Peter Hughes Griffiths (Gwynfor Evans) Papers

Contains material relating to Gwynfor Evans' election campaigns in the Carmarthen Constituency as well as various publications and ephemera related to Gwynfor Evans' career, material relating to his funeral and a service celebrating his life. Photographic material has been transferred to the NLW National Welsh Photograph Collection. A sound recording on a vinyl record has been transferred to the National Screen and sound Archive of Wales.

Roedd Gwynfor Evans yn un o brif wleidyddion Cymru ledled ail hanner yr ugeinfed ganrif, Llywydd Plaid Cymru o 1945 hyd at 1981 a'r cyntaf i gipio sedd yn y Senedd ar ran y Blaid, hynny ym 1966. Mae hefyd yn awdur nifer o gyfrolau hanesyddol pwysig.
Ganed Gwynfor Richard Evans yn Y Barri, Sir Forgannwg, ar 1 Medi 1912, yn fab i Dan Evans a Catherine Mary Richard ei wraig. Addysgwyd ef yn Ysgol Gynradd Gladstone Road, Y Barri, Ysgol Ramadeg y Barri, Coleg y Brifysgol, Aberystwyth a Choleg San Ioan, Rhydychen. Yn wreiddiol hyfforddwyd ef fel cyfreithiwr a daeth yn gyfreithiwr proffesiynol ym 1939, ond yna penderfynodd ennill ei fywoliaeth fel garddwr masnachol a gwnaeth ei gartref yn Llangadog, sir Gaerfyrddin. Ym 1941 ymbriododd â Rhiannon Prys Thomas, un a fu'n gefn cyson iddo drwy gydol ei fywyd cyhoeddus, a bu iddynt bedwar mab a thair merch.
Ym 1939 dewiswyd Gwynfor Evans yn ysgrifennydd mudiad Heddychwyr Cymru, ac ym 1941 etholwyd ef yn is-lywydd Plaid Cymru. Pedair blynedd yn ddiweddarach daeth yn Llywydd y Blaid, swydd y parhaodd ynddi tan 1981. Etholwyd ef yn aelod o Gyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin ym 1949 a pharhaodd fel henadur y Cyngor o 1949 tan 1974. Ym 1954 dewiswyd ef hefyd yn gadeirydd Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymreig. Yng Ngorffennaf 1966 gwnaeth gyfraniad gwir hanesyddol pan gipiodd etholaeth Sir Gaerfyrddin mewn is-etholiad hollbwysig a gynhaliwyd yn dilyn marwolaeth y Fonesig Megan Lloyd George. Collodd y sedd yn etholiad cyffredinol Mehefin 1970, ond cynrychiolodd yr etholaeth unwaith eto yn y Senedd rhwng Hydref 1974 a 1979. Aflwyddiannus bu ei ymgeisyddiaeth yno ym 1979 a 1983.
Chwaraeodd Gwynfor Evans ran ganolog yn natblygiad ei blaid fel grym gwleidyddol, a bu'n hollol allweddol ym mhob menter dros genedlaetholdeb Cymreig o'r Ail Ryfel Byd ymlaen. Hyd ddiwedd y ganrif roedd yn ffigwr dylanwadol ym mywyd cyhoeddus Cymru a pharhaodd yn uchel ei barch hyd yn oed ymhlith aelodau o bleidiau gwleidyddol eraill yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Roedd hefyd yn hynod amlwg yn y frwydr i sicrhau pedwaredd sianel a fyddai darlledu'n bennaf yn yr iaith Gymraeg, ac ym 1980 cyhoeddodd ei barodrwydd i ymprydio hyd angau pe bai angen oni chyflawnai'r Llywodraeth ei hymrwymiad i ddarparu'r fath wasanaeth yn unol ag addewid ei faniffesto etholiadol ym 1979. Gwasanaethodd hefyd fel aelod o fyrdd o bwyllgorau a chyrff cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys Cyngor a Llys Llywodraethwyr Prifysgol Cymru, Aberystwyth a Chyngor Darlledu Cymru.
Roedd Gwynfor Evans hefyd yn awdur toreithiog. Cyhoeddodd nifer fawr o bamffledi ac erthyglau gwleidyddol eu naws yn y Gymraeg a'r Saesneg sydd yn adlewyrchu ei gred mewn cenedlaetholdeb a heddychiaeth. Ymhlith ei gyfrolau niferus mae Wales Can Win (1973), A National Future for Wales (1975), Diwedd Prydeindod (1981), (cyfrol sydd yn ddadansoddiad llym o 'Brydeinrwydd' y Cymry), Pe Bai Cymru'n Rhydd (1989) a Fighting for Wales (1990). Cyhoeddodd hefyd hanes cynhwysfawr Cymru yn ei gyfrol Aros Mae (1971), astudiaeth a enillodd cryn fri ac a chyfieithwyd i'r Saesneg dan y teitl Land of My Fathers (1974). Fel hanesydd roedd Evans yn olynydd teilwng i awduron fel Theophilus Evans ac Owen M. Edwards. Roeddent oll yn gwneud defnydd o ymchwil ysgolheigion eraill er mwyn ceisio meithrin yn eu cyd-Gymry falchder yng ngogoniant eu hanes a'u llên. Gweithiau eraill o bwys o'i eiddo yw Seiri Cenedl (1986), cyfrol o fywgraffiadau byrion o Gymry blaenllaw drwy'r oesoedd ynghyd â fersiwn Saesneg Welsh Nation Builders (1987).
Dyfarnwyd i Gwynfor Evans radd Ll.D. (Cymru) honoris causa ym 1973 a medal Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas y Cymmrodorion ym 1984. Ers blynyddoedd roedd yn byw yn Nhalar Wen, Pencarreg ger Llanybydder, sir Gaerfyrddin, lle bu farw ar 21 Ebrill 2005 yn 92 mlwydd oed.
