The National Library accepts Louis Feutren’s bequest

Tue, 29 Nov 11 16:41:00

The Board of the National Library of Wales has agreed to accept a bequest made to it by the late Louis Feutren, which includes a collection of papers and tapes, and a sum of money.

The archive sheds light on the life of a Breton who was a member of the ‘Gwenn-ha-Du’ and ‘Bezen Perrot’ movements during the Second World War.  After the War Feutren left Brittany and travelled through Wales on his way to the Republic of Ireland where he settled and married.  He taught throughout his career and his wife worked as a nurse. His wife died in 2008 and he died in 2010.

“This is a notable collection that includes material of significant historical importance,” according to Lord Wigley, President of the Library.  “Though I utterly condemn his political leanings and activities during the War, we had no right, as Board members, to allow our feelings to interfere with our decision,” he said.

The archive and the financial donation worth £300,000 have been received in accordance with the Royal Charter and the Library’s collection policy, which identify the need to collect, and ensure public access to, material of Celtic interest.  The Board had also acted in accordance with the requirements of the Charity Commission and followed expert legal advice in coming to this decision.

A portion of the funds received will be allocated towards projects associated the destructive effects of war and fascism. 

 

Notes for Editors

Feutren’s archive is the latest in a series of archives of Breton authors and politicians which have been kept safely in the National Library of Wales over the years. 

•    This is compatible with the Library’s Charter, which states that some of the Library’s objects are:

“to collect, preserve and give access to all kinds and forms of recorded knowledge, especially relating to Wales and the Welsh and other Celtic peoples, for the benefit of the public, including those engaged in research and learning.”

www.llgc.org.uk/fileadmin/documents/pdf/Siartr_2006.pdf

•    Its Collections Development Policy (2010) supports this:

3.4 The Library also has a duty to collect in the field of Celtic Studies and we will continue to do this whilst at the same time reducing the purchase of printed works which are more marginal to our users’ needs.

www.llgc.org.uk/fileadmin/documents/pdf/Polisi%20Datblygu%20Casgliadau%20(2010).pdf

 

Further reading

There is very little written about this period in Welsh or English. One of the few authoratative papers is by Daniel Leach of the University of Melbourne in Australia: Bezen Perrot: The Breton nationalist unit of the SS, 1943-5

For more information:Cyril Evans, NLW Press Office: 01970 632 545 cye@llgc.org.uk