This enormous canvas (top) by Percy Gleaves (1882-1944) hangs on the landing of Singleton Abbey, having recently been restored.
Before laying the foundation stone (bottom left), King George V presents the Royal Charter to Frank Gilbertson, first President of the University College of Swansea. The foundation stone was subsequently “lost” in the Swansea Corporation yard for 17 years [15, p. 89] until it was re-laid in the wall of the 1937 Library (bottom right), the first purpose-built permanent building to be constructed on the campus.
The hefty chains holding the stone suggest industrial heavy engineering – not inappropriate to the founders of the institution. The sunny parkland setting and rather naive style of the painting add to the air of symbolism.
Recorded memoirs of Lee Hutchinson. Comments on returning to work after the 1921 lockout and signing new contracts with a reduction in wages, recalls lack of financial assistance and how his family survived on savings, reflects on the support provided by soup kitchens and the Parish. Also remembers the fine weather, playing cricket during the days and cards in the local institute in the evenings.
Recorded memoirs of Lee Hutchinson. Comments on returning to work after the 1921 lockout and signing new contracts with a reduction in wages, recalls lack of financial assistance and how his family survived on savings, reflects on the support provided by soup kitchens and the Parish. Also remembers the fine weather, playing cricket during the days and cards in the local institute in the evenings.
Lantern slide. Showing a view of Cairo. This photograph was taken by Sgt. Johnson of the 436 Welsh Field Company c. 1917. It formed part of a lecture which he gave. The notes from his lecture read 'mahmed Ali Mosque and Citadel at Cairo. The two minerets rise to a height of 150 feet and in the courtyard is a well 300 feet deep and level with the Nile. The interior is lit by 1000 electric lights and has a huge chandelier of bronze hanging from the Centre dome given by Louis 14th France who also gave a clock of solid bronze to be seen in the courtyard'. This view is similar to EC1794.
Original drawing of Frank Gilbertson by Harold Morgan (newspaper cartoonist of the “Cambria Daily Leader” and later “The South Wales Daily Post”) “regarded as more typical of him than any of the few photographs he ever permitted” [23].
Frank warned of serious economic problems on the horizon as the artificial prosperity of wartime gave way to normal international trading competition in peacetime. He appealed for cooperation from all sides of industry in meeting the reconstruction challenges ahead.
“We trust and believe that the buildings which are to rise upon this site will become the home of high ideals and lofty purpose and of unfailing efforts for the advancement of learning, the improvement of industry, and the betterment of civilisation.”, welcome address [16, p. 92] by Frank Gilbertson at the foundation ceremony, 19th July 1920.
Most of the “temporary” science “pavilions” built to the west of Singleton Abbey between 1922 and 1925 lasted more than 50 years [15, p. 98]. Student numbers [15, p. 119] grew from 89 in 1920-21, to 382 in 1925-26, reaching 485 in 1930-31, just after this photograph was taken
The arrival of the Particle Physics Theory Group in Swansea in 1992. From left to right are Professors Ian Halliday, Brian Clarkson (the College Principal), Albert Einstein and David Olive.
Slogan: Proletarians of all Countries Unite. To the fighting British Miners' wives from the working women of Krasnaya Presna. Moscow, June 1926
Dai Lloyd Davies, Secretary of Mardy Lodge brought the banner back from Moscow. He had accepted it on behalf of the British workers and their wives from the women of Krasnaya Presna, when he’d been in Moscow during the 1926 lockout to acknowledge the financial support given to South Wales miners by the Russians.
It was deposited at the SWML in 1974, having been located in the office of the Communist Party in Cardiff.
Jersey, New Zealand, 2015, Black with 'Adidas' logo, 'AIG' sponsor in white. Fern leaf motif and 'All Blacks' on left breast. signed in silver marker pen by 'All Blacks' Rugby World Cup Squad players.
Lantern slide. Showing the Island of Philae. This photograph was taken by Sgt. Johnson of the 436 Welsh Field Company c. 1917. It formed part of a lecture which he gave. The notes from his lecture read 'Another view of the granite rocks and here the great Assoun Dam can be seen in the distance. The ancient granite quarries lie in the eastern desert between Assouan and Shallel. In the quarry there lies a huge unfinished Obelisk....' This view is similar to EC1787.
Ireland jersey worn by Ireish wing Walter Bornemann, from Wales v Ireland on 12 march 1960. Presented by Swansea and Wales wing Dewi Bebb in 1966. Green with Irish shamrock emblem on breast. No number on back.
Lantern slide. Showing the Great Barrage of the Aswan dam. This photograph was taken by Sgt. Johnson of the 436 Welsh Field Company c. 1917. It formed part of a lecture which he gave. The notes from his lecture read 'Not far below the Island of Sehel stands the great barrage which was built for the purpose of storing water in Lower Nubia during the Winter in order to use it when the nile is low in the summer...'. This view is similar to EC1788 and EC1791.
Lantern slide. This photograph was taken by Sgt. Johnson of the 436 Welsh Field Company c. 1917. It formed part of a lecture which he gave. His notes read 'Cavalry pits made by the Turks for the defence of Tell Fara in the Wadi Ghuzzi near Gaza'.
