#margiad evans 1909-1958

[queerwelsh]

‘Landladies’: photos of Margiad Evans (Peggy Whistler), the bisexual Anglo Welsh writer. Left: With sister Nancy Whistler/Sian Evans at Ross on Wye in 1938. Right: Margiad at Springherne, near Ross on Wye in the last 1930s.

Via ‘Women in Trousers’, an Archive by Cardiff University. (Women in Trousers on Twitter)

[queerwelsh]

LGBT+ History Month & Wales - Cymru & Mis Hanes LHDT+

This is a guest post I made for LGBT+ History Month 2018, on the National Library of Wales’s blog. (Welsh version below.)

Wales & LGBT+ History Month Wales & LGBT+ History Month For fifteen years, February has been regarded as the month to celebrate the histories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and anybody else who may fit into the LGBT+ umbrella. LGBT+ History Month 2018 has seen the most events in Wales yet – such as Pride Cymru’s event at the Senedd. From studying the LGBT History of Wales, I’ve found that the National Library is a hive of secondary and primary resources into Welsh LGBT Histories. Anyone who has used their archives will know it is a great resource to uncover personal histories – such as Welsh women’s histories. Similarly, Welsh LGBT+ people’s histories are still being uncovered. This month, or any other month, read the history of a Welsh LGBT+ person, celebrate them, and maybe help uncover the history of Welsh LGBT+ people. Here are fourteen key figures in Welsh LGBT+ history who can be researched at the National Library of Wales – to be celebrated this month, and hopefully to always be celebrated in Welsh history. 1. The Ladies of Llangollen are the most well-known Welsh LGBT+ figures. They were Sarah Ponsonby [1755-1831] and Eleanor Butler [1739-1829], two Irish women who escaped their family to live their lives together at Plas Newydd in Llangollen. Much has been written about them, which can be read at the National Library. Archives related to the Ladies at the Library include portraits, letters, facsimiles of their account books, electronic resources and other papers. NLW MS 21682C – Letters from Ladies of Llangollen NLW MS 23699E, ff. 135-137. – Letters of the Ladies of Llangollen NLW MS 23980F, ff. 24-25. – Ladies of Llangollen letters NLW MS 22768D. – Ladies of Llangollen letters Cardiff MS 2.908. – Ladies of Llangollen Bodrhyddan Estate Papers, Deeds and Documents 57 – Letter: Sarah Ponsonby to Miss Williams Wynn. Endorsed ‘Last Letter from Miss Ponsonby’ NLW Facs 18. – ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ account book NLW Facs 19. – ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ account book NLW MS 19697B. – A personal and household account book of the ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ in the hand of Sarah Ponsonby Other writings on the Ladies includes accounts on them from the period, Ceridwen Lloyd-Morgan’s Papers of the ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ and Susan Valladares’ article on Anne Lister’s meeting with the Ladies. 2. Katherine Philips [1631-1664] was an Anglo-Welsh poet who Norena Shopland has uncovered as ‘The Welsh Sappho.’ Philips is one of the earliest examples of poetry around her ‘romantic friendships.’ NLW MS 775B. – Katherine Philips poetry NLW MS 776B. – Katherine Philips poetry NLW Facs 739. – Katherine Philips poem NLW Films 943-6 – Katherine Philips Microfilms NLW MS 21702E. – Barddoniaeth amrywiol 3. Frances Power Cobbe [1822-1904] and Mary Charlotte Lloyd [1819-1896], like the Ladies of Llangollen lived in Wales together. Cobbe was a well-known suffragette, campaigner and writer – Mary Lloyd was a Welsh sculptor who lived as her partner. Sources on Lloyd are mainly from Cobbe’s writings. Minor Deposit 1309-15. – Manuscripts of Frances Power Cobbe of Hengwrt, Dolgellau, religious philosopher, &c NLW ex 1865-7 – Frances Power Cobbe Bequest 4. Sarah Jane Rees (Cranogwen) [1839-1916] was a writer, editor, sailor, lecturer, and editor of Y Frythones, and was in a lifelong lesbian relationship, as written by Jane Aaron in Queer Wales. Sarah Jane Rees (‘Cranogwen’) Cerddi i Maggie Eurona gan Cranogwen. NLW MS 23895A. – Anerchiad gan Cranogwen Sarah Jane Rees (‘Cranogwen’) poetry 5. Amy Dillwyn [1845-1935] was an industrialist and feminist who also published novels with lesbian and cross-dressing themes. The novels published by Honno, her biography David Painting and other writings about her by Kirsti Bohata can be read at the Library. Amy Dillwyn papers 6. Gwen John [1876-1939] is probably the most well-known female Welsh artist – less well-known is her relationships with women, such as Véra Oumançoff. Gwen John manuscripts 7. Margaret Haig Mackworth, 2nd Viscountess of Rhondda, [1883-1958] also had relationships with men and women and is well-known as a suffragette. Books by and about her (i.e. Angela John) can be found in the Library. 8. George E. J. Powell of Nanteos [1842-82], has been written about by Harry Heuser in Queer Wales and New Welsh Reader. NLW Facs 417. – Letters to George E. J. Powell, Nanteos Minor Deposits 1394-97. – Letters to George E. J. Powell from A.C. Swinburne 9. Nina Hamnett [1890-1956] was the ‘Queen of Bohemia,’ a bisexual artist from Wales who was linked to the Bloomsbury Group. Search Nina Hamnett in the catalogue. 10. Ivor Novello [1893-1951] was a popular 20th century entertainer from Cardiff. NLW MS 23204D. – Ivor Novello papers NLW MS 23696E. – Ivor Novello letters 11. Rhys Davies [1901-1978] Rhys Davies Papers 12. Kate Roberts [1891-1985], known as the Queen of our Literature, was married to Morris T. Williams [1900-1946], while he had an affair with Edward Prosser Rhys [1901-1945]. E. Prosser Rhys is best known for his winning poem ‘Atgof’ in the 1924 Eisteddfod, exploring his bisexual relationships. Alan Llwyd, in his autobiography of Roberts, theorised that she may have also been bisexual. Papurau Kate Roberts 13. Margiad Evans [1909-1958] was a novelist who again was married, but it is more well known that she had a relationship with Ruth Farr, while her novelists explore themes of sexuality. Her novels, manuscripts and autobiography are at the Library, as well as writings on her, such as by Ceridwen Lloyd-Morgan, and her archived papers and letters: NLW Facs 870 – Margiad Evans Diary NLW ex 2790 (i & ii) – Margiad Evans family papers Margiad Evans Papers Margiad Evans Manuscripts NLW MS 23893E. – Margiad Evans Letters NLW MS 23994F. – Poems by Margiad Evans 14. Jan Morris. [1926-] is a Welsh writer and historian, and trans woman. She wrote Conundrum on her experiences with gender transition, as well as books on Wales, and is an important and influential Welsh LGBT figure. Jan Morris Papers

