Identity area
Reference code
Title
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
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
Project identifier
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Rees, J. Seymour (John Seymour), 1887-1963 -- Archives (Subject)
- Evans, D. Silvan (Daniel Silvan), 1818-1903. (Subject)
- Lloyd George, David, 1863-1945 (Subject)
- Gruffydd, W. J. (William John), 1881-1954 (Subject)
- Hooson, I. D. (Subject)
- Morris-Jones, John, 1864-1929. (Subject)
- Parry, Robert Williams (Subject)
- Emrys, Dewi, 1881-1952 (Subject)
- Sarnicol, 1873-1945. (Subject)
- Lewis, H. Elvet (Howell Elvet). (Subject)
- Young, Jubilee, 1887-1962. (Subject)
- Edwards, Owen M. (Owen Morgan), 1858-1920 (Subject)
- Thomas, Dylan, 1914-1953 (Subject)
- Williams, W. Llewelyn (William Llewelyn), 1867-1922 (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
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.