Finding Aid - James Griffiths Papers, (GB 0210 JAMTHS)
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Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Cymorth chwilio | Finding Aid - James Griffiths Papers, (GB 0210 JAMTHS) Cynhyrchir gan Access to Memory (AtoM) 2.3.0 Generated by Access to Memory (AtoM) 2.3.0 Argraffwyd: Mai 05, 2017 Printed: May 05, 2017 Wrth lunio'r disgrifiad hwn dilynwyd canllawiau ANW a seiliwyd ar ISAD(G) Ail Argraffiad; rheolau AACR2; ac LCSH Description follows ANW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.;AACR2; and LCSH https://archifau.llyfrgell.cymru/index.php/james-griffiths-papers-2 archives.library .wales/index.php/james-griffiths-papers-2 Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Allt Penglais Aberystwyth Ceredigion United Kingdom SY23 3BU 01970 632 800 01970 615 709 [email protected] www.llgc.org.uk James Griffiths Papers, Tabl cynnwys | Table of contents Gwybodaeth grynodeb | Summary information .............................................................................................. 3 Hanes gweinyddol / Braslun bywgraffyddol | Administrative history | Biographical sketch ......................... 3 Natur a chynnwys | Scope and content .......................................................................................................... 4 Trefniant | Arrangement .................................................................................................................................. 5 Nodiadau | Notes ............................................................................................................................................. 5 Pwyntiau mynediad | Access points ............................................................................................................... 5 Llyfryddiaeth | Bibliography ........................................................................................................................... 6 Disgrifiad cyfres | Series descriptions ............................................................................................................ 6 - Tudalen | Page 2 - GB 0210 JAMTHS James Griffiths Papers, Gwybodaeth grynodeb | Summary information Lleoliad | Repository: Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Teitl | Title: James Griffiths Papers, ID: GB 0210 JAMTHS Virtua system control vtls003844180 number [alternative]: Project identifier ANW [alternative]: Dyddiad | Date: 1897-1975 (accumulated 1912-1975) / (dyddiad creu | date of creation) Disgrifiad ffisegol | 0.506 cubic metres (30 boxes) Physical description: Lleoliad ffisegol | ARCH/MSS (GB0210) Physical location: Dyddiadau creu, golygu a dileu | Dates of creation, revision and deletion: Nodyn | Note Title supplied from contents of fonds. [generalNote]: Hanes gweinyddol / Braslun bywgraffyddol | Administrative history | Biographical sketch Nodyn | Note James Griffiths (1890-1975), trade union leader and MP, became the first Secretary of State for Wales. He was born in Betws, Carmarthenshire, on 19 September 1890, the youngest of ten children who also included the poet 'Amanwy' (David Rees Griffiths, 1882-1953). Educated at Betws Board School, he left at the age of 13 to work at Ammanford No. 1 colliery (Gwaith Isa'r Betws), where he eventually became Lodge Secretary. He continued his education by attending night school. At work he became involved with the socialist movement, and helped establish a branch of the Independent Labour Party in Ammanford in 1908, soon becoming its secretary. He was also the secretary of the newly formed Ammanford Trades Council, 1916-1919. As a pacifist, he opposed World War One, and while campaigning on this issue, he met Winifred Rutley, who became his wife in 1918. He won a scholarship to the Central Labour College, London, 1919-1921. On returning home he worked as Llanelli Labour Party agent, 1922-1925, an agent for the Anthracite Miners' Association, 1925-1936, and President of the South Wales Miners' Federation ('the Fed'), 1934-1936. In 1936, he was elected Labour MP for Llanelli, joining the National Executive in Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 3 GB 0210 JAMTHS James Griffiths Papers, 1939. Following World War Two he was made Minister for National Insurance by Attlee, 1945-1950. In this capacity he introduced Family Allowances, a new Industrial Injuries Act, and the National Insurance Act 1948. He was also Chairman of the Labour Party, 1948-1949. He became Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1950. Within two years however the Labour Party was out of office. During the long period in opposition he was deputy leader of the Labour Party, 1955-1959, and spokesman on Welsh affairs. Having campaigned for a Secretary of State for