Gwynfor Evans was one of the most prominent Welsh politicians throughout the second half of the twentieth century, Plaid Cymru President from 1945 until 1981, and the first person to win a parliamentary seat on behalf of Plaid Cymru in July 1966. He is also the author of a number of important historical works.
Gwynfor Richard Evans was born at Barry, Glamorganshire, on 1 September 1912, the son of Dan Evans and Catherine Mary Richard his wife. He was educated at Gladstone Road Elementary School, Barry, Barry County School, the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, and St John's College, Oxford. He originally trained to be a solicitor and qualified in 1939. But he then decided to earn his living as a market gardener and settled at Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. In 1941 he married Rhiannon Prys Thomas, a partner who supported him unstintingly in his public work. They had four sons and three daughters.
In 1939 Gwynfor Evans was chosen secretary of the Heddychwyr Cymru (Welsh Pacifist) movement and in 1941 he became the vice-president of Plaid Cymru. Four years later he was elected party president and remained in that position until 1981. He was elected to the Carmarthenshire County Council in 1949 and remained an alderman of the council until his retirement in 1974. In 1954 he was chosen chairman of the Union of Welsh Independents. In July 1966 a truly historic event occurred when Gwynfor Evans captured the Carmarthenshire constituency in a momentous by-election held following the death of Lady Megan Lloyd George. He lost the seat in the June 1970 General Election, but again represented the constituency in parliament from October 1974 until 1979. His candidatures there were unsuccessful in 1979 and 1983.
Gwynfor Evans played a central role in the development of his party as a political force, and he was a key figure in every nationalist campaign ever since the Second World War. Until the very end of the twentieth century he was an influential figure in Welsh public life and he was highly respected even among the members of other political parties in Wales and England. He was also hugely prominent in the campaign to secure a fourth television channel which would broadcast mainly in the Welsh language, and in 1980 he announced his willingness to go on hunger strike until death if necessary unless the government adhered to its pledge to set up such a service in keeping with its election manifesto promise in 1979. He also served as a member of an array of committees and public bodies in Wales, among them the Council and Court of Governors of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and the Welsh Broadcasting Council.
Gwynfor Evans was also a prolific author. He published a large number of political pamphlets and articles in both Welsh and English, writings which reflect his unwavering belief in nationalism and pacifism. Among his many volumes are Wales Can Win (1973), A National Future for Wales (1975), Diwedd Prydeindod (1981) (a volume which comprises a harsh condemnation of the 'British' attitudes of the Welsh people), Pe Bai Cymru'n Rhydd (1989) and Fighting for Wales (1990). He also published a comprehensive history of Wales in his volume Aros Mae (1971), a study which was highly acclaimed and which was translated into English in the volume Land of My Fathers (1974). As a historian Evans was a worthy successor to authors like Theophilus Evans and Owen M. Edwards. Each of these writers made use of the researches of other scholars with the aim of attempting to instil in their fellow Welsh people a pride in the glories of their history and literature. Other important works published by Gwynfor Evans include Seiri Cenedl (1986), a volume of short biographies of prominent Welsh historical figures, together with an English version Welsh Nation Builders (1987).
Gwynfor Evans was awarded the degree of Ll.D. (Wales) honoris causa in 1973 and the medal of the Honorary Society of Cymmrodorion in 1984. For many years he resided at Talar Wen, Pencarreg, near Llanybydder, Carmarthenshire where he died on 21 April 2005 aged 92 years.