There are many more LGBT+ people from Wales increasingly being written about in queer history and Welsh history. John Davies was a leading Welsh historian who was LGBT and Jeffrey Weeks is a leading sexuality historian from the Rhondda. Other sources used by Welsh LGBT historians, such as Shopland, are newspaper articles, such as those available through the Welsh Newspapers Online. Mair Jones, MA History of Wales, Aberystwyth University. Further Reading Osborne, Huw. Queer Wales. Shopland, Norena. Forbidden Lives. Tate, Tim. Pride. Weeks, Jeffrey. Icons & Allies.

Cymru & Mis Hanes LHDT+

Dyma gofnod gwadd gan Mair Jones.

Cymru & Mis Hanes LHDT+ Am bymtheg mlynedd, ystyriwyd mis Chwefror fel mis i ddathlu hanes pobl lesbiaidd, hoyw, deurywiol, trawsrywiol a queer, ac unrhyw un arall gall ffitio i’r ambarél LHDT+. Mae Mis Hanes LHDT+ 2018 wedi gweld y mwyaf o ddigwyddiadau yng Nghymru eto – fel digwyddiad Pride Cymru yn y Senedd

O astudio Hanes LHDT+ Cymru, rwyf wedi darganfod bod y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol yn llawn adnoddau cynradd ac eilradd Hanes LHDT+ Cymru. Bydd unrhyw un sydd wedi defnyddio eu archifau yn gwybod ei fod yn adnodd gwych i ddatgelu hanesion personol – fel hanesion menywod yng Nghymru. Mae hanesion pobl LHDT+ Cymru hefyd yn dal i gael eu datgelu. Mis yma, neu yn unrhyw fis arall, darllenwch darllen hanes person LHDT + Cymraeg, dathlwch, ac efallai helpwch i ddatgelu hanes pobl LHDT+ Cymru.

Dyma bedwar ar ddeg o ffigurau allweddol mewn hanes LHDT+ Cymru y gellir eu hymchwilio yn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – i’w ddathlu’r mis hwn, a gobeithio o fewn hanes Cymru.

