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Papers, [1920s]-1988, of Vernon Watkins, comprising drafts of poems published in collections and elsewhere, 1934-1967, unpublished poems, [1920s]-1967, and verse translations from German, French, Greek, Italian, Spanish and Hungarian, [1920s]-1967; drafts and translations of verse dramas, [1920s]-[1940x1967]; prose articles and essays, [1935]-1967; radio scripts, 1948-1967; talks and lecture notes, 1947-1967; correspondence, 1937-1988, including letters to Gwen Watkins following her husband's death; diaries, 1931, 1966; bibliographical lists of his poetry, [?1941]-1967; and some literary material relating to posthumous publications, 1976-1978.

One hundred and seven letters, 1937-1940 and 1944-1967, from Vernon Watkins, mainly at Pennard and Swansea, to his friend and occasional translator, Francis Dufau-Labeyrie, containing personal and family news, and discussing his poetry and other literary output, his and Francis's poetry translations and other poets and their work, notably their mutual friend Dylan Thomas and W. B. Yeats (ff. 1-9, 13-40, 43-121, 125-133, 137-148, 151-158, 161-164, 166-196, 199-211).
Also included are typescript transcripts, [?1970s], of eight of the letters (ff. 10-12, 41-42, 122-124, 134-136, 149-150, 159-160, 165, 197-198, inserted after the originals). The letters occasionally contain poetry by Watkins, including parts of 'After Sunset' (f. 15), an attempt at a poem about Francis (f. 32 verso, in French), the first two verses of 'the Wine Ballad' ['Ballad of the Two Tapsters'] (f. 38), a limerick [?by VW] (f. 40), a verse (f. 46), a verse from 'the Broken Net ballad' ['Ballad of Dundrum Bay'] (f. 50 verso), the end of 'Portrait of a Friend' (f. 75 verso) and the sonnet 'The Conception' (f. 147); there are also transcripts of poems by Yeats (ff. 68, 88 verso, 109 verso) and other miscellaneous poems in English (ff. 46, 76 verso, 119 verso, 190) and French (ff. 17, 82 verso, 86, 128). A few rough ink sketches are on ff. 2, 19, 46, 103, 109 verso, 117 verso. The letters contain annotations and markings in the hand of Francis Dufau-Labeyrie, including attempts at dating and ordering. The letters were mostly sent to Francis while he was living in Bristol, 1937-1938, Beckenham, 1938-1939, Paris, 1939-1947, and thereafter Montreal, Quebec, the later correspondence being mostly by air letter. For extracts from sixteen of the letters, 1937-1946, see 'Vernon Watkins: Selected quotations from his letters to Francis Dufau-Labeyrie', Temenos, 8 (1987), 146-155.

Papers of and relating to Thomas Harri Jones, [1956]-[2007], an Anglo-Welsh poet and to the publishing of his biography entitled T.H. Jones : poet of exile (Cardiff, 2001) by P. Bernard Jones and Don Dale-Jones, and a collection of his poems Lucky Jonah and other poems (Llanrwst, 2004) in The corgi series edited by Meic Stephens. The correspondence, 1992-2004, relating to the biography is between the two authors and Madeline Mitchell, widow of T. H. Jones and the papers include a typescript of his critical study on Dylan Thomas published in 1963, 'The birds of Rhiannon', a comedy in three acts, and three short stories by him, together with a BBC script 'Homage to a poet' written and read by Edward Richards, transmitted in 1965. Also two sketches of T. Harri Jones, one by M. Hew, [1960s].

Letters to Sam Adams from prominent literary figures, including material submitted to him by them for publication, and some related correspondence between other parties, together with files on Geraint Goodwin and Alun Lewis.

