D. R. Hughes Papers,

Letters, 1902-1947, to D. R. Hughes; letters of literary interest, 1835-1902, collected by D. R. Hughes; material relating to the National Eisteddfod, 1881-1944, including poetry, 1881-1936; miscellaneous periodicals and books, 1904-1945; manuscript and newspaper cuttings belonging to the Rev. John Jones, Talysarn, Sir John H. Puleston and T. R. Roberts, [1857x1940].

David Rowland Hughes, 'Myfyr Eifion' (1874-1953), was a National Eisteddfod secretary. He was born in Holywell, Flintshire, and attended school in Porthmadog and Bangor, both in Caernarfonshire, and Llandudno Collegiate School (1888-1891). He went to the University Colleges of Wales in Bangor (1891-1892) and Aberystwyth, but did not complete his degree. After teaching in Llandudno for a year, he went to London in 1894, where he stayed for forty-five years, until he retired from the United Dairies Ltd, and moved to Colwyn Bay. He became a leading figure among the London Welsh, contributing to many different activities, corresponding with writers, and collecting historical and literary materials. He was the joint secretary of the London National Eisteddfod of 1909, and became secretary of the National Eisteddfod Association, 1935-1936, and as joint secretary, 1937-1947, organised the Eisteddfod during the difficult war years. He married Maggie Ellis of London, in 1903, and they had three daughters. He died 29 August 1953 and was buried at Bron-y-nant Cemetery, Colwyn Bay.

Arranged broadly into the following: newspaper cuttings; letters; and eisteddfod-related material.

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Donated by Mr W. Emyr Williams, Ll.B., Wrexham, 1955.

David Rowland Hughes, 'Myfyr Eifion' (1874-1953), was a National Eisteddfod secretary. He was born in Holywell, Flintshire, and attended school in Porthmadog and Bangor, both in Caernarfonshire, and Llandudno Collegiate School (1888-1891). He went to the University Colleges of Wales in Bangor (1891-1892) and Aberystwyth, but did not complete his degree. After teaching in Llandudno for a year, he went to London in 1894, where he stayed for forty-five years, until he retired from the United Dairies Ltd, and moved to Colwyn Bay. He became a leading figure among the London Welsh, contributing to many different activities, corresponding with writers, and collecting historical and literary materials. He was the joint secretary of the London National Eisteddfod of 1909, and became secretary of the National Eisteddfod Association, 1935-1936, and as joint secretary, 1937-1947, organised the Eisteddfod during the difficult war years. He married Maggie Ellis of London, in 1903, and they had three daughters. He died 29 August 1953 and was buried at Bron-y-nant Cemetery, Colwyn Bay.

Title supplied from contents of fonds. Some earlier material was collected by D. R. Hughes. A letter from D. R. Hughes' widow to the donor postdates his death.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue is available on-line.

February 2003

Compiled by Rhys Jones for the ANW project. The following sources were used to compile this description: NLW, Schedule of Manuscripts from the library of Mr D. R. Hughes, MA, London and Old Colwyn; Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941-1970 (London, 2001).

The usual copyright regulations apply.

Action: All records donated to the National Library of Wales have been retained..

The papers were given to the donor by the widow of D. R. Hughes in October 1955.

Accruals are not expected.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales