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Pictures of various items from the catalogue

31 March 2023

Our digitisation work has continued behind the scenes and the following items and collections are now available to view from home on the Library’s website and/or the catalogue.

Manuscripts

Peniarth Collection

Other Manuscripts

Archives

Welsh Political Ephemera

All the items in the Welsh Political Archive collection relating to the Welsh devolution referendum campaigns in 1979 and 1997 have been digitised:

Rhodri Morgan letters

Between 1961 and 1963, Rhodri Morgan, who would later become the First Minister of Wales, studied at Harvard University in the United States of America. While he was there he wrote a series of 88 letters to his family in Swansea describing his experiences, the news, and his views on the important issues of the day. The letters show Rhodri Morgan developing his political thinking and the experiences that influenced him.

  • Letters from Rhodri Morgan, 1961-1963 (Papurau Prys Morgan: File 25)
  • Letters from Rhodri Morgan, 1961-1963 (Papurau Prys Morgan: File 26)
  • Letters from Rhodri Morgan, 1961-1963 (Papurau Prys Morgan: File 27)

Lord Ogmore Papers

Typescript of ‘The dedication of a prince’ by Lord Ogmore giving an account of the investiture of Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in 1969. Lord Ogmore was a member of the organising committee for the investiture and the typescript contains 12 chapters reporting on the different aspects of the event including the work of the organising committee; preparations and exercises, opposition, description of the day and subsequent events.

Calvinistic Methodist Archive

Printed Material

Over 800 items from the print collection have been made available on the main catalogue, including works such as Libri Walliae (Vol. I, Vol. II and Supplement) and a selection of early printed items purchased by or recently donated to the Library, for example:

Biographies

More biographies have also been added to the catalogue, including titles such as:

Maps and Graphic Material

Photographic collections

Llyfrau Ffoto 6803 X ‘Souvenirs of Adelina Patti‘

Adelina Patti (1843-1919) was one of the greatest nineteenth-century opera stars. This elaborately decorated album is a piece of classic Victoriana, contains a collection of photographs documenting the career of Adelina Patti by leading photographers of the day in Paris and London, showing the soprano in various operas at the height of her fame during the 1860s.

Don Griffiths 1964 Collection

Don Griffiths was a professional photographer in Newtown employed by the Montgomeryshire Express and associated publications. He was taking pictures from Rhyl to Brecon between the 1960s and the 1990s. Many of the items are of considerable interest both locally and wider afield as they represent a snapshot of life in the communities of Montgomeryshire during an era of sociological and technological change. The assignments include local personalities (e.g. Rhiannon Jones, Cwmtrefarlo & Trixie), social (e.g. Newtown Carnival; Llanidloes “Miss Valentine”; Welshpool Pantomime; Christmas Cavalcade, Newtown; Twist & Shout), religious (e.g. Llanidloes Methodist Church Party; Montgomery Church Sunday School Party), cultural (e.g. Gorsedd Stones Reach Newtown; Caersws Amateur Operatic Society; Kerry Male Voice Choir) and national (e.g. Royal Welsh Show; General Election 1964) events, road accidents (e.g. Overturned Lorry nr Llangurig; Motor Accident, Buttington Bridge), schools (e.g. Gungrog Infants School; Llanfair School Eisteddfod; Machynlleth School Fire), sports (e.g. Unidentified Soccer Team) and local businesses (e.g. Wynnstay Egg Production; Welshpool Horse Mart). The work as a whole provides an overview of life in Newtown, Welshpool, Llanidloes and surrounding rural areas during the mid 1960s. This collection of around 3500 negatives represents the output of 1964.

Guy Hughes Collection

A collection of 315 black and white whole-plate negatives by Pwllheli photographer Guy Hughes dating from 1909 to ca. 1935. Subject matter includes social occasions (e.g. Roller Skate Carnival, Llanbedrog; Group In Fancy Dress outside Plas Glyn-y-Weddw; May Queen, 1913), local businesses, especially mines and quarries, banks and hotels (e.g. Crosville Motor Services Leyland Bus; Nanhoron Arms Hotel; Caernarfon Brickworks; Quarry Buildings and Terrace of Houses) and local events (e.g. Amateur Dramatics; Large Wedding Group; Children in Pierrot Costumes; Newly built Council Houses, Ffordd y Maer, Pwllheli and the opening of Pwllheli’s new railway station).

John Peris Jones Collection

97 glass negatives, the majority of views in and around Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant during the first decade of the twentieth century (e.g. Old Market Hall, Llanrhaiadr-ym-Mochnant, demolished 1901; Market Hall, Llanrhaiadr. [c.1905]; Vyrnwy Hotel & Lake; Tafarn Llaw / Hand Hotel, Llanrhaiadr-ym-Mochnant] [c.1905]). The collection also contains a few portraits of local people and groups (e.g. T. Lloyd the Harpist [c.1905]; A.B. Lewis Grocer & Provision Dealer [c.1905]; Two ladies in costumes [c.1905]) and Montgomeryshire Yeomanry marching from camp at Llanfyllin. [no.2] [c.1910]).

Hywel Harries Slides

A collection of 371 35mm mounted slides, the majority being record photos of artworks by the late artist, teacher and cartoonist Hywel Harries (1921-1990). His views of both urban and rural Wales (e.g. Pencader; Graig, Pontypridd; North Parade & Seilo, Aberystwyth; Cardiganshire Village; Cae’r Gog, Aberystwyth; Talybont, Ceredigion) remain popular, notably his more impressionistic dock scenes from South Wales (e.g. Dockside cranes; Docks; Ship in dock; Docks, Port Talbot). He also painted a small number of portraits (e.g. E.D. Jones, Librarian; T. H. Parry-Williams; E. G. Bowen). The collection also includes a small number of reference photographs of people and places.

Maps

Dictionary of Welsh Biography

21 new articles have been added to the website:

Don’t forget to follow the Dictionary of Welsh Biography’s Twitter account: @WelshBiography

Morfudd Nia Jones

Digital Content Officer

Category: Article

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