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
- Awdlau Cynddelw, Breuddwyd Pawl, &c. (Peniarth MS 3)
- Fragments of Branwen, Manawydan and Geraint ap Erbin (Peniarth MS 6)
- Ystoria Charlymaen (Peniarth MS 8)
- Ystoria Charlymaen, &c. (Peniarth MS 10)
- Historia Gruffudd fab Cynan and natural treatise (Peniarth MS 17)
- Fragment of Brut y Brenhinedd (Peniarth MS 24)
- Proffwydoliaethau, astroleg a barddoniaeth (Peniarth MS 26)
- Llyfr Colan (Peniarth MS 30)
- Barddoniaeth Lewys Glyn Cothi (Peniarth MS 70)
- Barddoniaeth (Peniarth MS 71)
- Barddoniaeth (Peniarth MS 73)
- Pedigrees (Peniarth MS 74)
- Barddoniaeth Morgan Elfel (Peniarth MS 79)
- Barddoniaeth (Peniarth MS 81)
- Barddoniaeth Hywel Cilan (Peniarth MS 85)
- Barddoniaeth (Peniarth MS 87)
- Cynghorau Catwn Ddoeth (Peniarth MS 88)
- Cywyddau John [Siôn] Phylip (Peniarth MS 89)
- Barddoniaeth Siôn Cain (Peniarth MS 90)
- Documents relating to the abbeys of Valle Crucis and Cymer (Peniarth MS 208)
- Sir Kenelm Digby (Peniarth MS 210)
- Tadogolion Eiriau dau Sillafog (Peniarth MS 303)
- Mathau o lythrennau (Peniarth MS 307)
- Secretum secretorum, etc. (Peniarth MS 339)
- A diary and a letter book (Peniarth MS 416 ii)
- A diary and a letter book (Peniarth MS 416 vii)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521 ii)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521 v)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521 vi)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521 vii)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521viii)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521ix)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521xi)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521xii)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521xiii)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521vii)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521xiv)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521xv)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521xvii)
- Diaries and notebooks (Peniarth MS 521xviii)
- A Welsh grammar (Peniarth MS 529 ii)
- A Welsh grammar (Peniarth MS 529 iii)
Other Manuscripts
- Journal of Capt. E. Charles Cocks (Titus and Elizabeth Evans Papers: MS 54)
- On the degeneracy of words by Anthony Allen (NLW MS 15196D)
- Plasnewydd Library Catalogue (NLW MS 22980C)
- Llythyrau ymfudwyr at deulu Thomas, Pantyclochydd, Llanwenog (NLW MS 6426D)
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
- Lord Ogmore Papers 54: Investiture of the Prince of Wales
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
- Diary of Richard Jones, Llanfair (CMA 8717)
- ‘Y gymdogaeth hon’, an account of the Penllwyn district by William Sylvanus Williams, schoolmaster, Penllwyn (CMA 14917)
- A leather bound volume of Welsh and English sermons (Bala College I/769)
- Letters from Rowland Price Brees, Columbus, to his mother, brother and sisters (CMA 22297-22298)
- Letter from Rowland Price Brees, Radnor, to his brother and sister (CMA 22299)
- Letters from Rowland Price and Hugh Price Brees, to their brothers and sisters (CMA 22300-22301)
- Letters from Thomas Brice Prys Brees, Baltimore, to Anne Brees, his mother (CMA 22302-22307)
- Letter from Thomas Brice Prys Brees, Baltimore, to his brothers and sisters (CMA 22308)
- Letter from Thomas Brice Prys Brees and Jane his wife, Baltimore, to Owen Prys (CMA 22309)
- Letter from Thomas Brice Prys Brees and Jane his wife, Baltimore, to his brothers and sisters (CMA 22310)
- Letters from W. H. Breese, Granville, Newark, to Owen Prys, his uncle (CMA 22311-22312)
- Letters from Jane Prys, Baltimore, to Owen Prys, her brother-in-law (CMA 22313-22314)
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:
- A. O. Exquemelin, Historie der boecaniers, of vrybuyters van America van haar eerste beginzelen tot deze tegenwoordige tyd toe: met figuuren (1700)
