Dr Thomas Richards papers

This collection covers a wide range of material, in the form of notebooks, transcripts, articles, lecture notes and correspondence accumulated by Thomas Richards in the research and preparation of his published works on various aspects of the Puritan movement and nonconformist church history in Wales, as well as material accumulated while he was Librarian of University College of North Wales. The collection also consists of documents prepared by Richards relating to his adjudication of prose competitions at various National Eisteddfodau of Wales and material relating to a radio talk given by him on Gweirydd ap Rhys, (Robert John Pryse) the Anglesey writer and weaver.

Thomas Richards, 1878-1962, historian and essayist was born at Tal-y-bont, Cardiganshire and educated at the University of Wales, Bangor, formerly known as the University College of North Wales. He started his career as a history teacher and in 1926 was appointed to the post of Librarian at his old college, in which he remained until his retirement in 1946. In the course of his career at the University College of North Wales he continued the work begun by his predecessor Thomas Shankland in the collection and cataloguing of books and periodicals and made a major contribution to the university libraryCHapos;s establishment as one of the foremost centres of learning in Wales.

His particular research interest was nonconformist church history in Wales and his published works include A History of the Puritan Movement in Wales, 1639-53 (1920), Religious Developments in Wales, 1654-62 (1923), Wales under the Penal Code, 1662-87 (1925), Wales under the Indulgence, 1672-75 (1928), Cymru a'r Uchel Gomisiwn, (1929). He was also the author of two autobiographical volumes, Atgofion Cardi (1960) and Rhagor o Atgofion Cardi (1963) and essays and radio talks published in Rhwng y Silffoedd (1978). He edited Transactions of the Welsh Baptist Historical Society and the Journal of the Welsh Bibliographical Society, and was a member of the Board of Celtic Studies.

Material was received at different times and arranged according to subject. It has been incorporated into the General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts.

Open to all users

Description compiled by Anne Lenaghan, July 2001 and amended by Elen Wyn Simpson, March 2004.

Item level word processed list is available at the Department of Manuscripts at the University of Wales, Bangor. Reference numbers: General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts: 2649-2702, 2720, 2853, 9860, 14817, 15360-15362, 16672-16960

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