1. ‘Ladies of Llangollen.’ Rhain yw’r ffigyrau LHDT+ mwyaf adnabyddus o Gymru. Yr oeddent yn Sarah Ponsonby [1755-1831] ac Eleanor Butler [1739-1829], dwy fenyw Gwyddelig a wnaeth ddianc o’u teuluoedd i fyw eu bywydau gyda’i gilydd ym Mhlas Newydd yn Llangollen. Ysgrifennwyd llawer amdanynt y gellir eu darllen yn y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol. Mae archifau sy’n gysylltiedig iddynt yn cynnwys portreadau, llythyrau, ffacsimilïau o’u llyfrau cyfrif, adnoddau electronig a phapurau eraill. NLW MS 21682C – Letters from Ladies of Llangollen NLW MS 23699E, ff. 135-137. – Letters of the Ladies of Llangollen NLW MS 23980F, ff. 24-25. – Ladies of Llangollen letters NLW MS 22768D. – Ladies of Llangollen letters Cardiff MS 2.908. – Ladies of Llangollen Bodrhyddan Estate Papers, Deeds and Documents 57 – Letter: Sarah Ponsonby [one of ‘The Ladies of Llangollen’] to Miss Williams Wynn. Endorsed ‘Last Letter from Miss Ponsonby’ NLW Facs 18. – ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ account book NLW Facs 19. – ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ account book NLW MS 19697B. – A personal and household account book of the ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ in the hand of Sarah Ponsonby Mae ysgrifau eraill arnynt yn cynnwys cyfrifon ohonynt o’r amser, Papers of the ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ gan Ceridwen Lloyd-Morgan ac erthygl Susan Valladares arnynt yn gyfarfod Anne Lister.

2. Roedd Katherine Philips [1631-1664] yn fardd Anglo-Gymreig y mae Norena Shopland wedi darganfod fel y ‘Welsh Sappho.’ Mae Philips yn un o’r enghreifftiau cynharaf o farddoniaeth o gwmpas ‘gyfeillgarwch rhamantus’. NLW MS 775B. – Katherine Philips poetry NLW MS 776B. – Katherine Philips poetry NLW Facs 739. – Katherine Philips poem NLW Films 943-6 – Katherine Philips Microfilms NLW MS 21702E. – Barddoniaeth amrywiol

3. Roedd Frances Power Cobbe [1822-1904] a Mary Charlotte Lloyd [1819-1896], fel Ponsonby a Butler, yn byw yng Nghymru gyda’i gilydd. Roedd Cobbe yn swffraget adnabyddus, ac awdur – roedd Mary Lloyd yn gerflunydd o Gymru a oedd yn byw gyda’i fel ei phartner. Mae’r ffynonellau ar Lloyd yn bennaf o ysgrifau Cobbe. Minor Deposit 1309-15. – Manuscripts of Frances Power Cobbe of Hengwrt, Dolgellau, religious philosopher, &c NLW ex 1865-7 – Frances Power Cobbe Bequest

4. Roedd Sarah Jane Rees (Cranogwen) [1839-1916] yn awdur, golygydd, morwr, darlithydd, a golygydd Y Frythones, ac roedd mewn perthynas lesbiaidd gydol oes, fel y ysgrifennwyd gan Jane Aaron yn Queer Wales. Sarah Jane Rees (‘Cranogwen’) Cerddi i Maggie Eurona gan Cranogwen NLW MS 23895A. – Anerchiad gan Cranogwen Sarah Jane Rees (‘Cranogwen’) poetry

5. Roedd Amy Dillwyn [1845-1935] yn ddiwydiannydd a ffeminist a gyhoeddodd nofelau â themâu lesbiaidd a chroes-wisgo. Gellir darllen y nofelau a gyhoeddwyd gan Honno, ei chofiad gan David Painting ac ysgrifenniadau eraill amdani gan Kirsti Bohata yn y Llyfrgell. Amy Dillwyn papers

6. Mae’n debyg mai Gwen John [1876-1939] yw’r artist benywaidd mwyaf adnabyddus yng Nghymru – llai adnabyddus yw ei pherthynas â merched, fel Véra Oumançoff. Gwen John manuscripts

7. Cafodd Margaret Haig Mackworth, 2il Is-iarll Rhondda, [1883-1958] hefyd berthnasoedd â dynion a merched ac mae’n adnabyddus fel swffraget. Gellir dod o hyd i lyfrau amdani (h.y. gan Angela John) a ganddi yn y Llyfrgell.

8. Mae George Powell o Nanteos [1842-82] a’i rhywioldeb wedi cael ei ysgrifennu amdano gan Harry Heuser yn Queer Wales ac mae nifer o’i ysgrifau i’w darllen yn y Llyfrgell. NLW Facs 417. – Letters to George E. J. Powell, Nanteos Minor Deposits 1394-97. – Letters to George E. J. Powell from A.C. Swinburne

9. Nina Hamnett [1890-1956] oedd y ‘Queen of Bohemia,’ artist deurhywiol o Gymru oedd yn gysylltiedig a’r Grwp Bloomsbury.

