Archifdy Ceredigion Archives
Emrys R D Prosser Collection

ACCESSION 1322 and 1447

Ref: PRO

IDENTITY STATEMENT

REFERENCE CODE: GB 0212 PRO
TITLE: Emrys R D Prosser Fonds
DATES: 1654-1999 [1950-1980s]
LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION: Fonds
EXTENT: 8 series, some with sub-series

CONTEXT

CREATOR: Emrys R D Prosser
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY: Emrys Rupert Desmond Prosser was born on 27 March 1920. In 1939 he moved from South Wales to Aberystwyth to study Geography at the University. In 1940 he left his studies to join the Searchlight Training Regiment at Kinmel Park, Abergele. He stayed with the Searchlights until 1944, when he joined the Dorset Regiment, which included a posting in India. He left the army, after attaining the rank of Sergeant, in 1946, and in the following Autumn he resumed his studies at Aberystwyth, graduating with honours in Geography in 1949 before undertaking a Teacher Training course at Swansea University from 1949-1950. He taught at Tregaron School from 1950. In 1953 he married Susie Mary Williams.
Mr. Prosser was a keen local history enthusiast, winning two Eisteddfod awards for his research, the first in 1951 for his research into lead mining in Wales, and the second, the Beatrice Grenfell Prize, in 1961 for his work on the Welsh in Australia. Mr. Prosser was also a keen genealogist, and undertook research relating to local families on behalf of individuals at home and abroad.

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE

SCOPE AND CONTENT: This collection consists of the personal papers and research papers of Mr. Emrys Prosser. Mr. Prosser was a keen local and family historian and as such much of this collection relates to Prosser’s research into the history of Tregaron and the surrounding area. Included amongst the personal papers are correspondence, military papers, certificates of achievement, and academic note books and projects. His research papers are mostly made up of notebooks relating to primary and secondary source research, maps, and newspaper cuttings. There are a substantial number of title deeds relating to properties in the Llanddewi Brefi and Tregaron area amongst the collection (these might be a collection of solicitor’s papers somehow acquired by Mr. Prosser), as well the original ledgers belonging to John Williams, Rhydyronen, Tregaron and a quantity of material relating to Capel Bwlchgwynt (Calvinistic Methodist), Tregaron. The collection also comprises a small number of Amstrad disks, thought to contain work relating to Mr. Prosser’s local and genealogical research, although for technical reasons it has not yet been possible to ascertain the contents of these disks and catalogue them accordingly.
APPRAISAL: Materials not thought to fit with the collection itself, or with the collecting policy of Ceredigion Archives have been removed from the collection. This has included: a number of pamphlets and guidebooks relating to tourist attractions outside Ceredigion, notebooks containing notes taken from sources widely available, and ephemera which has no obvious connection to Mr. Prosser and his family, his research, or the county.
ACCRUALS: No further accruals are expected.
SYSTEM OF ARRANGEMENT: This collection had no obvious arrangement at the time it was sorted and catalogued. The present arrangement reflects the activities and collecting practices of Mr. Prosser as closely as possible. There are eight series (some with sub-series) in total: Personal papers; Research papers; Talks and addresses; Slides; Title Deeds; Ledgers and Associated Materials of John Williams of Rhydyronen, Tregaron; Ephemera; Indices. Items have been arranged chronologically within these series, and related materials grouped together if appropriate.

CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE

CONDITIONS GOVERNING ACCESS: The status of this collection is open, although access to some correspondence may be limited due to the Data Protection Act.
LANGUAGE OF MATERIAL: English, Welsh, Latin]
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: This collection includes a number of Amstrad disks presumed to contain data relating to Mr. Prossers local history and genealogical research. For technical reasons it has not yet been possible to access the contents and catalogue these disks.

DESCRIPTION CONTROL

ARCHIVIST’S NOTE: This description was written by Jennie Hill, Cataloguing Archivist.
RULES OR CONVENTIONS: This description has been constructed using ISAD(G) 2nd Edition.
DATE OF DESCRIPTION: June 2006