The National Library of Wales
Biography Online - Biographies of thousands of Welsh people through the ages
Thu, 10 Dec 09 13:53:00
Researchers who wish to find out who was who, in Wales are now able to browse the new updated version the Welsh Biography Online. Nearly 5,000 names of the great and the good (and not so good) of Welsh life are on the free authoritative bilingual website which has been updated to include those who died since 1970.
Among the new names are politicians such as:
- James Griffiths, the First Secretary of State for Wales
- George Thomas, Viscount Tonypandy
- Stefan Terleski, the Cardiff Conservative MP of Ukrainian descent
- Desmond Donnelly, a former Labour member of Parliament for Pembrokeshire who re-joined the Conservatives towards the end of his career
- Eirene White, campaigner
There are also prominent figures in the cultural, religious and social life of Wales. Among them are:
- Iorwerth Peate, the founder of the Museum of Welsh Life
- Thomas Parry, the poet and literary critic
- J E Caerwyn Williams, the academic
- George Ewart Evans, the collector of oral history among the agricultural and mining industries
- Philip Yorke, squire of Erddig, near Wrexham
Until now the online Biography was an updated version of the The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, printed volumes published by the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, that contained articles about eminent Welshmen and women who had died before 1970. Under the editorship of the academic and former Librarian of the National Library, Dr Brynley Roberts, over 100 new articles have been added of people who have died since 1970. The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion have decided not to publish new print editions for the time being but rather to take advantage of the new search facilities which are available through the internet. Working in conjunction with the National Library in Aberystwyth articles will be updated regularly online including corrections to printed volumes as well as including some biographies which were also not included in earlier print volumes.
‘The Welsh Biography Online has earned its place as an authoritative resource for anyone interested in Welsh life. The fact that it is online means it is easy and free for anyone to access. It is also updated regularly and has even managed to include some older articles of persons which were not included in previous print editions of the Biography. It’s an excellent example of cooperation between two of Wales’s oldest institutions, the National Library of Wales and the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion,’ said Dr Brynley Roberts.
The historical scope of the online Biography is long and extends from Cunedda who came from the Hen Ogledd (present day Northern England and Southern Scotland) at the time of the fall of the Roman Empire to rid Wales of Irish invaders, to present day heroes. The biographies online include princes, members of the gentry, poets and writers, government officials, ministers, artisans, sportsmen, workers, soldiers, industrialists and farmers not to mention the contribution made by many notable women to Welsh life.
Background Information
The Welsh Biography Online is a thoroughly bilingual resource with every entry in Welsh and English. It combines the two volumes, The Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940 and The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941-1970 with the three Welsh language volumes, Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig hyd 1940, Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig, 1941 – 1950 and Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig, 1951 – 1970, all originally published under the auspices of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion of London between 1953 and 2001, as well as the new articles commissioned by the Cymmrodorion Society. It is an invaluable resource to all who are interested in Welsh history and culture.
More information
Siôn Jobbins, NLW Press Office: 01970 632 902 sion.jobbins@llgc.org.uk
