| Description | Track 1 [00:53:07] [Session one:23 January 2017] Prys Morgan [PM]. Recalls appointment as Assistant Lecturer of History at University College of Swansea [now Swansea University] in 1964. Describes progression from Lecturer to Reader and Personal Chair until retirement in 2002, became Professor Emeritus. Recounts initial field of study as European History before specialising further in Welsh History. Continued to study Welsh History in retirement. [00:01:35] Comments on father’s [T.J.Morgan TJM] career as Professor of Welsh at Swansea University in 1961, serving as Federal Universities Registrar since 1951, and appointment as Lecturer of Welsh at University College Cardiff [now Cardiff University] in 1930. Remarks on TJM being the youngest ever lecturer at age 23.
TJM previously did research at the National University of Ireland, Dublin and studied as an undergraduate at Swansea University from 1924. [00:02:27] Description of parents meeting at Swansea University and marrying in 1935. PM’s mother [Huana Rees - HR] studied at Swansea University from 1923. [00:02:51] Describes how PM’s great uncle Morgan Watkin [MW] became Professor of French at Cardiff University in c.1920; worked as envoy of Lloyd George in Zurich, dealt with Vladimir Lenin. MW rewarded with lectureship at University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg [previously South African School of Mines and Technology], followed by Professorship at Cardiff University. MW invited to serve as temporary Professor of French at Swansea University in 1959. [00:05:02] PM discusses parents’ studies at Swansea University. TJM studied history and HR studied welsh. Remarks that HR was aged 17 entering university, and could afford studies through teacher training agreement. Remarks on dull nature of history lectures. Comparison with dynamic lectures of Welsh Department including those by Saunders Lewis [SL], mentions that TJM transferred to Welsh Department. Describes parents meeting, courtship at student Eisteddfod. Anecdote about Cesar Franck’s sonata. PM describes long courtship of parents due to lack of money. [00:11:57] Describes maternal great grandfather owning a mine, financial ruin after the strike of 1926. HR’s ill health caused by her father’s bankruptcy, which affected degree classification. Describes HR’s teacher training, MA research with SL, and HR teaching in the Rhymney Valley, south Wales during a period of severe unemployment. [00:13:55] PM reflects on poverty of students during parents’ studies, and tells HR’s anecdote about a 2 penny meatless lunch. Remarks on the formal nature of women’s dress during the 1920s. Contrasts poverty with rich students owning cars, children of friends of university founders. Anecdote about HR’s friend Bessie Cann who came to university on horseback. Describes the mixing of different social classes. [00:21:26] Remarks on the attitudes of university founders that lead to the dismissal of SL after the 1936 arson attack on the RAF Penrhos bombing school in Llyn. Describes how these interventions continued into the 1960s. Anecdote about Lewis Jones treating lecturers as employees in a company, members of the science department rebuked for perceived wastage of electricity during experiments. [00:24:43] Description of SL as a wonderful lecturer. Description of the high quality lecture s given by SL, remark about SL’s emotive Catholic belief. [00:27:05] Description of Isabel Westcott [IW], IW’s long tenure and her lecture style, anecdote about Kingsley Amis.
