : a magazine edited by members of Clifton College', vol. 33, no's 1 and 4 (June and Dec 1933) [some with contributions by Woolley]; the rules of the Hawks' Club, Cambridge, 1933; three CUAC [Cambridge University Athletics Club] sports fixture cards, June-Nov. 1937; and a printed letter from the chairman of Clifton College reporting on the evacuation of the school to Bude and Wrington after the bombing raids on Bristol, April 1941.

(i) Geoffrey Woolley's diaries and journals, [c.1930]-1968 (mainly 1932-1950). Some of the loose-leaf diaries contain letters received and carbon copies of letters sent, while many of the volumes include precises or quotes from correspondence. (ii) Geoffrey Woolley's appointments diaries, 1955, 1959-1961, 1963-1970, 1972-2010.

Weather and natural history observations in and around the garden at home, in a juvenile hand. July 24 is the "first day home".

Copies of 'The Tredegar Iron and Coal Company, Limited : Oakdale Collery, 1st March 1930', and 'The Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners' Association : Report on the exhibition of colliery horses, The Royal Agricultural Show, Cardiff, 1938'.

Letters from Dakyn's House, Clifton School, to his parents during term time (gap 20 March-23 Sept. inclusive). Also three letters to his brother Keith, 18 Jan., 11 June, 4 Dec.

Journal for the year 31 Dec. 1931-1 Jan. 1933, at home and at Clifton School.

Diary entries entitled 'Log of Jamboree, August 1933', describing a visit to London, including "Got to Marble Arch. Anti-War demonstration. Something vast. A. Bevan M.P., Tom Mann, Beverley Nichols, etc. speaking. Colossal procession. Queer speciments of humanity. Bought programme (3d.). Movietone Van in attendance" (30 July); boat crossing Dover-Ostend; train journey to Kőln, Germany, including meeting Arthur Short, assistant commissioner for Wales, "an amazing meeting - 1/3000 chance! Talking to Nazis - ever so nice" (31 July). The journey was probably to the 4th World Scout Jamboree at Gödöllő, Hungary, 2-13 Aug. 1933.

Journal for the months Jan.-July 1933, at home and at Clifton School, with only occasional entries Aug.-Dec. Includes a list of books read during the year (66).