10. Ivor Novello [1893-1951] NLW MS 23204D. – Ivor Novello papers NLW MS 23696E. – Ivor Novello letters

11. Rhys Davies [1901-1978] Rhys Davies Papers

12. Roedd Kate Roberts [1891-1985], a elwir yn Frenhines ein Llên, yn briod â Morris T. Williams [1900-1946], tra bu ganddo berthynas ag Edward Prosser Rhys [1901-1945]. Mae E. Prosser Rhys yn adnabyddus am ei gerdd fuddugol ‘Atgof’ yn Eisteddfod 1924, amdano ei berthnasoedd ddeurywiol. Teimlai Alan Llwyd, yn ei hunangofiant Roberts, ei bod hi hefyd wedi bod yn ddeurywiol. Papurau Kate Roberts

13. Roedd Margiad Evans [1909-1958] yn nofelydd a oedd eto’n briod, ond mae’n fwy adnabyddus bod ganddi berthynas â Ruth Farr, tra bod ei nofelau yn archwilio themâu rhywioldeb. Mae ei nofelau, ei lawysgrifau a’i hunangofiant yn y Llyfrgell, yn ogystal ag ysgrifennu arni, fel gan Ceridwen Lloyd-Morgan, a’i phapurau a’i llythyrau archif. NLW Facs 870 – Margiad Evans Diary NLW ex 2790 (i & ii) – Margiad Evans family papers Margiad Evans Papers Margiad Evans Manuscripts NLW MS 23893E. – Margiad Evans Letters NLW MS 23994F. – Poems by Margiad Evans

14. Mae Jan Morris [1926-] yn awdur a hanesydd Cymreig. Ysgrifennodd lyfr ar ei phrofiadau yn bod yn trawsryweddol yn ogystal â hanesion Cymru, ac mae’n ffigwr pwysig a dylanwadol LHDT+ Cymru. Jan Morris Papers

Mae yna llawer mwy o bobl LHDT + o Gymru yn cael eu hysgrifennu’n gynyddol mewn hanes queer a hanes Cymru. Roedd John Davies yn hanesydd blaenllaw yng Nghymru a oedd yn LHDT ac mae Jeffrey Weeks yn hanesydd rhywioldeb blaenllaw o’r Rhondda. Mae ffynonellau eraill a ddefnyddiwyd gan haneswyr LHDT Cymru, megis Shopland, yn erthyglau papur newydd, fel y rhai sydd ar gael trwy Bapurau Newydd Cymru Arlein

Mair Jones, MA Hanes Cymru, Prifysgol Aberystwyth.

Darllen pellach: Osborne, Huw. Queer Wales. Shopland, Norena. Forbidden Lives. Tate, Tim. Pride. Weeks, Jeffrey.

[queerwelsh]

Following LGBT+ History Month and St David’s Day, here’s a post celebrating Welsh LGBT+ History, with links to posts I’ve made so far! / Yn dilyn Mis Hanes LHDT+ a Dydd Gwyl Dewi, dyma dathliad bach o Hanes LHDT+ Cymru, gyda ddolennau i’r blogiau amdanynt. 

Sarah Jane Rees (Cranogwen) 1839-1916. ‘LGBT+ history - a taboo in Welsh history?’ (Click here to see more posts featuring Cranogwen.)

Amy Dillwyn, 1845-1935. Her novel Jill was published in 1884, which is included in a blog on LGBT themes in Honno Classics. Hefyd yn rhestr darllen Y Stamp.

Margiad Evans, 1909-1958. Also included in that blog, I also wrote about her in the Drudwen blog, and posted photos of her from Women in Trousers.

Kate Roberts, 1891-1985, was also perhaps a queer figure - see more posts on ‘queer lives,’ including Nina Hamnett and Mary Charlotte Lloyd. See also posts on E. Prosser Rhys (and his relationship with Morris Williams).

CYLCH was a Welsh 1990s lesbian and gay group based in Aberystwyth. See also John Davies’ coming out in the 1990s, and his LGBT History Month speech.

John Gibson, 1790-1866. Scultpures by Gibson at National Museum Cardiff.

Abdulla Taslameder features in ‘Welsh LGBT+ and Black History?’

LGSM badges at National Museum Cardiff - plus Mark Ashton posts (and badges.)

Jan Morris, born 1926, is a Welsh historian and writer, featured in this blog of National Library of Wales LGBT+ sources.

Thank you for following and supporting my Welsh LGBT+ history blog!

Diolch am ddilyn a chefnogi fy blog ar hanes LHDT+ Cymru!