Divided into 2 series; Carmarthen Constituency Election Material and Other Material

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions noted on the 'Modern papers - data protection' form issued with their Readers' Tickets.

Donated by Peter Hughes-Griffiths, December 2015.

Roedd Gwynfor Evans yn un o brif wleidyddion Cymru ledled ail hanner yr ugeinfed ganrif, Llywydd Plaid Cymru o 1945 hyd at 1981 a'r cyntaf i gipio sedd yn y Senedd ar ran y Blaid, hynny ym 1966. Mae hefyd yn awdur nifer o gyfrolau hanesyddol pwysig.
Ganed Gwynfor Richard Evans yn Y Barri, Sir Forgannwg, ar 1 Medi 1912, yn fab i Dan Evans a Catherine Mary Richard ei wraig. Addysgwyd ef yn Ysgol Gynradd Gladstone Road, Y Barri, Ysgol Ramadeg y Barri, Coleg y Brifysgol, Aberystwyth a Choleg San Ioan, Rhydychen. Yn wreiddiol hyfforddwyd ef fel cyfreithiwr a daeth yn gyfreithiwr proffesiynol ym 1939, ond yna penderfynodd ennill ei fywoliaeth fel garddwr masnachol a gwnaeth ei gartref yn Llangadog, sir Gaerfyrddin. Ym 1941 ymbriododd â Rhiannon Prys Thomas, un a fu'n gefn cyson iddo drwy gydol ei fywyd cyhoeddus, a bu iddynt bedwar mab a thair merch.
Ym 1939 dewiswyd Gwynfor Evans yn ysgrifennydd mudiad Heddychwyr Cymru, ac ym 1941 etholwyd ef yn is-lywydd Plaid Cymru. Pedair blynedd yn ddiweddarach daeth yn Llywydd y Blaid, swydd y parhaodd ynddi tan 1981. Etholwyd ef yn aelod o Gyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin ym 1949 a pharhaodd fel henadur y Cyngor o 1949 tan 1974. Ym 1954 dewiswyd ef hefyd yn gadeirydd Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymreig. Yng Ngorffennaf 1966 gwnaeth gyfraniad gwir hanesyddol pan gipiodd etholaeth Sir Gaerfyrddin mewn is-etholiad hollbwysig a gynhaliwyd yn dilyn marwolaeth y Fonesig Megan Lloyd George. Collodd y sedd yn etholiad cyffredinol Mehefin 1970, ond cynrychiolodd yr etholaeth unwaith eto yn y Senedd rhwng Hydref 1974 a 1979. Aflwyddiannus bu ei ymgeisyddiaeth yno ym 1979 a 1983.
Chwaraeodd Gwynfor Evans ran ganolog yn natblygiad ei blaid fel grym gwleidyddol, a bu'n hollol allweddol ym mhob menter dros genedlaetholdeb Cymreig o'r Ail Ryfel Byd ymlaen. Hyd ddiwedd y ganrif roedd yn ffigwr dylanwadol ym mywyd cyhoeddus Cymru a pharhaodd yn uchel ei barch hyd yn oed ymhlith aelodau o bleidiau gwleidyddol eraill yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Roedd hefyd yn hynod amlwg yn y frwydr i sicrhau pedwaredd sianel a fyddai darlledu'n bennaf yn yr iaith Gymraeg, ac ym 1980 cyhoeddodd ei barodrwydd i ymprydio hyd angau pe bai angen oni chyflawnai'r Llywodraeth ei hymrwymiad i ddarparu'r fath wasanaeth yn unol ag addewid ei faniffesto etholiadol ym 1979. Gwasanaethodd hefyd fel aelod o fyrdd o bwyllgorau a chyrff cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys Cyngor a Llys Llywodraethwyr Prifysgol Cymru, Aberystwyth a Chyngor Darlledu Cymru.
Roedd Gwynfor Evans hefyd yn awdur toreithiog. Cyhoeddodd nifer fawr o bamffledi ac erthyglau gwleidyddol eu naws yn y Gymraeg a'r Saesneg sydd yn adlewyrchu ei gred mewn cenedlaetholdeb a heddychiaeth. Ymhlith ei gyfrolau niferus mae Wales Can Win (1973), A National Future for Wales (1975), Diwedd Prydeindod (1981), (cyfrol sydd yn ddadansoddiad llym o 'Brydeinrwydd' y Cymry), Pe Bai Cymru'n Rhydd (1989) a Fighting for Wales (1990). Cyhoeddodd hefyd hanes cynhwysfawr Cymru yn ei gyfrol Aros Mae (1971), astudiaeth a enillodd cryn fri ac a chyfieithwyd i'r Saesneg dan y teitl Land of My Fathers (1974). Fel hanesydd roedd Evans yn olynydd teilwng i awduron fel Theophilus Evans ac Owen M. Edwards. Roeddent oll yn gwneud defnydd o ymchwil ysgolheigion eraill er mwyn ceisio meithrin yn eu cyd-Gymry falchder yng ngogoniant eu hanes a'u llên. Gweithiau eraill o bwys o'i eiddo yw Seiri Cenedl (1986), cyfrol o fywgraffiadau byrion o Gymry blaenllaw drwy'r oesoedd ynghyd â fersiwn Saesneg Welsh Nation Builders (1987).
Dyfarnwyd i Gwynfor Evans radd Ll.D. (Cymru) honoris causa ym 1973 a medal Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas y Cymmrodorion ym 1984. Ers blynyddoedd roedd yn byw yn Nhalar Wen, Pencarreg ger Llanybydder, sir Gaerfyrddin, lle bu farw ar 21 Ebrill 2005 yn 92 mlwydd oed.
