Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1944-2001 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.878 cubic metres (80 boxes and 1 vol.)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Cledwyn Hughes, Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos, (1916-2001), was a prominent Labour politician and Welshman.
Cledwyn Hughes, a native of Holyhead, a son of the manse, graduated in law from Aberystwyth in 1937, qualified as a solicitor in 1940, served in the RAF during the war and worked as a solicitor in Anglesey from 1946. After standing twice in the Labour interest against Lady Megan Lloyd George in 1945 and 1950, he captured Anglesey in 1951, thereafter serving continuously until his retirement in 1979. A fervent devolutionist, Hughes was the second Secretary of State for Wales, 1966-1968, succeeding the veteran Jim Griffiths, and pressing successfully to extend the powers and authority of the new department. He was also Minister of Agriculture, 1968-1970, and Chairman of the Labour Party, 1974-1979. Hughes held a large number of offices within the Labour Party and at Westminster.
Following his retirement from the Commons, he became the Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos, acting as opposition leader in the Lords, 1982-1992, fighting against some of the excesses of the Conservative governments. He was an active president of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1975-1985, and subsequently Pro-Chancellor of the University of Wales, 1985-1994. Lord Cledwyn was also an erudite, cultured, patriotic Welshman who remained passionately supportive of the National Eisteddfod.
Archival history
Most of the papers received in 2002 came from Lord Cledwyn's Anglesey home at Trearddur Bay, a few were received from his London office.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos in April 1990, July 1991, October 1992, July 1997 and November 1997, and by Lady Cledwyn of Penrhos in May 2002.; A1990/46, A1991/98, A1992/180, A1997/124, A1997/190, 0200208016
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The papers donated by Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos in five groups between 1990 and 1997 comprise Lord Cledwyn's diaries, 1970-1978; his engagement diaries, 1966-1984; general correspondence files, 1956-1997; subject files, 1958-1997, including papers relating to Welsh affairs, 1962-1997, and to the Parliamentary Labour Party, 1968-1979; constituency papers, 1955-1996; speech notes, 1952-1979; and printed matter, 1945-1997. The The further papers donated by Lady Cledwyn in May 2001 comprise correspondence files, 1964-2001, including many letters from prominent politicians and individuals, files on specific subjects, 1989-2000, and miscellaneous papers, 1980-1999. --
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All the papers donated to NLW have been retained..
Accruals
Additional papers are unlikely.
System of arrangement
The papers donated by Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos in five groups between 1990 and 1997 have been arranged at NLW into six groups: diaries, general correspondence, subject files, constituency papers, miscellaneous papers, and printed material. The further papers donated by Lady Cledwyn in May 2001 have been arranged at NLW into three series: correspondence files, subject files, and miscellaneous papers.
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
English, Welsh
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of this list is available at NLW.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
GEAC system control number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
This description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) Second Edition; AACR2; and LCSH.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
September 2002
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by J. Graham Jones.
Archivist's note
The following source was used in the compilation of this description: Jones, J. G. 'Hughes, Cledwyn, Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos, (1916-2001)', Encyclopaedia of Wales (forthcoming).