Arthur ap Gwynn

Arthur ap Gwynn (1902-1987) was a university librarian, the third librarian of the University College of Wales. He was educated at Ardwyn County School Aberystwyth, and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he graduated with first class Honours in Welsh in 1923. From 1923 to 1925 he held a post in the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, and in 1926 completed an M.A. (Wales). Between 1926 and 1932 he worked in the Welsh department of Cardiff Free Library, but then returned to Aberystwyth to take up the post of Librarian of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. In 1942 he vacated his post at the National Library for three years to work as Librarian for National Service in Swansea, resuming his duties 1 June 1945. He continued in the position until retiring in 1967, his last words to the Governors were, "Given propitious circumstances, including universal acceptance of the urgency of the case, it is hoped that the middle years of the quinquennium may yet see the foundation of a new library laid." He lived to see the opening of the Hugh Owen Library 1 September 1976, and before he died he endowed it with a fund for the purchase of books on archaeology in memory of his wife and his son, Rhys, who had died in 1943.