Some one hundred and seventy-five original poems by Ruth Bidgood, 1966-2011, mostly typescript, some are emended and a few are in manuscript (ff. 208, 212, 214, 216-217, 219).
The majority of the poems have appeared in various periodicals, as recorded by the author on the individual folios. A few only have subsequently been published in collections, including 'Cwm Pennant' (ff. 132-133) and 'Encounters with Angels' (ff. 195-201) in Symbols of Plenty (Norwich, 2006), 'Complaints' (ff. 66-71, 187-189) and 'Bringing Home the Bride' (ff. 169-170) in Hearing Voices (Blaenau Ffestiniog, 2008), and a revised version of 'Reading a Landscape' (ff. 177-181) in Time Being (Bridgend, 2009). 'The Zombie-makers' (f. 38) and 'Brianne 1970' (f. 42) were first published in Matthew Jarvis, Ruth Bidgood (Cardiff, 2012), pp. 133-134. There are multiple copies or drafts of some poems, including 'Complaints' (ff. 66-71, 187-189), 'Summerers' (ff. 129, 152), 'Apparition' (ff. 171, 208), 'Reading a Landscape' (ff. 177-181), 'Windblow' (ff. 182, 218-219), 'Elan in Autumn' (ff. 193, 213-217) and 'Looms' (ff. 194, 210). A list of contents (for ff. 1-194) in the hand of the author is ff. i-ii; the order has subsequently been revised by her. Since the author usually disposed of typescripts once the poems had been collected, this volume includes rare examples of her work.

Some ninety-nine letters and postcards, 1975-2013, from the poet and local historian Ruth Bidgood, Abergwesyn and later Beulah, Powys, addressed to the Rev. James Coutts, and frequently also to his wife Stevie, discussing her poetry, publications and public readings, her daily life and her family, containing frequent references to friends including Anne Cluysenaar, Angela Morton and A. M. (Donald) Allchin (ff. 1-188, 191-214).
Also included are typescript copies of eighteen of Bidgood's poems and sequences of poems, published and unpublished, [c. 1979]-2014, notably 'Hymn to Sant Ffraed' (ff. 215-225), most given by her to Coutts and a few re-typed by him, and cuttings and photocopies of a further fifteen poems from periodicals, 1983-2002 (ff. 25, 37-38, 52-53, 70, 116, 120, 215-265); typescript drafts, cuttings and photocopies of articles, interviews and reviews, [1978]-2006 (ff. 266-299), including two typescript articles by Donald Allchin (ff. 279-293); and a letter from Bidgood's friend Mary [MacGregor], of Myddfai, to James Coutts, 2 June 2009 (ff. 189-190). Many of the letters were written on the backs of sixty-three of Bidgood's own photographs, so as to resemble postcards; besides these a further twenty-nine of her photographs are also included amongst the letters.

The archive described here comprises papers formerly known as the Roland Mathias MSS (originally placed on deposit at NLW and converted to a donation in 1994), together with donations, 1993-2003. It includes mostly correspondence, and papers relating to The Anglo-Welsh Review, his literary works, and professional career as a teacher and headmaster. Also included is a group of personal and family papers, together with works by Dora Polk.

An additional collection of the papers of Roland Mathias, including correspondence, articles, notes and other materials. This group remains uncatalogued.

Papers relating to the magazine Planet, including printers' copies for numbers 1-36 of Planet, 1970-1977, including typescripts of articles, artwork and proofs; manuscripts, 1971-1977, submitted to John Tripp as literary editor, with related correspondence; correspondence, 1970-1975, to the editors, Ned Thomas and Sarah Erskine; letters, 1972-1979, received by John Tripp in his capacity as literary editor; and records of subscriptions, 1971-1974. The papers include manuscripts and letters from many important Welsh and Anglo-Welsh writers.

Additional papers, 1978-2006 (mainly 1985-2006), mostly consisting of correspondence addressed to the editor John Barnie; these remain uncatalogued.

Papers of John Barnie, including correspondence from various poets and literary figures from Wales and other countries, and his own literary and personal papers.

Papers, 1943-1990, accumulated by Morfydd Peregrine, relating to her fiancée the poet Idris Davies, comprising Davies's diary, 16 October-15 December 1946 (ff. 1-16); four holograph poems, 1943-1952 (ff. 17-20), with a further two in Peregrine's hand, 1951 (ff. 21-22); and newspaper cuttings, 1943-1990, relating to Davies, consisting of poetry (ff. 24-26, 29-34, 43, 45) and reviews, obituaries and articles (ff. 23, 27-28, 35-42, 44).
The holograph poems are 'In Treorchy Cemetery', 21 December 1943 (published as 'David Allen Evans, R.A.F.' in Tonypandy and Other Poems (London, 1945), p. 38), 'Poem for Morfydd', Christmas 1943 (apparently unpublished), 'Rhymney Hill (January 1952)' (reproduced in facsimile in Islwyn Jenkins, Idris Davies of Rhymney (Llandysul, 1986), p. 227) and 'The Choice', [1952] (apparently unpublished). The poems copied by Peregrine are a version of 'Bedwellty Church' omitting the third verse (first published in the Western Mail, 5 March 1948) and 'Brecknockshire' (see The Complete Poems of Idris Davies, ed. by Dafydd Johnston (Cardiff, 1994), C109). Also included is a photograph of Davies and Peregrine (f. 19), as reproduced in the Western Mail, 12 February 1987 (see f. 41); and printed items to accompany the publication of the memorial volume Fe'm Ganed i yn Rhymni / I Was Born in Rhymney (Llandysul, 1990) (ff. 46-51).

