J. D. Richards Manuscripts,

Papers, [1897x1927], from the library of John Dyer Richards. They include autograph poetry by Richards, many of which was written for competition at eisteddfodau; autograph sermon notes; material relating to Ellis Humphrey Evans ('Hedd Wyn') comprising transcripts by Richards of letters and poetry, 1917, by 'Hedd Wyn' and an essay and biographical notes on 'Hedd Wyn'; together with an autograph letter, 1917, from R. Williams Parry.

John Dyer Richards, Congregational minister and eisteddfodwr, was born near Saron, Carmarthenshire to a cultured and devoutly Independent family. His father died when he was thirteen years old and Richards went to work in one of the local coal mines. He began preaching at Gellimanwydd chapel, Ammanford in May 1896 and around this time began also writing poetry and prose, his early poetical writings appearing in the periodical Tarian y Gweithiwr. A little later he attended Gwynfryn School in Ammanford, during which time he contributed essays and articles to the Independent periodical Y Diwygiwr. In 1899 Richards enrolled as a student at Brecon Theological College and, in August 1903, was ordained minister at Trawsfynydd. His period at Trawsfynydd was probably the highlight of Richards's career as a poet and eisteddfodwr and it was here that he met the poet Ellis Humphrey Evans ('Hedd Wyn'), who became a close friend. He thereafter served as minister at Bedlinog from 1917 to 1922 and at Maen-y-groes and Nanternis from 1922 until his death in 1927. Richards was a typical product of the literary chapel-going community in which he grew up. He won several eisteddfodic chairs, including Blaenau Ffestiniog in 1909, Corwen and London in 1913 and Ammanford in 1922.

Arranged according to NLW MSS reference numbers: NLW MSS 10314-10324.

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Mrs Griffith Evans; Cardiff; Presentation; 1935

John Dyer Richards, Congregational minister and eisteddfodwr, was born near Saron, Carmarthenshire to a cultured and devoutly Independent family. His father died when he was thirteen years old and Richards went to work in one of the local coal mines. He began preaching at Gellimanwydd chapel, Ammanford in May 1896 and around this time began also writing poetry and prose, his early poetical writings appearing in the periodical Tarian y Gweithiwr. A little later he attended Gwynfryn School in Ammanford, during which time he contributed essays and articles to the Independent periodical Y Diwygiwr. In 1899 Richards enrolled as a student at Brecon Theological College and, in August 1903, was ordained minister at Trawsfynydd. His period at Trawsfynydd was probably the highlight of Richards's career as a poet and eisteddfodwr and it was here that he met the poet Ellis Humphrey Evans ('Hedd Wyn'), who became a close friend. He thereafter served as minister at Bedlinog from 1917 to 1922 and at Maen-y-groes and Nanternis from 1922 until his death in 1927. Richards was a typical product of the literary chapel-going community in which he grew up. He won several eisteddfodic chairs, including Blaenau Ffestiniog in 1909, Corwen and London in 1913 and Ammanford in 1922.

Title based on contents.

Formerly J. D. Richards MSS 1-11.

Preferred citation: NLW MSS 10314-10324.

Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume III (Aberystwyth, 1961), pp. 212-213.

September 2008 & June 2011.

Description compiled by Bethan Ifan for the retrospective conversion project of NLW MSS, and revised by Bethan Ifan. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume III (Aberystwyth, 1961); NLW Full Catalogue on-line; The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941-1970 (London, 2001); Barddas No. 200/201 (Dec./Jan. 1993/4), pp. 6-9;

Usual copyright laws apply.

See Huw Walters, John Dyer Richards a'i gysylltiadau in Barddas 200/201 (Dec./Jan. 1993/94), pp. 6-9, which, as well as outlining Richards's literary merits, mentions his friendship with 'Hedd Wyn'.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales