Fonds GB 0210 WELBAS - Welsh Baseball Archive,

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0210 WELBAS

Title

Welsh Baseball Archive,

Date(s)

  • 1892-2014 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

57 large boxes & 2 small boxes (1.671 cubic metres).

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The South Wales Baseball Association was established in 1892, when its predecessor, replaced the word ‘rounders’ with ‘baseball’, due to changes in the game. Later, in 1912, the Association adopted the name Welsh Baseball Association and assumed responsibility for all games and clubs, which were arranged into 2 sections: the Monmouthshire League and the Glamorgan Section.

In 1921 the present Welsh Baseball Union was founded when the Association changed its name. By then 60 clubs and 1,400 players were registered with the Union. A Welsh league was created, comprising the main clubs and which was divided into two divisions: the Monmouthshire Association and the Cardiff and District League. Each league was independent and was responsible for its own business, although they remained accountable to and had representation on the Council of the Welsh Baseball Union.

1927 saw the establishment of the International Baseball Board of England and Wales, which was formed in order to deal with the laws of the game. Following this standardised rules and a unified rule book were developed.

The first international game between England and Wales was played in 1908, followed by another in 1914, and after [1920], apart from the war years, became an annual fixture.

Further developments that contributed to maintaining the game’s popularity and development include the establishment of the Cardiff Schools Baseball Association and the Cardiff and District Ladies League in 1922 and the formation of the Newport Schools League in 1923. Baseball’s popularity was at its peak in the 1930s but despite its popularity in some areas, the game never gained a following beyond Cardiff and Newport in South Wales and Liverpool in Northwest England.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Donated by Mr Ken Gough, Cwmbran, January 2016; $e 99632737502419.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of the Welsh Baseball Association, 1892-2014, relating to matches, the game in general in Wales, clubs, players and teams, including ladies teams and youth teams, comprising items such as programmes, yearbooks, fixture lists, cuttings, articles, score books and scoring cards, handbooks, rules and official laws, photographs, biographies, correspondence, minutes and minute books, diamond drawings, accounts and financial reports, newsletters, statistical information, league tables and results, together with draft and proof copies of the magazine Around the Bases.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Duplicates have been removed otherwise all records donated to the National Library of Wales have been retained.

Accruals

Accruals are not expected.

System of arrangement

Arranged at NLW into 27 series: Master copies; Player profiles: Full Internationals Wales; Player profiles: B Internationals Wales; Player profiles: Youth and Under 14 Internationals Wales; Player profiles: Full Internationals England; Baseball personalities; Player statistics and information; Club histories; Names to faces; Spare photos; Match programmes; League tables and results; Score books and sheets; Around the Bases; Handbooks, yearbooks and fixtures; Matches and tournaments; Cups and trophies; International games' information; Schools; Youth baseball; Referees; Welsh Ladies Baseball League; Minutes books and typed minutes: various committees; History of the game and general information; Press cuttings; Photographs and negatives; and Miscellaneous administrative and general 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 regulations apply

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Note

Title supplied from contents of fonds.

Alternative identifier(s)

Alma system control number

99632737502419

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name 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

Draft

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

May 2016

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Welsh Baseball Archive; ‘Poor Man’s Cricket’:
Baseball, Class and Communityin South Wales, c. 1880-1950, Martin Johnes viewed on: http://www.welshbaseball.co.uk/history/history/journal/#Cricket, January 2017.

Archivist's note

Compiled by Nia Wyn Dafydd

Accession area

Related subjects

Related people and organizations

Related genres

Related places