Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1781-1928 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.2 cubic metres (7 boxes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
John Bryn Roberts (1847-1931), a native of Bangor, Caernarfonshire, was a lawyer and a politician. He was a family member of Castell, Llanddeiniolen, Caernarfonshire. Educated at Cheltenham, he qualified as a solicitor in 1868, then was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1889, and in 1885 he became Liberal M.P. for Eifion (South Caernarvonshire). In 1906, he became County Court judge in Glamorgan. In 1918 he was transferred to North Wales and Chester. He retired in 1921 and died in 1931. His Liberalism was of the old individualistic kind, and he disapproved strongly of both Socilaism and nationalism. He disapproved strongly of the 'Liberal Imperialism' of Asquith and Grey and he was strongly opposed to the Boer War. He was an upholder of the old-style Gladstonian Liberalism. He made no mark in the House of Commons and his speaking style made but little impression. He was a Calvinistic Methodist and an elder within the Church.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by A. Stanley Davies, Bangor, in 1932.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers collected by John Bryn Roberts, including correspondence, 1830-1887; legal certificates, 1863-1897; diaries, 1838-1930, kept by Bryn Roberts and some other members of the Roberts family; photographs, [c. 1880]-1924; notes on legal cases and topics, [c. 1902]-[c. 1921]; letters, 1888-1926, from John Bryn Roberts to the press; newspaper reports transcribed, 1883-1905; notes for his speeches, 1885-1905; notes on political topics, [c.1892]-[1926]; general notes, [1860]-[1894]; election addresses, 1885-1924; political leaflets and pamphlets, 1880-1927; official publications, 1889-1927; legal publications, 1863-1930; miscellaneous printed matter, 1883-1925; Calvinistic Methodist papers, 1844-1928; papers relating to the University of Wales, mainly the University College of North Wales, Bangor, 1882-1926; newspaper and magazine cuttings, 1874-1929; newspapers and periodicals, 1902-1928; bills and receipts, 1781-1926; notebooks and account books, 1833-1900.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records have been retained.
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged into the following: correspondence; memorial cards; certificates; diaries, medals; photographs, notes on law; letters to the press; newspaper transcripts; speeches; notes on political topics; various lists; miscellaneous notes; election addresses; leaflets; pamphlets; official publications; legal publications, miscellaneous printed matter; volumes; Calvinistic Methodist papers; University of Wales papers; cuttings; and receipts and accounts.
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 regulations apply
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
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
Publication note
The following two books were published before the current schedule to the collection was compiled. The references used in these volumes have been superseded as follows (old no. / new no.): K. O. Morgan, 'Wales in British politics', p. 99, n.1 (
/ 771), p. 140, n.4 (69 / 288), p. 140, n.5 (102-105 / 292+), p. 141, n.2 (73 / 297), p. 156, n.3a (
/ 937), p. 156, n.3b (236 / 322), p. 158, n.2 (64 / 324), p. 167, n.1 (236 / 322), p. 194, n.5 (107 / 363), p. 197, n.5 (239 / 358), p. 197, n.6 (124 / 356), p. 297, n.1 (
/ see index). M. Kinnear, 'The fall of Lloyd George', p. 271, n.5 (new no. 1111).
Notes area
Note
Title supplied from contents of fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Liberal Party (Great Britain). (Subject)
- University College of North Wales. (Subject)
- University of Wales. (Subject)
- Roberts, J. Bryn (John Bryn), 1847-1931 -- Archives. (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
Archivist's note
Compiled by Annette Strauch for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedule of John Bryn Roberts Collection; Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940 (London, 1959); Eaton, Jack: Judge John Bryn Roberts: A biography (1989);