Welcome

Gathering the Jewels features over 30,000 images of objects, books, letters, aerial photographs and other items from museums, archives and libraries throughout Wales.

Search the map

Thumbnail image of Wales,

New to Gathering the Jewels is G.I.S. A geographical search facility that will enable searching by location and place name.

Topics

Home » Contributors » Department of Manuscripts and Archives, University of Bangor

Displaying results 1 to 6 out of 393

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

Page 8

Page 9

Page 10

Next >

  • The poem 'Clychau'r Gog' (Bluebells) by R. Williams Parry, written in his own hand. The original title of the poem was 'Blodau'r Gog'. It was published in 'Cerddi'r Gaeaf' (1952). R. Williams Parry (1884-1956) was born in Tal-y-sarn in the Nantlle valley. The writers and scholars T. H. Parry-Williams and Thomas Parry were his cousins. He spent two years at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, but left in 1904 without graduating and became an elementary teacher. He resumed his studies in 1907 at Bangor University and graduated the following year. He worked as a teacher at several schools across Wales before returning to the university at Bangor as a lecturer. He won the chair at the National Eisteddfod in 1910 for his 'awdl' (ode) entitled 'Yr Haf' (The Summer) which was later published in the volume 'Yr Haf a Cherddi Eraill' (1924). He stopped writing for a period during the 1920s but was inspired to recommence in 1936, following the furore which surrounded the burning of the boming school at Penyberth by three prominent Welsh nationalists, namely Saunders Lewis, D. J. Williams and Lewis Valentine. Williams Parry was angered by the decision of the University of Wales to dismiss Saunders Lewis for his part in the act, and began writing a number of political poems, such as 'J. S. L' and 'Y Gwrthodedig' (The Rejected). These poems were published in his second volume 'Cerddi'r Gaeaf' (1952).
Copy of the poem 'Blodau'r Gog' by R. Williams Parry in his own hand, 31 May 1932 [image 1 of 2]
  • In this letter, dated 4 August 1917, Cynan writes to his cousin, Megan, from Salonica where he is serving with the British Army. He says that he was very pleased to receive her letter about a week ago. He says that the letter cheered him up greatly for she writes in such an upbeat manner. He is not optimistic that they will be home by the end of the year but hopes for the best. There is a good chance if the British accept Germany's next peace offer. The poet and dramatist, Albert Evans-Jones (Cynan, 1895-1970), was a native of Pwllheli. After studying at the University of North Wales, Bangor, he served as a soldier and later as a chaplain during the First World War. During the 1920s he was a Calvinistic Methodist minister at Penmaen-mawr, but in 1931 was appointed Tutor at his old college, where he remained until his retirement. He won the Crown at the National Eisteddfod three times (in 1921, 1923 and 1931), and the Chair in 1924. He also served as Archdruid of the Gorsedd of the Bards twice during the 1950s and 1960s.
Letter sent by the poet Cynan from Salonica to his cousin, 4 August 1917 [image 1 of 6]
  • Hedd Wyn (Ellis Humphrey Evans, 1887-1917), a native of Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire, is regarded as one of Wales's foremost 'war poets' of the First World War. He was born at Penlan, Trawsfynydd, but lived for most of his life at Yr Ysgwrn, a hill farm to the east of the village. He began writing poetry at an early age and competed in many local eisteddfodau under his pen name 'Hedd Wyn'. He was awarded his first eisteddfod chair at Bala in 1907 and in 1916 he became close to winning the coveted National Eisteddfod chair at Aberystwyth. However, the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 cast a dark shadow on the life of this Welsh-speaking community and on the poetry of Hedd Wyn. As the conflict intensified, Hedd Wyn found himself writing poems in memory of his young friends and countrymen who had been killed in action. He expressed his own feelings against the conflict in his poem 'Rhyfel' (War). Although he had no intention of volunteering for the war, the introduction of conscription in 1916 forced Hedd Wyn's hand. In February 1917 he made the fateful decision to join the 15th Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. It was also during this time that he began to pen his award-winning awdl 'Yr Arwr' (The Hero), which he later entered for the National Eisteddfod, to be held at Birkenhead in September that year. Hedd Wyn sailed for France in June 1917 but on 31 July he was killed in action on the fields of Flanders at Pilkem Ridge, near Ypres. A few months later, at the Birkenhead National Eisteddfod, Hedd Wyn was posthumously awarded the chair for his poignant awdl 'Yr Arwr'. He had entered the competition under the nom-de-plume 'Fleur-de-Lis'. In a moving and highly emotional ceremony, the chair was draped in black cloth and became known as the 'black chair' of Birkenhead. To many people the 'black chair' came to symbolise the empty chairs which now stood empty as a result of the war in thousands of Welsh homes. Hedd Wyn's tragic story was the subject of an award-winning Welsh-language film produced in 1992. This early manuscript version of 'Yr Arwr' was penned by Hedd Wyn early in 1917 before he joined the army.
The 'awdl' 'Yr Arwr' (The Hero) by Hedd Wyn, in his own hand [page 1 of 17]
Postcard of Harry Parry, the bandleader from Bangor (1932-56)
Article on Harry Parry, the Bangor-born bandleader, 'Columbia & Parlophone Record Guide', September 1942 [page 14, image 1 of 2]
  • Translation: 'With the Soldiers in Northampton 1914, October 26th, Monday Today I came here to work for Jesus Christ among the soldiers who have come to Northampton from different parts of the country. I travelled through Chester, starting from Wrexham at 1.5 - midday; then through Crewe, leaving Chester at 1.55, the Mail. Changed at Rugby then on to Northampton. On the way I went through Kilsby where James Rhys Jones was a minister - he took the name of the place with him when he left. The Rev David Hoskins MA, Caernarfon, came to meet me at the Castle station; then we walked part of the way until we got to the electric carriage which took us close to the place where I have arranged my accommodation - Thoby Priory, 108 Bosbook Avenue, is where we will be staying here. I had tea, then wrote home, and wrote to the 'C. World' [Christian World], and finished my weekly article for the 'British Weekly'. About 8 o'clock the Rev R. Parry Jones, Warrington, called to welcome me. He is also here working with the soldiers. We called with Mr Hoskins, and then went to the YMCA tent. A concert was being held there. One of the first ...'
Diary of the Rev Peris Williams, army chaplain, 1914-16 [page 1, image 1 of 40]