Guy Hughes Papers

Papers of the Hughes family, 1838-1972, including papers of Gwyneth Vaughan, 1838-1909, consisting of correspondence, 1893-1909; diaries, 1892-1902; newspaper cuttings, 1883-1910; papers relating to religion, 1869-1908; temperance, 1880-1897; women's issues, 1887-1899; Celtic interests, 1900-1908; Welsh literature, 1878-1909; miscellaneous, 1838-1908; papers of Guy Hughes, 1891-1946, including correspondence, 1891-1947; work diaries, 1909-1940; miscellaneous, 1891-1946; papers of Arthur Hughes, 1887-1972, consisting of correspondence, 1905-1906; newspaper cuttings, 1889-1909; research notes, 1893-1972; books, 1887-1909; miscellaneous, 1901-1908; papers of Laura Kathleen Hughes, 1866-1920, including correspondence, 1895-1919, college and teaching notes, 1904-1918; books and pamphlets, 1866-1905; miscellaneous, 1911-1920; papers of Roy Bennet Hughes, 1873-1919, consisting of correspondence, 1906-1919, notes, articles and newspaper cuttings, 1909-1919; miscellaneous papers, 1873-1919; papers relating to Pwllheli Troops Welfare Voluntary Service Canteen records, 1940-1945; and miscellaneous records, 1902-1944.

Gwyneth Vaughan, (1852-1910), christened Annie Harriet Jones, was born in Talsarnau, Merionethshire. After elementary education, she became an apprentice milliner, and worked in a shop at Clwt-y-Bont, Caernarfonshire. She married John Hughes Jones in September 1875, and they moved to London for John to complete his medical training; Jones was dropped from the family name at this point. They had four children, Arthur, Guy, Laura Kathleen and Roy Bennet. By 1893, the Hughes family had returned to Clwt y Bont. After Dr Hughes' death in 1902, Gwyneth Vaughan and the children moved to Bangor, Caernarfonshire, and then to Pwllheli, Caernarfonshire, in 1909. Gwyneth Vaughan had become well-known as a Liberal, temperance and moral campaigner; from 1898 until 1905 was secretary of the Welsh Union of Women's Liberal Associations. She worked on behalf of the British Women's Temperance Association, which established branches throughout Britain; she travelled widely, lecturing on temperance, religion and morality. Gwyneth Vaughan was a prolific contributor to the press, in English and Welsh, writing on women's rights. She was received into the Gorsedd of Bards at the Llanelli eisteddfod in 1895. At the end of her life, she published four Welsh historical novels, O Gorlannau y Defaid, Plant y Gorthrwm, Cysgodau y Blynyddoedd Gynt and Troad y Rhod. Arthur Hughes (1878-1965), eldest son of John Hughes and Gwyneth Vaughan, was educated at St David's College, Lampeter, Cardiganshire. He was a Celtic scholar and studied Welsh literature. In 1911, he emigrated to Chubut, in Patagonia, Argentina, and continued his literary and scholarly work, contributing to the Welsh paper in Patagonia 'Y Drafod'. Guy Hughes (b. 1881) lived in Bangor, Caernarfonshire, before moving to Pwllheli in 1908. He married Ethel Finn from Bromley, Essex, in 1911, and they had two children, Eric Bennet and Nevil Bennet. Guy followed a successful career as a local photographer. Laura Kathleen (1886-1920) studied Mathematics and Welsh at the University College of North Wales. She had a varied career as a secretary, library assistant, teacher and member of staff of an insurance company in Monmouth. She suffered from ill health and in 1919 was admitted to the Denbigh lunatic asylum where she died the following year. Roy (1892-1919), the youngest son, was also interested in literature and wrote several newspaper articles. He joined the army in the First World War and fought in the trenches in France; he was sent home in 1917. He then married Gwendoline Robinson from Blackburn, Lancashire, but died in 1919.

Arranged into the following: Gwyneth Vaughan papers; Guy Hughes; Arthur Hughes; Laura Kathleen Hughes; Roy Bennet Hughes; Gwyneth Vaughan additional items; Miscellaneous; Pwllheli Troops; and Gwenogfryn Evans.

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Source not recorded

Compiled by Richard Burman for the ANW project. The following source was used to compile this description: Caernarfon Record Office, Papurau Guy Hughes/ Guy Hughes Papers, catalogue.

Hard copies of the catalogue are available in Caernarfon Record Office and the National Library of Wales. Section XD/85/1 of the catalogue is available online.

Usual copyright regulations apply.

All records deposited at Caernarfon Record Office have been retained.

Accruals are not expected