E.H.T. Bible Diaries,

E.H.T. Bible's natural history diaries, recording sightings of birds, mammals, sea creatures, insects and plants, mainly in and around Aberdyfi, Wales, with notes on location, species, identification, habits, migration patterns and weather conditions. Names of species are often underlined in red ink. Instances of dead animals, egg collecting, fur dealing, trapping and shooting are recorded, and the need for protection acknowledged. The observations of others are frequently noted, including Dr J.H. Salter and Miall Jones, both of Aberystwyth, Wales, and Mary Richards of Dolgellau, Wales. There are touches of humour in Bible's descriptions of encounters with animals and people. Gardening activities are noted in the later diaries, and, from 1943, rainfall records are kept. Most of the diaries are labelled 'Fair Copy', but the series includes two small notebooks containing draft versions.

Edward Henry T. Bible, a naturalist, was born in Hitchen, Hertfordshire, in 1873. He worked in the Birmingham and Malvern areas, and served in the Worcestershire Volunteers during the First World War. After the War he moved to Aberdyfi, where his first wife died in 1926. He remarried in 1928 and had a son, Timothy, by his second wife. During the 1920s and 1930s he contributed a column, entitled 'Nature Notes', to The Shrewsbury Chronicle, which was edited by his friend and fellow naturalist, H.E. Forrest. He was well acquainted with other local naturalists, including Dr J.H. Salter, and also William Condry, whom he first met in 1948, and with whom he was in regular correspondence by 1949. With friends and correspondents he used the nickname 'Biblos'. He died in 1956.

Arranged chronologically.

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.

Donated by William Condry's widow, Penny Condry, Eglwys-fach, Powys, November 1998; A 1998/137.

Edward Henry T. Bible, a naturalist, was born in Hitchen, Hertfordshire, in 1873. He worked in the Birmingham and Malvern areas, and served in the Worcestershire Volunteers during the First World War. After the War he moved to Aberdyfi, where his first wife died in 1926. He remarried in 1928 and had a son, Timothy, by his second wife. During the 1920s and 1930s he contributed a column, entitled 'Nature Notes', to The Shrewsbury Chronicle, which was edited by his friend and fellow naturalist, H.E. Forrest. He was well acquainted with other local naturalists, including Dr J.H. Salter, and also William Condry, whom he first met in 1948, and with whom he was in regular correspondence by 1949. With friends and correspondents he used the nickname 'Biblos'. He died in 1956.

A hard copy is available in NLW.

June 2000.

Compiled by Geraint Phillips.

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Letter from Timothy Bible to NLW, 1999; and William Condry, Wildlife, my life (Llandysul, 1995);

Copyright belongs to Timothy Bible, Romsey, Hampshire, March 2000.

Following Bible's death in 1956, his nature diaries were acquired by William Condry, who kept them until his own death in 1998.

Letters from Bible to his fellow naturalist William Condry, 1945-1954, together with papers about Bible collected by Condry, are in NLW, William Condry Papers RT 5-6.

Published