Hywel D. Lewis Papers,

Scope and Content

Papers of Hywel D. Lewis, 1908-1992, including manuscripts and typescripts of lectures, articles and books by him, 1935-1989; papers relating to various societies of which he was a member, 1935-1989; conferences and symposia which he attended or in which he participated, 1935-1988; papers pertaining to the University College of North Wales, Bangor, 1928-1982, and King's College, London, 1954-1990; papers pertaining to Wales and the Welsh language, 1964-1988; correspondence, 1925-1992; and personal papers, 1908-1989.

Administrative / Biographical History

Hywel David Lewis (1910-1992), philosopher and theologian, was born in Llandudno and educated at Caernarfon Grammar School and the University College of North Wales, Bangor, where he graduated with first class honours in Philosophy (1932) and was awarded an MA Wales (1934). He subsequently studied at Jesus College, Oxford, where he gained a BLitt. Oxon (1935). He returned to Bangor in 1935 as an assistant lecturer, and became a full-time lecturer the following year. In 1947 he was awarded the Chair of Philosophy which he held until 1955 when he was appointed Professor of History and the Philosophy of Religion at King's College in the University of London. He became a Fellow of King's College in 1963, and retired in 1977. Professor Lewis married Megan Elias-Jones in 1943 (d.1962), and married his second wife, Megan Pritchard, in 1965. He lived for most of his life in Guildford. Hywel D. Lewis was visiting lecturer and professor at various American institutions, among them Yale (1964), and Harvard Divinity School (1963). In addition, he held numerous offices including the presidencies of the Mind Association (1948-9), the Aristotelian Society (1962-3), the Society for the Study of Theology (1964-6), and the International Society for Metaphysics. Hywel D. Lewis was a prolific author of books, articles and poetry in both English and Welsh. His publications include Morals and the New Theology, Morals and Revelation, Our Experience of God, The Philosophy of Religion, The Elusive Mind, The Self and Immortality, The Elusive Self, Gweriniaeth, and Y Wladwriaeth a'i Hawdurdod, together with numerous contributions to philosophical journals. Professor Lewis was also the editor of the Muirhead Library of Philosophy (1947-78), Contemporary British Philosophy, and the Journal of Religious Studies. The honorary degrees of DD, DLitt, and DLitt (Honoris Causa) were conferred on him by the University of St Andrew's (1964), Emory University, Atlanta, (1978) and the Geneva Theological College (1989) respectively. Hywel D. Lewis was also an honorary member of the 'Phi Beta Kappa' society and of the Gorsedd of Bards of the Isle of Britain, and an honorary vice-president of the Federation Internationale de Societes de Philosophie.

Arrangement

Arranged into the following: manuscripts, typescripts, offprints, reprints cuttings and xerox copies of letters to the press, lectures, articles and books by Hywel D. Lewis in English and Welsh; Hywel D. Lewis's works discussed by others; societies; conferences and symposia; applications for posts and testimonials; University of Wales; University of London: King's College; Wales and the Welsh language; correspondence; personal; and miscellaneous.

Access Information

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

Acquisition Information

Bequeathed to the National Library by the late Emeritus Professor Hywel D. Lewis per Mrs Megan Lewis in August 1992, and November/December 1992. The diary of the Rev. D. J. Lewis was donated in September 1993 per Emeritus Professor J. E. Caerwyn Williams, Aberystwyth.

Note

Hywel David Lewis (1910-1992), philosopher and theologian, was born in Llandudno and educated at Caernarfon Grammar School and the University College of North Wales, Bangor, where he graduated with first class honours in Philosophy (1932) and was awarded an MA Wales (1934). He subsequently studied at Jesus College, Oxford, where he gained a BLitt. Oxon (1935). He returned to Bangor in 1935 as an assistant lecturer, and became a full-time lecturer the following year. In 1947 he was awarded the Chair of Philosophy which he held until 1955 when he was appointed Professor of History and the Philosophy of Religion at King's College in the University of London. He became a Fellow of King's College in 1963, and retired in 1977. Professor Lewis married Megan Elias-Jones in 1943 (d.1962), and married his second wife, Megan Pritchard, in 1965. He lived for most of his life in Guildford. Hywel D. Lewis was visiting lecturer and professor at various American institutions, among them Yale (1964), and Harvard Divinity School (1963). In addition, he held numerous offices including the presidencies of the Mind Association (1948-9), the Aristotelian Society (1962-3), the Society for the Study of Theology (1964-6), and the International Society for Metaphysics. Hywel D. Lewis was a prolific author of books, articles and poetry in both English and Welsh. His publications include Morals and the New Theology, Morals and Revelation, Our Experience of God, The Philosophy of Religion, The Elusive Mind, The Self and Immortality, The Elusive Self, Gweriniaeth, and Y Wladwriaeth a'i Hawdurdod, together with numerous contributions to philosophical journals. Professor Lewis was also the editor of the Muirhead Library of Philosophy (1947-78), Contemporary British Philosophy, and the Journal of Religious Studies. The honorary degrees of DD, DLitt, and DLitt (Honoris Causa) were conferred on him by the University of St Andrew's (1964), Emory University, Atlanta, (1978) and the Geneva Theological College (1989) respectively. Hywel D. Lewis was also an honorary member of the 'Phi Beta Kappa' society and of the Gorsedd of Bards of the Isle of Britain, and an honorary vice-president of the Federation Internationale de Societes de Philosophie.

Title supplied from contents of fonds.

Other Finding Aids

A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue can be accessed online.

Archivist's Note

March 2003

Compiled by Annette Strauch for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedule of Hywel D. Lewis Papers; M. Stephens ed., The new companion to the literature of Wales (Cardiff, 1998).

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Action: All records have been retained.

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Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales