David Edward Hughes letter and photograph

A letter, 29 July 1896, from the inventor and telegraph engineer David Edward Hughes, London, to his 'nephew' J[ohn] D[avies] Hughes, Corwen, discussing a copy of 'Joseph's Book' at the British Museum, J. D. Hughes's recent visit to London and D. E. Hughes's forthcoming trip to Berlin and Paris (f. 90). Also included is a copy, 1961, of a photographic portrait of David Edward Hughes (f. 92).
'Joseph's Book' is British Melodies (London, 1839), a volume of tunes composed by D. E. Hughes's brother, the musical prodigy Joseph Tudor Hughes (Blegwryd). Since D. E. Hughes's surviving siblings and their descendants all lived in the USA, J. D. Hughes will not have been his actual nephew; the precise familial connection is unclear.

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions set out in information provided when applying for their Readers' Tickets, whereby the reader shall become responsible for compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 in relation to any processing by them of personal data obtained from modern records held at the Library.

Ysgol Ardudwy; Harlech; Donation; November 2020; 991078309702419.

Title based on contents.

The letter (f. 90) was discovered in 2020 in a laboratory at Ysgol Ardudwy, Harlech, inserted in the frame of the portrait (f. 92). According to a note on f. 92 verso the photograph had been copied in 1961 with the help of Mr Brynle Hughes, the son of J. D. Hughes, Corwen; the letter was presumably given by him to the school at that time.

Bedwyr Williams, 'Dau Ysgolhaig Gwyddonol', Llais Ardudwy, November 2020, p. 9.

Published