Rev. William Phillips Papers

The papers consist of :

• Essays and articles composed for Eisteddfod competitions or published in journals or newspapers such as theRhos Herald, Y Goleuad, Y Traethodydd and Y Drysorfa. An array of subjects are covered, for example, religion and psychology, coal mining in north Wales, John Puleston, the hymns of Pantycelyn and Elfed, similes in the work of T. Gwynn Jones and R. Williams Parry, Dr John Charles Davies of Rhosllannerchrugog, preaching in Wales, life in Wales between 1890-1914, Dr Edward Greenly, Billy Graham and Rev. John Williams of Brynsiencyn.
• Several works concentrate on the birth place of William Phillips - Rhosllannerchrugog in Denbighshire. These essays and articles touch upon such topics as street games, nicknames, the influence of Judaism on personal names, old industries, dialect and idioms, memoirs of a native, old shops, field and street names.
• A ballad entitled Sali Ball yn Ffair y Rhos.
• An autobiography, 1880-1958.
• A diary kept by William Phillips whilst visiting San Francisco in 1914-1915 which continues up until 1925.
• 2 files of letters from various correspondents, 1916-1968.
• Notebooks whilst studying Welsh at the University College of North Wales, 1945-1946 as well as notes from various publications which also contain financial details regarding the editing of Y Blwyddiadur and Y Swyddiadur, 1956-1966.
• Indices to several publications, including Ysgrifau Beiriniadol, volume II and Y Blwyddiadur from 1957-1960.
• Sermon notes, a biblical dictionary, illustrations to the Calvinist Methodist hymnbook and bible, similes in the hymns in the Common Prayer Book and the bible.
• Notes of sermons held at Capel Mawr, Rhosllannerchrugog, Denbighshire, 1902.

Rev. William Phillips arrived in Bangor to serve as the Minister of Hirael Church as the second world war was breaking out. Born in Rhosllannerchrugog, Denbighshire in 1880 he worked as a miner until the age of 26. He then went into the Ministry and received a calling from the United States where he served at churches in Johnstown and Wales, Wisconsin. He returned to Wales in 1915 and married Elizabeth Jane Jones of Liverpool in the following year. He retired in 1945 but remained prolific, competing in Eisteddfod competitions, contributing to the journal, Y Goleuad and receiving an M.A. in 1947. He died in 1969.

He is the author of several publications including, Bywyd a gwaith John Williams, Rhos. Awdur yr oraclau bywiol (1947) and Rhos-llannerch-rugog : atgofion (1955).

Papers were received at different occasions and as a result have been catalogued separately and incorporated into the General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts

Open to all users.

Items 31391-31397 donated by Mrs Megan Wyn Phillips of Gambier Terrace, Bangor.

Description compiled by Elen Wyn Hughes in June 2002 and amended in March 2004.

Item level typescript catalogues are available at the Archives Department of the University of Wales Bangor. Reference numbers : General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts 7035, 8222, 9764-9, 10208, 10249, 10481-2, 10489-90, 11600, 11790, 13538-9, 13554, 13563, 13571, 13943, 13947-52, 14102, 14819, 14822, 14823, 14828, 14929, 15381, 15421, 15744, 16429-30, 16517, 16527, 16529, 16539-41, 16670, 21251-62, 23099-103, 31391-7

Usual copyright conditions apply. Reprographics are made at the discretion of the Archivist.

Also held at the Archives Department of the University of Wales are the Hirael (C.M.) Chapel Records which contain some items of relevance to Rev. William Phillips.