Papers of Llew Tegid

The collection consists of rough notes, lecture notes and newspaper cuttings on various subjects relating to folk lore, traditions and customs. Also included are folk song lyrics and collections of old folk songs together with short stories and sketches. There are a few Eisteddfod bardic compositions by Llew Tegid himself and an album of bardic works by himself and others, including Isallt.

Scrapbooks and note books of material relating to Bangor and North Wales in general and relating to the University College of North Wales Permanent Buildings Fund are to be found. Also, notes on sermons, the apparatus required by an Eisteddfod conductor and correspondence from such people as Sir O.M. Edwards and Sir Harry Reichel. In the hand of Llew Tegid there are details regarding Ebenezer Congregational Church, Bangor.

Lewis Davies Jones, better known by his bardic name, Llew Tegid, was born on 3 November 1851 near Bala, Merionethshire. He was educated at the British School in Bala and after a period as a pupil-teacher he was accepted by the Normal College in Bangor, Caernarfonshire. He taught at Cefnfaes school, Bethesda, Caernarfonshire and then in 1875 became the headmaster of Garth school, Bangor where he worked for over a quarter of a century. Following his retirement he started on the work of collecting money towards the erection of new buildings for the University College of North Wales and raised many thousands - he was the Organising Secretary to the UCNW Permanent Buildings Fund.

He was a zealous supporter of the National Eisteddfod of Wales and is remembered as an Eisteddfod conductor. He was also associated with the Welsh Folk-Song Society and wrote the Welsh words of numerous folk songs. He was considered to be an expert on folk songs and folk lore.

Llew Tegid married Elizabeth, daughter of John Thomas of Plas Madog near Bala and had two sons and three daughters. He died in 1928 and is buried at Glanadda cemetery, Bangor.

The papers of Llew Tegid were received by the Department at different times and catalogued as they were received, as a result, they are scattered throughout the General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts. There is no apparent system of arrangement.

Open to all users.

Description compiled by Elen Wyn Hughes, July 2001.

An item level typescript catalogue is available at the Department of Manuscripts of the University of Wales Bangor. Reference numbers : General Collection of Bangor Manucripts : 828-857, 943-978, 1877, 1911, 2617-2618, 3136-3137.

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