Gwynfor Evans was one of the most prominent Welsh politicians throughout the second half of the twentieth century, Plaid Cymru President from 1945 until 1981, and the first person to win a parliamentary seat on behalf of Plaid Cymru in July 1966. He is also the author of a number of important historical works.
Gwynfor Richard Evans was born at Barry, Glamorganshire, on 1 September 1912, the son of Dan Evans and Catherine Mary Richard his wife. He was educated at Gladstone Road Elementary School, Barry, Barry County School, the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, and St John's College, Oxford. He originally trained to be a solicitor and qualified in 1939. But he then decided to earn his living as a market gardener and settled at Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. In 1941 he married Rhiannon Prys Thomas, a partner who supported him unstintingly in his public work. They had four sons and three daughters.
In 1939 Gwynfor Evans was chosen secretary of the Heddychwyr Cymru (Welsh Pacifist) movement and in 1941 he became the vice-president of Plaid Cymru. Four years later he was elected party president and remained in that position until 1981. He was elected to the Carmarthenshire County Council in 1949 and remained an alderman of the council until his retirement in 1974. In 1954 he was chosen chairman of the Union of Welsh Independents. In July 1966 a truly historic event occurred when Gwynfor Evans captured the Carmarthenshire constituency in a momentous by-election held following the death of Lady Megan Lloyd George. He lost the seat in the June 1970 General Election, but again represented the constituency in parliament from October 1974 until 1979. His candidatures there were unsuccessful in 1979 and 1983.
Gwynfor Evans played a central role in the development of his party as a political force, and he was a key figure in every nationalist campaign ever since the Second World War. Until the very end of the twentieth century he was an influential figure in Welsh public life and he was highly respected even among the members of other political parties in Wales and England. He was also hugely prominent in the campaign to secure a fourth television channel which would broadcast mainly in the Welsh language, and in 1980 he announced his willingness to go on hunger strike until death if necessary unless the government adhered to its pledge to set up such a service in keeping with its election manifesto promise in 1979. He also served as a member of an array of committees and public bodies in Wales, among them the Council and Court of Governors of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and the Welsh Broadcasting Council.
Gwynfor Evans was also a prolific author. He published a large number of political pamphlets and articles in both Welsh and English, writings which reflect his unwavering belief in nationalism and pacifism. Among his many volumes are Wales Can Win (1973), A National Future for Wales (1975), Diwedd Prydeindod (1981) (a volume which comprises a harsh condemnation of the 'British' attitudes of the Welsh people), Pe Bai Cymru'n Rhydd (1989) and Fighting for Wales (1990). He also published a comprehensive history of Wales in his volume Aros Mae (1971), a study which was highly acclaimed and which was translated into English in the volume Land of My Fathers (1974). As a historian Evans was a worthy successor to authors like Theophilus Evans and Owen M. Edwards. Each of these writers made use of the researches of other scholars with the aim of attempting to instil in their fellow Welsh people a pride in the glories of their history and literature. Other important works published by Gwynfor Evans include Seiri Cenedl (1986), a volume of short biographies of prominent Welsh historical figures, together with an English version Welsh Nation Builders (1987).
Gwynfor Evans was awarded the degree of Ll.D. (Wales) honoris causa in 1973 and the medal of the Honorary Society of Cymmrodorion in 1984. For many years he resided at Talar Wen, Pencarreg, near Llanybydder, Carmarthenshire where he died on 21 April 2005 aged 92 years.

Title assigned by cataloguer.

March 2016.

Compiled by Robert Phillips. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: material in the Peter Hughes Griffiths (Gwynfor Evans) Papers, Who's Who.

Usual copyright laws apply.

Published

Final

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