Fonds GB 0210 JSEYREES - J. Seymour Rees Collection

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0210 JSEYREES

Title

J. Seymour Rees Collection

Date(s)

  • 1817-1965 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

0.193 cubic metres (185 volumes, 1 deed)

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

John Seymour Rees (1887-1963) was a Congregational minister and author from Carmarthenshire. He studied in Aberystwyth and Cardiff and worked as a minister in Cefncoedycymer, Breconshire, 1915-1922, Treorci, Glamorgan, 1923-1927; and Capel Soar, Seven Sisters, Glamorgan, 1927-1945. He became Secretary of the Cardiff Council of Christians and Jews, 1945-1963. From 1932 onwards he gave numerous radio talks. He competed successfully in local and national eisteddfodau, submitting essays and biographies. He was married and had one son. His private library contained much of the source material for his literary contributions to Welsh periodical literature.

Archival history

The materials were collected or compiled by John Seymour Rees.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Deposited by Mrs J. Seymour Rees, widow of Rev. J. Seymour Rees, between 1963 and 1965.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

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).

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

All records donated to the NLW have been retained.

Accruals

Accruals are not expected.

System of arrangement

Arranged into the following: manuscripts; a stray deed; letters to the Rev. J. Seymour Rees; letters to the Rev. J. Seymour and Mrs. Rees; miscellaneous correspondence; and printed books.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Conditions governing reproduction

Usual copyright laws apply.

Language of material

  • English
  • Welsh

Script of material

Language and script notes

Welsh, English.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue can be accessed online.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Note

Title based on contents of fonds.

Note

The papers predate the life of J. Seymour Rees.

Alternative identifier(s)

Virtua system control number

vtls003844319

Project identifier

ANW

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales

Rules and/or conventions used

Description follows ANW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.; AACR2; and LCSH

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

March 2003

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedule of J. Seymour Rees Collection; Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940 (London, 1959).

Archivist's note

Compiled by Annette Strauch for the ANW project.

Accession area