Robert Jones Derfel MSS,

Correspondence and papers, 1842-c. 1955, of poet and socialist Robert Jones Derfel and including letters and cards, c. 1852-1905, from various correspondents; poetry and sermons, 1842-1913; scrapbooks, 1855-1905, containing material relating to Welsh socialism, etc.; books and pamphlets; and research material, 1911-c. 1955, compiled by T. J. Roberts in the course of his study of Robert Jones Derfel.

Poet and socialist Robert Jones (later Robert Jones Derfel) was born on a farm situated between Llandderfel and Bethel in Merionethshire. He was for a time a Baptist preacher but turned to socialism and agnosticism and left the Church around 1865. He was one of the founders, in 1890, of the Manchester and District Fabian Society and wrote numerous articles, in both English and Welsh, on socialism, some of which were published at the Welsh bookshop and printing press he established in Manchester during the 1860s. A Welsh nationalist and accomplished poet, Derfel was successful at a number of eisteddfodau.

Arranged according to NLW MSS reference numbers: NLW MSS 23440-23462.

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.

Mr T. J. Roberts; Hampstead; Donation; 1995

Poet and socialist Robert Jones (later Robert Jones Derfel) was born on a farm situated between Llandderfel and Bethel in Merionethshire. He was for a time a Baptist preacher but turned to socialism and agnosticism and left the Church around 1865. He was one of the founders, in 1890, of the Manchester and District Fabian Society and wrote numerous articles, in both English and Welsh, on socialism, some of which were published at the Welsh bookshop and printing press he established in Manchester during the 1860s. A Welsh nationalist and accomplished poet, Derfel was successful at a number of eisteddfodau.

Title based on contents.

Preferred citation: NLW MSS 23440-23462.

April 2009.

Description compiled by Bethan Ifans for the retrospective conversion project of NLW MSS. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume IX (Aberystwyth, 2003); Bywgraffiadur Cymreig hyd 1940, 1953;

Usual copyright laws apply.

The papers were donated to the Library in accordance with the wishes of Mrs Gladys Dolman, granddaughter of R. J. Derfel, from whom the donor T. J. Roberts had acquired them.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales