Jack Edwards manuscripts

Letters from Jack Edwards in Cincinnati, Ohio, to his family, 1880-1887, relating family matters, his work and singing engagements and news of the Welsh community in Cincinnati; programme cards of various concerts and festivals, 1882-1885; music notebooks of Jack Edwards, Edward Edwards and others, [19th century]-[early 20th century]; account and memoranda books of Edward Edwards' bookselling and binding business, 1854-1895; correspondence of Edward and Jack Edwards, including some in Esperanto, mainly on musical and literary matters, 1881-1936; and other original manuscripts of Jack Edwards, [before 1942].

Jack Edwards (1853-1942) was a bookseller and singer. Born in Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, he worked in the telegraph department of the Post Office there until 1880, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Here he stayed with his brother Ed and worked for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, for a wholesale drug store, and as a music teacher. He spent a great deal of his time singing, as a soloist and in various choirs. During this time he corresponded with his father, Edward Edwards ('Pencerdd Ceredigion', 1816-1897), bookseller, and his sisters in Aberystwyth; he also corresponded with many musicians in Wales. In 1887, he returned home and took over his father's bookselling business in Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth. He developed a great interest in the Esperanto language. He died in 1942.

The letters are NLW MS 20995E, arranged chronologically. The other papers and manuscripts are NLW MSS 14741-14796.

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Donated to the National Library of Wales by Miss Elizabeth Richards, Aberystwyth, 1941-2.

Jack Edwards (1853-1942) was a bookseller and singer. Born in Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, he worked in the telegraph department of the Post Office there until 1880, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Here he stayed with his brother Ed and worked for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, for a wholesale drug store, and as a music teacher. He spent a great deal of his time singing, as a soloist and in various choirs. During this time he corresponded with his father, Edward Edwards ('Pencerdd Ceredigion', 1816-1897), bookseller, and his sisters in Aberystwyth; he also corresponded with many musicians in Wales. In 1887, he returned home and took over his father's bookselling business in Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth. He developed a great interest in the Esperanto language. He died in 1942.

Title supplied from contents of fonds. The archive contains earlier material relating to Edwards Edwards, Jack's father, and his business.

A hard copy of the catalogue 'Letters of Jack Edwards From America, 1880-7', covering NLW MS 20995E, is available at the National Library of Wales. The remaining manuscripts are uncatalogued.

February 2003

Compiled by Rhys Jones for the ANW project. The following source was used to compile this description: NLW, Schedule of Letters of Jack Edwards From America, 1880-7; National Library of Wales, Annual Report, 1941-2.

Usual copyright regulations apply

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

Accruals are not expected.

Edwards' collection of printed books, mainly concerning Esperanto and music, donated as part of the archive, were transferred to the Department of Printed Books.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales