A new update to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography has a special focus on modern Wales, adding the biographies of 45 men and women in many walks of Welsh life, from the late-nineteenth to the early 21st century.
The new biographies join more than 3,200 figures already in the Oxford DNB who were born or lived in Wales, from the 6th-century St Deiniol to footballer John Charles (1931-2004).
Swansea University’s Professor Chris Williams was an advisory editor for the update, featuring a selection of biographies connected with modern Wales.
Professor Williams said: “As an advisory editor for this update I was excited to help frame the selection of these 45 individuals and fascinated to discuss who should be included in to the new edition. It was a horizon-expanding experience.”
Professor Williams wrote two entries on the cartoonist J. M. Staniforth (1863-1921) and on the military hero, landowner, and politician Godfrey Charles Morgan, Viscount Tredegar (1831-1913).
“In reading and reviewing entries supplied by others, a key advisory editor role, it became evident that historical Welsh society was more varied than the conventional stereotypes of politicians, nonconformists, and rugby heroes,” Professor Williams added.
Other figures associated with the Swansea valley whose biographies appear in the latest release are David Thomas (1794-1882), Daniel Protheroe (1866-1934) and Menna Gallie (1919-1990).
Professor Williams has written a full blog post for the Oxford University Press, examining historical biography and the newly updated Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. http://blog.oup.com/2011/05/odnb-wales/.
The Oxford DNB online is freely available in public libraries across the UK, offering ‘remote access’ which allows library members to log-in and read the dictionary online. Visit www.oxforddnb.com for more details.
