Thomas Richards, 1878-1962, historian and essayist was born at Tal-y-bont, Cardiganshire and educated at the University of Wales, Bangor, formerly known as the University College of North Wales. He started his career as a history teacher and in 1926 was appointed to the post of Librarian at his old college, in which he remained until his retirement in 1946. In the course of his career at the University College of North Wales he continued the work begun by his predecessor Thomas Shankland in the collection and cataloguing of books and periodicals and made a major contribution to the university libraryCHapos;s establishment as one of the foremost centres of learning in Wales.
His particular research interest was nonconformist church history in Wales and his published works include A History of the Puritan Movement in Wales, 1639-53 (1920), Religious Developments in Wales, 1654-62 (1923), Wales under the Penal Code, 1662-87 (1925), Wales under the Indulgence, 1672-75 (1928), Cymru a'r Uchel Gomisiwn, (1929). He was also the author of two autobiographical volumes, Atgofion Cardi (1960) and Rhagor o Atgofion Cardi (1963) and essays and radio talks published in Rhwng y Silffoedd (1978). He edited Transactions of the Welsh Baptist Historical Society and the Journal of the Welsh Bibliographical Society, and was a member of the Board of Celtic Studies.
From the guide to the Dr Thomas Richards papers, 1587-1961, (Bangor University)