- John Gill, Christmas Evans, Titus Lewis, Joseph Harris, Esponiad athrawiaethol ac ymarferol, ar y Testament Newydd, (1810) Cyf. 1, Cyf. 2
- Azariah Shadrach, Udgorn y Jubili yn cyhoeddi rhyddid i’r Hottentotiaid … (1818)
- Corps d’observations de la Société d’Agriculture, de Commerce & des Arts, établie par les États de Bretagne : années 1757 & 1758, (1760)
- Valentin et Orson, (1515)
- William Buchan, Cydymaith mamau a mammaethod, a chyfaill plant … (1825-1865)
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, Johannes Sturm, Denys Lambin, Henri Estienne, Marci Tullii Ciceronis epistolarum libri IV (1686)
- A. O. Exquemelin, Histoire des avanturiers qui se sont signalez dans les Indes … (1688), Vol. 1, Vol. 2
Biographies
More biographies have also been added to the catalogue, including titles such as:
- Ann Griffiths, Morris Davies, W. Caledfryn Williams, Cofiant Ann Griffiths, gynt o Dolwar Fechan, Llanfihangel yn Ngwynfa, Swydd Drefaldwyn: ynghyd a’i llythyrau a’i hymnau (1908)
- David Hooper, A Welshman in India. A record of the life of Thomas Evans, missionary (1908)
- Benjamin Ward Richardson, William Gilbert, the first electrician (1890)
- J James, William Tomos Benja: cymeriad hynod a adwaenwn (1911)
- Rees Jenkin Jones, Niclas Shams: un o gymeriadau hynod Hen Dy Cwrdd, Aberdar … (1913)
- T. Mardy Rees, The heroes of 1662 : a pamphlet containing the chief reasons of the two thousand ejected clergy for refusing to obey the Act of Uniformity, 1662 (1912)
- T. D. Jones, Home life of the Welsh colliers (1881)
- John Wolfe Barry, Notes on Barry genealogy in England and Wales (1906)
- Robert G Williams, Thrilling experience of the Welsh evangelist, R.G. Williams, reformed drunkard and gambler (1896)
- John Roberts, Fy merch, fy chwiorydd, a’m gwraig (1866)
- John Jones, From plough-boy to skipper: being the reminiscences of an experience of nearly 40 years at sea in all parts of the world (1910)
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
- Allotment on Mold Mountain [ca. 1810] (Peniarth Map 19)
- Estate in Mold [ca. 1840] (Map 7344)
- Trefriw in Mold [1826] (Map 7345)
- Bathafarn Sheepwalk (1793) (Map 7338)
- Chirk Castle Estate Records: F 11578
- Coed Coch and Trovarth Estate Records: 2471 (1772)
- Coed Coch and Trovarth Estate Records: 3298 (1770)
- Smallwood Collection of Deeds and Papers: 40 (1763)
- Smallwood Collection of Deeds and Papers: 43 (1783)
Dictionary of Welsh Biography
21 new articles have been added to the website:
- Ceridwen Lloyd Davies (1900 – 1983), musician and lecturer
- Windsor Davies (1930 – 2019), actor
- Beatrice Green (1894 – 1927), political activist
- Edward George Hartmann (1912 – 1995), historian and promoter of Welsh-American relations
- Julian Stephen Alfred Hodge (1904 – 2004), financier
- Benjamin Thomas Hopkins (1897 – 1981), farmer and poet
- Elizabeth Anne Howe (1959 – 2019), ecologist
- Eldra Mary Jarman (1917 – 2000), harpist and author
- Elizabeth May Watkin Jones (1907 – 1965), teacher and campaigner
- Janet Ellen Lewis (1900 – 1979), novelist, poet and journalist
- Richard Alan Morton (1899 – 1977), biochemist
- William David Ormsby-Gore (1918 – 1985), politician, diplomat, media impresario
- David Rees (1918 – 2013), mathematician
- Paul Leroy Robeson (1898 – 1976), actor, singer and political activist
- Frances Batty Shand (c.1815 – 1885), charity worker
- Enrico Alphonso Stennett (1926 – 2011), race relations activist, businessman, dancer
- Hilda Campbell Vaughan (1892 – 1985), author
- Harri Webb (1920 – 1994), librarian and poet
- Evan James Williams (1903 – 1945), physicist
- Frances (Fanny) Williams (?1760 – c.1801), convict and Australian settler
- Griffith Vaughan Williams (1940 – 2010), journalist and gay activist
Don’t forget to follow the Dictionary of Welsh Biography’s Twitter account: @WelshBiography
Morfudd Nia Jones
Digital Content Officer
Category: Article