Gwylfa Papers

The collection consists of letters written to Gwylfa by various correspondents, 1894 - 1935 and letters written by him to others, some of which include written adjudications for Eisteddfod competitions, 1904 - 1934.

The essays and lectures cover a variety of subjects and some have obviously been composed for entry in competitions. There are also essays prepared by Gwylfa for publication in Y Diwygiwr and Y Dysgedydd. Some biographical works are also included.

The winning poem in the National Eisteddfod held in Cardiff in 1899 is to be found amongst the poetry of Gwylfa.

There are sermons by Gwylfa and by other preachers.

The personal and family items include diaries which range from 1898 to 1929, newspaper cuttings, notes on family history and tenancy agreements.

Amongst the miscellaneous items there are adjudications, notes on Llanelli, minutes of the Tabernacl Chapel, Llanelli and the Gorsedd Diary for 1934 composed by Gwylfain his capacity as Recorder of the National Eisteddfod.

The papers of Rev. Rhys Jones Huws include letters by him to Gwylfa, Eisteddfod programmes and poetry.

R. Gwylfa Roberts was born in Penmaenmawr, North Wales in 1871. He attended Botwnnog School, Caernarfonshire and then the Bala-Bangor College. His first ministry was in Y Felinheli, Caernarfonshire in 1895, but he soon moved to the Tabernacl Chapel, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.

A popular preacher and author, he was editor of Y Diwygiwr in 1906 and of Y Dysgedydd in 1912-1914 and 1931-1933. He also edited the work of Rev. Rhys J. Huws, which resulted in the publication of two volumes. He was a successful poet, winning the crown at the National Eisteddfod twice, in 1898 in Ffestiniog, Merionethshire and 1899 in Cardiff. His poetical works were published inDrain gwynnion.

Rev. Rhys J. Huws, 1862 - 1917 was an Independent minister. He became the first minister of the new church in Bryn Seion, Glanaman, Carmarthenshire in 1912.

The papers were received at six different occasions and have thus been listed separately. In the main, the papers have been arranged according to record type and then, in some cases, chronologically. They have been incorporated into the General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts.

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A book containing two sermons by R. Gwylfa Roberts was donated by Rev. Richard Griffith, Penmaenmawr, Caernarfonshire.

Description compiled by Elen Wyn Hughes, August 2001

An item level list is available at the Department of Manuscripts of the University of Wales Bangor. Reference numbers : General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts 13072-13472, 21332-22171, 29185-29189, 31132-31218, 31478 and 32501..

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

The poetry of Rev. Rhys J. Huws was at one time in the possession of E.T. Davies of Abertridwr, Glamorganshire.

Also held at the Department of Manuscripts of the University of Wales are other items relating to Gwylfa, letters written by him to other Welsh notables and a photograph. Reference numbers : General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts 5866, 20784 (21-22) and 23456.