A collection of miscellaneous letters and papers, [early 18 cent.]-1998, purchased or received by donation from various sources by the National Library of Wales during the period 1997-2004, and bound as one volume. A list of contents has been placed at the front of the volume (ff. i-viii).

Correspondence, 1970-1977, accumulated by Meic Stephens in the course of editing Artists in Wales, volumes 1-3 (Llandysul, 1971-1977), from artists in the fields of literature, drama, music and the visual arts; letters, 1977-1978, from poets invited to contribute to Green Horse : an anthology by young poets of Wales edited by him (Swansea, 1978); letters, 1978-1979, relating to The Welsh Language Today (second edition, Llandysul, 1979); and correspondence, 1986-1987, between Meic Stephens and Lady Amy Parry-Williams relating to the former's translations into English of essays by T. H. Parry-Williams, published in The White Stone - six essays by T. H. Parry-Williams (Llandysul, 1987).

An additional consignment of the papers of Meic Stephens. This group remains uncatalogued.

Nine letters, 1965-1971, from the poet, novelist and film director B. S. Johnson to the poet Bryn Griffiths, discussing the latter's poetry and prose contributions to Transatlantic Review and other publications edited by Johnson, as well as giving news of Johnson's own work.
Also included are a carbon copy of a testimonial from Johnson, supporting Griffiths's application for a bursary from the [?Welsh] Arts Council, [1967] (f. 4), and a contract (ff. 7-8) and letter (f. 9), February 1968, from the publishers Victor Gollancz, concerning Griffiths's article for The Evacuees, ed. by B. S. Johnson (London, 1968).

Papers of Jean Earle (1909-2001), poet, of Abergwili, Carmarthenshire, comprising letters, 1977-2001, draft copies of her poems and short stories.

Printed copies of three of Idris Davies's poetry volumes: (i) The Angry Summer: A Poem of 1926 (London, 1943), (ii) Tonypandy and Other Poems (London, 1945) and (iii) Selected Poems (London, 1953), each inscribed (either on the title page or on the front flyleaf) by Davies to his fiancée Morfydd Peregrine.

Papers of Emyr Humphreys, 1882-2019, arranged in two groups.
The first group consists of papers of Emyr Humphreys, 1908-1993, comprising mainly correspondence, 1930-1993, including personal correspondence, 1939-1993, correspondence between parties other than Emyr Humphreys, 1930-1993, and correspondence relating directly to his work, 1942-1994, and his interests, such as the arts and politics, including papers relating to Plaid Cymru and Gymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, 1956-1992; volumes, published and unpublished, [1946]x1991; short stories, in manuscript and typescript form, together with some poems and scripts and unidentified prose, 1937x1981; articles, reviews, adjudications and lectures, c. 1949x1993; radio and television scripts, including scripts containing references to Emyr Humphreys, with contributions by him and reviews of his work, 1946xc. 1993; poems, 1936xc. 1993; together with miscellaneous items, which include a file of official publications, circulars, memoranda and related papers (c. 1945-1946) relating to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in Italy, and Welsh and English newspaper cuttings, 1908-1990.
Additional papers, 1882-2019, were received in February 2022, comprising correspondence, 1929-2019; papers relating to novels and prose works by Emyr Humphreys and others, 1931-2017; papers relating to collections of poetry by Emyr Humphreys, 1902-2019, published and unpublished; notebooks and papers, [?1938x?1948]-2014, relating to collections of short stories by Emyr Humphreys, published and unpublished; scripts for stage and television and related papers, 1882-2010; administrative papers, 1943-2009; articles, lectures, and essays by Emyr Humphreys and others, 1938-2019; published items, 1917-2019, collected by and relating to the works of Emyr Humphreys, including cuttings and magazines; notebooks and papers, 1906-1966, of the Rev. Griffith Jones, Llanwnda; and other miscellaneous items and papers kept and collected by Emyr Humphreys, 1922-2013.

