Alun Oldfield-Davies Papers

Papers of Alun-Oldfield Davies, 1928-1988, relating mainly to the artist and writer David Jones, including an original water-colour inscription, 1954; photographs of inscriptions, personalised and sent as greetings cards , 1958-1961; letters from David Jones to Alun Oldfield-Davies, 1954-1962; papers concerning the fate of David Jones's manuscripts and pictures, 1971-1976; miscellaneous items including lists of works by David Jones for exhibitions, 1972-1976, a radio talk broadcast in 1954 and articles on his life and work, 1954-1988. The additional papers comprise a copy of John Morris-Jones, Penillion Omar Khayyam (Gregynog Press, 1928), formerly in the possession of Colonel Richard C. Ruck (1887-1973), containing his manuscript annotations in Persian, Welsh and English, with letters from his widow concerning the bequest of the volume to Alun Oldfield-Davies, 1973-1974; and a notebook containing reminiscences in Welsh ('Stori fy mywyd') of the Reverend Jonathan Oldfield-Davies (1876-1960), Congregationalist minister and father of Alun Oldfield-Davies.

Alun Oldfield-Davies (1905-1988) was born in Cheshire but was educated in Wales, having attended schools in the Rhondda and university at Aberystwyth. He embarked on a teaching career but also made frequent broadcasts in Welsh about current affairs. He joined the BBC in 1937 and was regional controller for Wales from 1945 to 1967. Outside his official work he was chairman of the Central Advisory Council for the Welsh Department of the Ministry of Information, president of the National Museum and of the Welsh Council for Education in World Citizenship, a member of the Welsh Arts Council and several other committees. He was made an honorary member of the Cymmrodorion and was awarded the CBE in 1955. His private interests included the life and works of the artist and writer, David Jones (1895-1974), with whom he was personally acquainted.

Arranged as follows: original water-colour inscription by David Jones; photographs of inscriptions, personalised and sent as greetings cards; letters by David Jones to Dr Oldfield-Davies; file of papers relating to the fates of D.J.'s manuscripts and pictures; miscellaneous items; a copy of Penillion Omar Khayyam; correspondence relating to its bequest to Oldfield-Davies; and the notebook of Jonathan Oldfield-Davies.

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The papers of David Jones were donated by Dr. Prys Morgan, Swansea, in December 1988.

Alun Oldfield-Davies (1905-1988) was born in Cheshire but was educated in Wales, having attended schools in the Rhondda and university at Aberystwyth. He embarked on a teaching career but also made frequent broadcasts in Welsh about current affairs. He joined the BBC in 1937 and was regional controller for Wales from 1945 to 1967. Outside his official work he was chairman of the Central Advisory Council for the Welsh Department of the Ministry of Information, president of the National Museum and of the Welsh Council for Education in World Citizenship, a member of the Welsh Arts Council and several other committees. He was made an honorary member of the Cymmrodorion and was awarded the CBE in 1955. His private interests included the life and works of the artist and writer, David Jones (1895-1974), with whom he was personally acquainted.

Title supplied from name of depositor.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available in Minor Lists and Summaries 1989, pp. 61-63, 1991, p.52 at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue can be accessed online.

January 2004

Compiled by Annette Strauch for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Minor Lists and Summaries 1989; 1991; Swansea Institute website (www.sihe.ac.uk), viewed 14 May 2003; MuseumTV website (www.museum.tv/archives/etv/W/htm), viewed 19 January 2004.

Usual copyright regulations apply.

Action: All records have been retained.

Bequeathed by the creator to Dr Prys Morgan, Swansea.

Accruals are not expected.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales