Dictionary of Welsh Biography
Encyclopedia
The Dictionary of Welsh Biography (DWB) (also The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940 and The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941 to 1970) is a dictionary of biographies of Welsh
men and women who have made a unique contribution to Welsh life over seventeen centuries. It was first published in 1959.
was assistant editor, then joint editor, of and its English language
counterpart, the Dictionary of Welsh Biography, writing over 600 entries. His joint editor was John Edward Lloyd
, but the Dictionary was not published until 1959, twelve years after his death. It is properly known as The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940, and its supplementary volume as The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941 to 1970 (2001). Originally published by the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
, recent editions have been published by the University of Wales Press
.
The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940 contains about 4,900 entries within its 1157 pages on the careers and accomplishments of notable Welsh men and women who had distinguished themselves, providing a representative portrait of Welsh society and history up to the 20th century. However, it did not include anyone who was still living in 1940; its supplementary volume, The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941 to 1970 did, containing an additional 600 entries within its 318 pages. Those biographies
already published in the Dictionary of National Biography
were not included in DWB.
Welsh Biography Online is a bilingual resource with every entry in Welsh
and English
. Welsh Biography Online 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 by the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
of London between 1953 and 2001.
The idea of transcribing The Dictionary of Welsh Biography into digital form came because of the constant enquiries the staff of the National Library of Wales
receive from users and the constant use made of the Dictionary in the Library. The National Library of Wales also has a long and close association with The Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Several National Librarians have served as editors and many members of staff have undertaken editorial and research work for the publication. The National Library of Wales then decided to make the online resource a live data-base.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
men and women who have made a unique contribution to Welsh life over seventeen centuries. It was first published in 1959.
Origins of the Dictionary
Robert Thomas JenkinsRobert Thomas Jenkins
Robert Thomas Jenkins CBE was a Welsh historian and academic.-Life:Jenkins was born on 31 August 1881 in Liverpool. He moved with his family to Bangor, Gwynedd when his father was appointed clerk to the registrar of the newly-established University College of North Wales...
was assistant editor, then joint editor, of and its English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
counterpart, the Dictionary of Welsh Biography, writing over 600 entries. His joint editor was John Edward Lloyd
John Edward Lloyd
Sir John Edward Lloyd , was a Welsh historian, the author of the first serious history of the country's formative years, A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest, 2 vols...
, but the Dictionary was not published until 1959, twelve years after his death. It is properly known as The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940, and its supplementary volume as The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941 to 1970 (2001). Originally published by the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion was founded in 1751 as a literary society devoted to the preservation of the Welsh language. It was founded by two brothers, Lewis Morris and Richard Morris, natives of Anglesey...
, recent editions have been published by the University of Wales Press
University of Wales Press
The University of Wales Press was founded in 1922 as a central service of the University of Wales. It publishes academic journals and around sixty books a year in the English and Welsh languages, based around a core of six subjects: History; Political Philosophy and Religious Studies;Welsh and...
.
The Dictionary of Welsh Biography Down to 1940 contains about 4,900 entries within its 1157 pages on the careers and accomplishments of notable Welsh men and women who had distinguished themselves, providing a representative portrait of Welsh society and history up to the 20th century. However, it did not include anyone who was still living in 1940; its supplementary volume, The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941 to 1970 did, containing an additional 600 entries within its 318 pages. Those biographies
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
already published in the Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
were not included in DWB.
Welsh Biography Online
The Welsh Biography Online resource has about 4,325 biographies online including princes, members of the gentry, poets and writers, government officials, ministers, artisans, sportsmen, workers, soldiers, industrialists and farmers.Welsh Biography Online is a bilingual resource with every entry in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. Welsh Biography Online 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 by the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion was founded in 1751 as a literary society devoted to the preservation of the Welsh language. It was founded by two brothers, Lewis Morris and Richard Morris, natives of Anglesey...
of London between 1953 and 2001.
The idea of transcribing The Dictionary of Welsh Biography into digital form came because of the constant enquiries the staff of the National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
receive from users and the constant use made of the Dictionary in the Library. The National Library of Wales also has a long and close association with The Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Several National Librarians have served as editors and many members of staff have undertaken editorial and research work for the publication. The National Library of Wales then decided to make the online resource a live data-base.
External links
- Welsh Biography Online Search Engine
- DWB in Bibliography of Welsh history – Open UniversityOpen UniversityThe Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
website