Poems, essays and other prose items written by Eliza Carmarthen (1825-1872), i.e. Eliza Phillipps Williams, Carmarthen, who married (1) the Rev. John Saunders Hughes and (2) the Rev. Thomas Johns.
The volume contains short essays and thoughts on Scriptural and other subjects, two short stories entitled 'I wish to be happy' and 'The Dying Student' and a large number of hymns and poems, mostly in English. Also included are two poems in English by Eliza's father John Williams, with a Welsh translation of one of them, and silhouettes by the late Miss Aldrit, Highbury Hall, Weston-super-Mare, and Mrs Johns.

Notebooks and other papers of Dr Douglas Houston, including drafts of poems, notes, diary entries, correspondence and drafts of articles.

1988-1995 purchases:
Literary, editorial and personal correspondence, draft and unpublished poetry, short stories and other works, and miscellaneous papers, 1955-1995; unpublished short stories and articles, articles and essays, reviews, lectures, plays, broadcasts, ghost-writing, miscellaneous prose, and editorials.

October 2000 purchase:
Papers, mainly of a literary nature, of the poet, writer and physician Dannie Abse, comprising material relating to the composition and publication of poetry anthologies and of prose works, including autobiography, novels and anthologies, and to plays and play anthologies; draft and published articles and reviews by Abse, with related correspondence; material relating to Abse's many poetry/prose readings, talks, lectures and workshops; a significant amount of correspondence, largely comprising letters to Abse from Anglo-Welsh, English and American writers; material relating to Abse's television appearances and his contributions to radio programmes and to sound and video recordings; notebook; and miscellaneous items, both relating to Dannie Abse and those of a more general nature.
Together with a small number of papers of or relating to Abse's wife, the writer and art historian Joan Abse.
See Annual Report 1987-88, p. 61, 1992-93, p. 59, 1994-95, p. 59.

January 2005 purchase:
Papers of or relating to poet, writer, playwright and physician Dannie Abse, comprising draft and proof poetry and prose (including plays) and material relating to published poetry and prose works by Dannie Abse; material relating to readings, talks, lectures and workshops presented/co-presented by Dannie Abse; material relating to Dannie Abse's participation in radio and television programmes and in sound and video recordings; material relating to exhibitions showcasing Dannie Abse and his work; printed posters featuring poetry by Dannie Abse or which advertise events featuring Abse; material relating to Joseph Cohen's work The Poetry of Dannie Abse: critical essays and reminiscences (Robson Books, 1983); notebooks of Dannie Abse, containing draft poetry and prose dating from the 1940s onwards; and miscellaneous items, some with direct reference to Dannie Abse and others of more general interest.
Together with a few papers of Joan Abse, wife of Dannie Abse, comprising material relating to Letters from Wales (Seren Books, 2000), edited by Joan Abse, and correspondence to/from Joan Abse. Much of Dannie Abse's correspondence is also addressed to Joan Abse.

December 2022 purchase:
Papers, mostly relating to the literary career of poet, writer and physician Dannie Abse, comprising poetry, prose, plays, articles and reviews, diaries and notebooks, correspondence, accounts and press cuttings. Together with papers of or relating to Abse's wife, the writer and art historian Joan Abse.

Papers of Charles Davies, including scrapbooks, 1880s, personal and family papers, 1880s-1950s, academic notes, [c.1918]-1953], correspondence, 1918-1953, personal journals, [?1920s]-1940s, literary papers, [c.1920]-1953, printed material, [1920s]-[1940s], testimonials, 1920-1947, financial papers, 1924-1953, and papers of Dr Constance Bullock-Davies, including school and college notes, [1910s]-[1920s], manuscript drafts of short stories, poems and essays, [1920s]-[1930s], testimonials, 1921-1936, correspondence, 1925-1967, and household accounts, 1931-1934.

Papers of Alun Lewis, 1919-1996, including family correspondence and letters from Robert Graves; autograph and typescript copies of published and unpublished poems; typescript copies of published and unpublished prose; personalia; an unpublished autobiographical novella of college life; memorial tributes to Alun Lewis in poetry form; and notebooks containing poetry and other writings by him.