Alfred T. Davies Papers,

Papers of Alfred T. Davies, 1875-1965, including family and personal correspondence, 1887-1949; papers relating to the British Prisoners of War Book Scheme, 1914-1918; and papers relating to his works, including Student captives, I (1917), Student captives, II, Robert Owen... a memoir (1948), The Lloyd George I knew (1948), and intended books Light through prison bars and Owned of God: or Moody and Sankey, 1875 and 1883: some memoirs and a tribute, with a Welsh translation by Rev. E. K. Jones, 1945. Also three bound volumes of the printed magazine produced by civilian prisoners at Ruhleben Camp near Berlin.

Sir Alfred Thomas Davies (1861-1949) received his university education in Aberystwyth and later became a solicitor in Liverpool. He was permanent secretary to the Welsh department of the Board of Education from its establishment in 1907 until 1925. During the 1914-18 war he was instrumental in the establishment of the British Prisoners of War Book Scheme (Educational), a project designed to provide educational books to students in prisoners' camps to enable them to continue their studies and even to acquire professional and academic qualifications. He was the author of Student captives: an account of the work of the British prisoners of war book scheme (educational) (1917), Student captives: a further account of the work of the British prisoners of war book scheme (educational) (1918), Light through prison bars: some war-time adventures in education, The Lloyd George I knew (1948), and Robert Owen (1771-1858): pioneer, social reformer and philanthropist: a memoir (1948).

Arranged into the following: correspondence folders; press-cuttings, collection of pamphlets and lectures, speeches, and miscellaneous.

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Donated by the sons of Alfred T. Davies in two groups: by A. Mervyn Davies of Connecticut, USA, in 1971 (Annual report 1971-72, pp. 36-7), and by Rev. Alfred T. Davies of Ohio, USA, in 1981 (Annual reports 1981-82, p. 47).

Sir Alfred Thomas Davies (1861-1949) received his university education in Aberystwyth and later became a solicitor in Liverpool. He was permanent secretary to the Welsh department of the Board of Education from its establishment in 1907 until 1925. During the 1914-18 war he was instrumental in the establishment of the British Prisoners of War Book Scheme (Educational), a project designed to provide educational books to students in prisoners' camps to enable them to continue their studies and even to acquire professional and academic qualifications. He was the author of Student captives: an account of the work of the British prisoners of war book scheme (educational) (1917), Student captives: a further account of the work of the British prisoners of war book scheme (educational) (1918), Light through prison bars: some war-time adventures in education, The Lloyd George I knew (1948), and Robert Owen (1771-1858): pioneer, social reformer and philanthropist: a memoir (1948).

Title based on contents of fonds.

The 1971 group remains uncatalogued. A hard copy of the catalogue of the 1981 group is available in Minor Lists and Summaries 1982, pp. 9-10, at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue can be accessed online.

January 2004.

Compiled by Annette Strauch for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Minor Lists and Summaries, 1982; Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941-1970 (London, 2001);

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Action: All records have been retained..

Accruals are not expected.

A copy of Light through prison bars, a publication-ready typescript of The British prisoners of war book scheme (educational), and a dossier of material used in the operation of the scheme during the war of 1914-1918, deposited by Sir Alfred T. Davies, are held by the National Library of Wales's Department of Printed Books (Annual report, 1940-41, p. 26). Copies of Rev. Alfred Mervyn Davies's Foundation of American freedom (1955), and Presbyterian heritage (1965), part of the 1971 group, are also held by the Department of Printed Books. NLW also holds typescript copies of autobiographical work by Sir Alfred T. Davies (NLW ex 2158 and NLW Facs 925). Sir Alfred also deposited material relating to the Owen Glyndwr Memorial Institute, Glyndyfrdwy, 1931-1933 (NLW MS 16214C) and the Ceiriog Memorial Institute (NLW MS 16215D). The papers of one of his sons, A. Mervyn Davies (d. 1976), are also held by NLW.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales