Spanish Civil War: an introduction
Resources at the South Wales Miners' Library
The South Wales Miners’ Library hold a range of resources relating to the Spanish Civil War which includes printed and archival material on the history of the South Wales Coalfield. Much of the collection relates to the National Union of Mineworkers (South Wales Area) and its predecessor, the South Wales Miners’ Federation (SWMF) (founded in 1898) and its branches or lodges. However, it also includes a significant collection of materials relating to the Spanish Civil War and the part played by Welsh volunteers, many of whom were politically active miners from the South Wales coalfield. It also contains material about the support given by some mining communities to the Republican cause.
Commemorative Plaque
In 1976 a plaque was unveiled to commemorate the Welshmen who were killed in the Spanish Civil War. The plaque is on display in the South Wales Miners’ Library.
Left to right: Principal Robert Steel, Jim Brewer, Secretary of the International Brigades Association (Cymru) and two former General Secretaries of the NUM South Wales, Dai Francis and Will Paynter.
Printed Collection
The printed collection includes:
Books and magazines from the 1936 - 1939 period, including Volunteer for Liberty and Left Book Club publications.
Books
Alexander, Bill. British volunteers for liberty: Spain 1936-1939, Lawrence & Wishart, 1982
Felstead, Richard. No other way: Jack Russia and the Spanish Civil War, Alun Books, 1981
Francis, Hywel. Miners against fascism, Lawrence & Wishart, 1984
Images of the Spanish Civil War, Allen & Unwin, 1986
In the footsteps of the Spanish Civil War: a guide to South Wales monuments to the International Brigades, Ray Davies, 2005
‘No pasaran’: Wales and the Spanish Civil War, University College Swansea, 1976
Stradling, R A. Wales and the Spanish Civil War: the dragon’s dearest cause? University of Wales Press, 2004
Stratton, Harry. To anti-fascism by taxi, Alun Books, 1984
Pamphlet Collection
The South Wales Miners’ Library holds a large collection of pamphlets dating from the Spanish Civil War. Many are held in the general collection, but some can be found in personal collections, including the collections of
- Brinley Griffiths
- Glyn Evans
- Lance Rogers
- T.J. Jones
Oral History Collection
The oral history collection includes recorded interviews with Spanish Civil War veterans who went from the South Wales mining communities to fight against Fascism in Spain. The collection also includes other recordings pertaining to the Spanish Civil War, including recordings for radio documentaries.
The collection includes interviews with:
- AUD/1 Edwin Greening
- AUD/2 Jim Brewer
- AUD/3 Michael O’Donoghue
- AUD/4 J C Harris
- AUD/5 Thomas Evan Nicholas
- AUD/6 Jack ‘Russia’ Roberts
- AUD/10 Alun Menai Williams
- AUD/12 Archie Cook
- AUD/13 Dick Beamish
- AUD/14 Billy Griffiths
- AUD/15 Edwin Greening
- AUD/73 Jack ‘Russia’ Roberts
- AUD/74 Jack ‘Russia’ Roberts
The oral history collection may be searched online at www.swansea.ac.uk/swcc
Video Collection
The video collection includes interviews with a member of the International Brigade, a volunteer who helped run a Basque children's home and a member of the Spanish community in Wales. There are also documentaries about the Spanish Civil War and video footage of photographs and posters relating to the War.
Poster Collection
The South Wales Miners’ Library holds an invaluable collection of original posters from the Spanish Civil War. The posters are in Spanish and English.
Please contact the South Wales Miners’ Library for further information about the poster collection.
Catalogues and Links
Search the library catalogue: http://ifind.swansea.ac.uk
Search the South Wales Coalfield Collection: www.swansea.ac.uk/swcc
Search the CWM (Coalfield Web Materials) website: http://www.agor.org.uk/cwm/learning_paths/spanish_sources.asp (to view some Posters and listen to selected Audio clips)
Richard Burton Archives: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/library/richard-burton-archives/
Contact Us
South Wales Miners’ Library
Hendrefoelan Campus
Gower Road
Swansea
SA2 7NB
Tel: 01792 518603
Email: miners@swansea.ac.uk
Web: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/library/south-wales-miners-library/