Donna C. Davies Welsh American collection
Finding aid created by San Francisco History Center staff using RecordEXPRESS
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
2022
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California 94102
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Title: Donna C. Davies Welsh American collection
Dates: 1872-1991
Collection Number: SFH 686
Creator/Collector:
Davies, Donna C., 1917-2000
Extent: 3 cartons and 1 document box
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: A collection of Welsh Society of San Francisco records, Welsh-American Society records, British Benevolent Society records,
St. David's Presbyterian Church San Francisco records, and Welsh Presbyterian Church of Oakland records
Language of Material: English
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Collections that are stored offsite should
be requested 48 hours in advance.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
[Identification of item]. Donna C. Davies Welsh American collection. Collection Number: SFH 686. San Francisco Public Library.
San Francisco History Center
Gift, Donna C. Davies, 1996.
Biography/Administrative History
Donna Claire Davies was born in 1917 in Portland, Oregon to Frederick and Clara Davies; her father was a Welsh native. She
served in the United States Navy during World War II. In October 1960 she was identified with the Northern California CADW-Cymru,
with Welsh language classes being held in her apartment. In late December 1963 she was secretary of a new Welsh Society in
San Francisco. Later an officer of the Welsh American Society of Northern California (WASNC), she also was president of the
British Benevolent Society, 1986-1987. She died in San Francisco in 2000.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection, assembled by Davies, includes: records of Welsh Presbyterian Church (later St. David's Presbyterian Church),
San Francisco, 1913-1962; Welsh Presbyterian Church of Oakland records, 1890-1967; Welsh Society of San Francisco records,
1963-1973; Welsh-American Society records, 1974-1991; and British Benevolent Society material, chiefly manuscripts of the
history compiled by Jean M. Simpson, 1983-1986. The earliest material in the collection relating to San Francisco is the Constitution,
By-Laws and Rules of Order of the Cambrian Mutual Aid Society of San Francisco, published 1879, in the Welsh Society History
folder, Box 2. Some early 20th century material published by the Cymrodorion Society of California, also based in San Francisco,
is included. Davies' correspondence with Welsh individuals in Northern California is extensive. The Welsh Society of San Francisco
published a newsletter, Pethau Cymraeg, and issues are scattered throughout the collection. Photographs of Welsh Society events
are found in the scrapbook Llyfr Hanes Cymdeithas Cymru Amerig, in Box 3. Box 3 also includes several National Gymanfa Ganu
programs, 1960-1979, as well as books about Wales, the Welsh in America, and Welsh hymnals.
British Americans--California--San Francisco
Welsh Americans--California--San Francisco
National Gymanfa Ganu
Simpson, Jean M., 1911-2000
British Benevolent Society (San Francisco, Calif.)
Welsh Society of San Francisco (San Francisco, Calif.)
Welsh American Society of North California
Welsh Presbyterian Church (San Francisco, Calif.)
St. David's Presbyterian Church (San Francisco, Calif.)
Welsh Presbyterian Church (Oakland, Calif.)
Cymrodorion Society of California