Casgliad W. D. Williams

Papers of W. D. Williams, 1805-1982, including letters, 1867, [c. 1925]-1982; poetry in Welsh and English by WDW and others, 1950-1980; songs, [c. 1969]-1979; miscellaneous prose, [1907]-1981; radio scripts, 1953-1969; papers relating to stage performances, 1931-1972; notes and essays, [1977]-[1980]; newspaper cuttings, 1939-1977; miscellaneous religious material, 1924-[1978], and a Bible, 1805; annual reports of Park Road Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Barmouth, 1901-1967; medals and other artefacts, 1939-1946; photographs, postcards and slides, [c. 1907]-1965; booklets and other items concerning Merionethshire history and Menai Bridge, 1964-1976; ephemera, 1929-1980; papers relating to John Cowper Powys and an Owain Glyndwr pageant, 1939-1969; and papers of and relating to Robert Owen (1858-1885), 1870-1917, including letters, poetry, notes and newspaper cuttings.

William David Williams (1900-1985) was a poet and schoolmaster. He was born near Corwen, Merionethshire, and educated at the University College of North Wales, Bangor. After spending some time living in Sheffield, Yorkshire, he became a teacher in Barmouth, Merionethshire, retiring in 1961. As an accomplished poet, he won the Chair at the 1965 National Eisteddfod with the ode 'Yr Ymchwil'. He published Adlais Odlau (Aberystwyth, 1939), Cerddi'r Hogiau (Llandybie, 1941), Cân ac Englyn (Aberystwyth, 1951), Camp a Rhemp (Wrexham, 1960) and Rhyw Bwt o Lawr y Betws (Llandysul, 1975). He also wrote for radio and the stage. He moved to Bala, Merionethshire, in 1977, and died there in 1985. He collected some papers of Robert Owen ('Bardd y Môr', 1858-1885), a schoolmaster and poet from Llwyn Gloddaeth, Barmouth, who emigrated to Australia in 1879 and died there in 1885.

Arranged by deposit into the following: letters; poetry; stage performances; radio scripts; notes and essays; songs; religion; miscellaneous (part I); letters; poems and songs; prose; stage performances; newspaper cuttings; John Cowper Powys and the Owain Glyndwr pageant; miscellaneous; Robert Owen, 'Bardd y Mor', papers (part II).

No restrictions

Compiled by Rhys Jones for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Meirionnydd Archives, Casgliad W. D. Williams, rhestr (catalogue); Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940 (London, 1959); Stephens, Meic, Oxford Companion to the Literature of Wales (Oxford, 1986).

Hard copies of the catalogue are available at Meirionnydd Archives and the National Library of Wales.

Usual copyright regulations apply

All records have been retained

Accruals are not expected