Wales since the 1930s, Harold Wilson appointed him the first Secretary of State for Wales following Labour's 1964 General Election victory. He held the post until 1966. He published an autobiography, Pages From Memory (London: Dent, 1969), and retired from Parliament in 1970. He had two sons and two daughters. He died in Teddington, Richmond upon Thames, London, on 7 August 1975, aged 84, and was buried at the Christian Temple in Ammanford. He corresponded with Mary Silyn Roberts (née Parry), who was involved with Coleg Harlech in its early days. Hanes Gwarchodol | Custodial history One group of papers was donated to Coleg Harlech by James Griffiths prior to his death in 1975. These were transferred to the National Library of Wales in 1996. Natur a chynnwys | Scope and content Letters, newspaper cuttings, notes, pamphlets and periodicals, typescripts, reports, volumes of parliamentary debates, and other papers of James Griffiths relating to the following: the coal industry and the South Wales Miners' Federation, 1912-1967; the Labour Party, 1919-1975; the Central Labour College, 1919-1922; National Insurance, 1931-1954; the Colonies, 1939-1972; his work as Secretary of State for Wales, 1964-1966; papers relating to Welsh affairs including devolution, the Welsh Reconstruction Advisory Council, education and local government reorganization, 1935-1975; constituency affairs, 1937-1969; overseas visits, 1936-1968; the Nigeria-Biafra War, 1968-1970; papers relating to his autobiography Pages from Memory, including letters from Gwilym Prys Davies and others, 1961-1969, notebooks, [1960s], typescripts, [1964]-1969, and cuttings of reviews, 1969; unpublished reminiscences, 1955-1974; notes and typescripts for lectures and speeches, 1940-1971; typescripts of broadcasts by Griffiths, 1937-1967; typescripts of articles and reviews, 1940-1974; newspaper cuttings, 1919-1974; and other miscellaneous personal matter, [1930s]-1975; and papers relating to Mrs Silyn Roberts, 1897-1954. Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 4 GB 0210 JAMTHS James Griffiths Papers, Nodiadau | Notes Nodiadau teitl | Title notes Trefniant | Arrangement Arranged into the following: early career; political career; Welsh affairs; papers relating to his autobiography Pages from Memory (1969); and speeches, addresses, broadcasts, articles, reviews, reminiscences, press-cuttings, etc., subdivided according to subject. Cyfyngiadau ar fynediad | Restrictions on access Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form. Amodau rheoli defnydd | Conditions governing use Usual copyright regulations apply. Rhestrau cymorth | Finding aids A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales. Disgrifiadau deunydd | Related material Further papers of James Griffiths are Oxford University: Bodleian Library of Commonwealth and African Studies, MSS Brit Emp s 365; Manchester University: Labour History Archive and Study Centre, Labour Party Archives. Further papers of Mary Silyn Roberts are in the University of Wales Bangor, Department of Manuscripts and Archives. Ychwanegiadau | Accruals Accruals are not expected. Nodiadau eraill | Other notes • Statws cyhoeddiad | Publication status: Published • Dynodwr sefydliad | Institution identifier: Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Pwyntiau mynediad | Access points • Central Labour College. • South Wales Miners' Federation. Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 5 GB 0210 JAMTHS James Griffiths Papers, • Coleg Harlech. • Great Britain. Wales Office. • Welsh Reconstruction Advisory Council. • Great Britain. Colonial Office. • Great Britain. Ministry of National Insurance. • Labour Party (Great Britain) • Griffiths, James, 1890-1975 -- Archives (pwnc) | (subject) • Roberts, Mary Silyn, 1877-1972 (pwnc) | (subject) • Prys-Davies, Gwilym Prys Davies, Baron, 1923- (pwnc) | (subject) • Labor unions -- Wales, South. (pwnc) | (subject) • Coal mines and mining -- Wales, South. (pwnc) | (subject) • Socialism -- Great Britain. (pwnc) | (subject) • Election districts -- Wales -- Llanelli. (pwnc) | (subject) • Betws (Carmarthenshire, Wales) (pwnc) | (subject) • Ammanford (Wales) (pwnc) | (subject) • Llanelli (Wales) (pwnc) | (subject) • Llanelli (Wales) -- Politics and government (pwnc) | (subject) • Wales -- Politics and government (pwnc) | (subject) • Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 20th century (pwnc) | (subject) Llyfryddiaeth | Bibliography These papers were used by James Griffiths to write his autobiography, Pages from Memory (1969) and also by J. Beverley Smith for his essay in James Griffiths and his times (1977). Disgrifiad cyfres | Series descriptions Cod cyfeirnod | Ref Teitl | Title Dyddiadau | Statws mynediad | Cynhwysydd | code