Iorwerth Peate, also known as Cyfeiliog, (27 February 1901 – 19 October 1982) was a
Welsh poet and scholar, best known as the founder, along with
Cyril Fox, of
St Fagans National History Museum.
Born in
Llanbrynmair into a family of carpenters, Peate's interest in folk studies and anthropology was kindled when studying Colonial History and Geography at
Aberystwyth University under professor
Herbert John Fleure and writer
T. Gwynn Jones.
Peate received an M.A. in 1924 for a dissertation on the anthropology, dialect and folklore of the people living in the
Dyfi valley
Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) is a youth organisation in India. It was founded in its inaugural conference held from 1–3 November 1980 at Shaheed Kartar Singh Saraba village in Ludhiana, Punjab.
DYFI identifies itself to be an i ...
.
While studying at Aberystwyth, Peate won university prizes for his poetry and for his participation in the
eisteddfod
In Welsh culture, an ''eisteddfod'' is an institution and festival with several ranked competitions, including in poetry and music.
The term ''eisteddfod'', which is formed from the Welsh morphemes: , meaning 'sit', and , meaning 'be', means, ac ...
.
Peate began his career by lecturing in rural
Ceredigion
Ceredigion ( , , ) is a county in the west of Wales, corresponding to the historic county of Cardiganshire. During the second half of the first millennium Ceredigion was a minor kingdom. It has been administered as a county since 1282. Cer ...
and
Meirioneth, before being appointed in 1927 to catalogue the
National Museum of Wales
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, c ...
' folk collections.
Inspired by the open-air museums of Scandinavia, Peate had a vision of recreating this style of attraction for Welsh life and culture.
His initial attempts were challenged by those outside and inside the academic world. The work on the museum commenced in 1946, thanks to the donation of land from the
Earl of Plymouth
Earl of Plymouth is a title that has been created three times: twice in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
History
The first creation was in 1675 for Charles FitzCharles, one of the dozens of illegitima ...
.
Peate published work on the study of folk life in both
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
and
Welsh. He was a pacifist who registered as a
conscientious objector in 1941 and believed in a monoglot Welsh-speaking Wales.
Peate was a judge for the
National Eisteddfod for a number of years.
Peate received a number of honours over his life. He was awarded an
honorary doctorate
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hon ...
by both the
National University of Ireland and the
University of Wales
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, mottoeng = The Best Inspiration is Truth
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.
He declined a 1963 New Years honour appointment as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Peate and his wife Nansi are buried in the Unitarian chapel on the grounds of St Fagans National History Museum.
Published works
* ''Gyda'r wawr'' (1923)
* ''Guide to the Collection of Welsh Bygones'' (1929)
* ''Cymru a'i phob'' (1931)
* ''Y crefftwr yng Nghymru'' (1933)
* ''Guide to the Collection Illustrating Welsh Folk Crafts and Industries'' (1935)
* ''The Welsh House: a Study in Folk Culture'' (1940)
* ''Diwylliant gwerin Cymru'' (1942)
* ''Clock and Watch Makers in Wales'' (1945)
* ''Canu Chwarter Canrif'' (1957)
* ''Tradition and Folk Life: a Welsh View'' (1972)
* ''Diwylliant Gwerin Cymru'' (1975)
* ''Rhwng Dau Fyd'' (1976)
References
1901 births
1982 deaths
20th-century Welsh poets
Alumni of Aberystwyth University
People from Montgomeryshire
Welsh conscientious objectors
Welsh-language writers
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