Edward Thomas collection and restoration

Cardiff University Special Collections and Archives focused on the poet Edward Thomas, who died in the Battle of Arras in 1917, by exploring its collection of his papers and hosting an international conference and exhibition featuring some of Edward’s treasured notebooks, formerly too fragile to consult.

The notebooks were repaired and restored by Glamorgan Archives thanks to funding from the National Manuscripts Conservation Trust. The exhibition attracted national publicity, and archive staff were interviewed by the Wales Arts Review and the BBC, alongside leading academics and contemporary writers influenced by Thomas’ work, including Gwyneth Lewis, the first National Poet of Wales. The Special Collections and Archives department hosted off-site events including a creative writing workshop, open-mic poetry reading, and pop-up exhibition with funding from Literature Wales. It facilitated a new English Literature module on literary archives, in which students made short films based on material in the collection. Staff developed themed teaching resource packs for schools, and delivered archive workshops with Literature Wales to key stage 4 pupils from Fitzalan School in Cardiff. Pupils prepared group presentations, and delivered them with our archivist at a public event at the Senedd.

Right: War poet Edward Thomas © Cardiff University Special Collections and Archives