Track 1 [cont from 00:28:55] Further description of IW’s lectures. PM describes IW disrupting an exam during invigilation during the summer of 1965 by distributing tea and biscuits. [00:33:04] Description of HR one of the first women to attend Swansea University [00:33:18] [interview interrupted due to phonecall]. PM recounts HR’s association with the original students of the 1920s, recalling the amateur nature of the early university. [00:35;15] Recollection of HR receiving an honorary fellowship from Swansea University, presentation by Charles, Prince of Wales. [00:36:08] Description of Swansea University struggling to compete in sports due to small size, could not compete in Eisteddfod due to lack of music department. Anecdote about a boiler man who worked at Singleton Abbey. Describes the high quality of the Swansea University rugby team despite the small size of university. [00:38:42] Description of the raucous nature of early graduation ceremonies, anecdote about the P.A .Little song. Reflections on raucous nature of college dances and sports events. Description of the more sedate Pianola dances hosted by the University Registrar, Edwin Drew. [00:41:36] Description of contrast between TJM’s life before university with PM’s life at university. TJM’s lifelong passion of buying oriental carpets and expensive private press books. Description of early Swansea University students as being perceived as elite by public. Description of the process behind TJM’s scholarship, examination and foregoing state scholarships. Recollection of houses sold by both grandparents to fund HR’s MA Degree. [00:46:49] Description of early university culture. Description of deluge of satirical articles published in college magazines, university life as secularising experience for many from religious backgrounds. Recollections of disciplinary action after incidents of drunken damage at rugby away games. Description of how lack of accommodation inhibited development of undergraduate life, most students living at home. [00:50:00] Discussion of TJM’s irreligious background. Description of lack of college bar, instead drinking in local pubs. Mentions mix of academic subjects broadened horizons of early students from different backgrounds. [end of track 1]
Track 2 [01:14:08] [Session one:23 January 2017] Prys Morgan [PM] Describes studying at Oxford after National Service between 1956 and 1958, served as Russian military interpreter. Describes year abroad, learning German and working for Swarovski. Studied 3 years undergraduate at St John’s College and 3 years research at St Antony’s College, Oxford. [00:00:56] Describes looking for job during time of expansion of universities between 1963 and 1965. Recalls initial meeting with Glanmor Williams [GW], suggests GW had planned meeting to persuade PM to join Swansea University History department. Remarks of initial impression of lively history department. Describes later in 1964 applying for job at Swansea University and successfully getting it. Remarks beautiful views across Swansea Bay to the south Wales Coalfield and Singleton Park from lecture rooms. Recounts sharing a room with Terry Lloyd. [00:04:39] Describes first day and introduction to P.M Thomas [PMT], secretary of the History department. Anecdote about use of military terms, PMT’s service as Secretary to General Sir Frederick Morgan. Describes small and gossipy nature of campus. Recalls relative inexperience at lecturing, initial lectures were too intensive. [00:09:37] Describes friendships with fellow lecturers John Davies [JD] and Eleonore Bruening [EB]. Recalls JD’s great manner with undergraduates. Describes EB as always able to talk about continental European matters. PM’s bond with EB over German Foreign Office document work, mutual German speaking, interest in Europe. Describes lecturing at Swansea University in the 1960s as the happiest time of PM’s life. Recalls relatively free environment of History department. Describes GW’s Stakhanovite approach to work and leadership. [00:13:40] Recalls getting to know staff outside of History department. Describes TJM’s invitation to help Welsh department with student play production. Recalls staff lunch and coffee times, opportunity for departments to mix. Mentions Principal Frank Llewellyn Jones. Describes social activities of Staff Club. Remarks on staff living in the areas of Sketty and the Uplands, discusses the expansion of housing in Swansea. Anecdote about Sydney Anglo taking a house in Sussex. PM mentions the development of departments. Discussion of staff plays and staff sports teams [00:22:40] Describes helping with examinations as Welsh speaker. Recalls beginnings of Welsh language protests by 1968 and 1969. Describes becoming Usher and Chief Usher in Degree ceremonies, reflects on how this helped PM to get to know students. Discusses the development of the Graduation Ceremony from the 1960s to the 1980s. Anecdote about the ‘academic waddle’, and PM teaching academics to walk at graduation [00:29:17] Further remarks about friendship with JD, role of JD influencing PM’s interest in Welsh History. Describes prominence of young Welsh History academics, compares to Oxford academics’ interest in English History.
[Track 2 cont from 00:31:09] Recalls further move to personal interest in Welsh History with growth of department. Description of meeting Neville Masterman (NM), remarks about the voracious reading habits of NM. Description of PM’s interest in NM’s anecdotes about 1920s London political life and life in 1930s Hungary. Further description of meeting academics from other departments such as Willie Smith [WS]. Anecdote about WS’s lack of written publications but popular lecturing method. Description of WS’s eccentric transport timetable collecting habit. PM’s view that his education was completed during the early stages of lecturing and interaction with other lecturers. Description of NM’s recollection of a circle of academics around Erich Heller in the 1940s. [00:37:26] Description of the expansion of the university that had begun under Principal John.S Fulton[ JSF]. Descriptions of lecturing in unused science building from the original construction. PM mentions TJM’s high opinion of JSF as a visionary, contrasted with opinion of W.C Costin, President of St John’s College, Oxford. Anecdote about role of TJM in encouraging JSF to found University of Sussex. Discussion of the legacy of JSF on the physical development of the campus. Recalling enmity between town council and JSF. [00:43:37] Discussion of JSF’s replacement by John Parry [JP]. Description of JP’s nature [00:44:11 - phone ringing in background] anecdote about PM’s family visit to the house of JP. Remark about JP’s way with women, JP’s departure for Harvard. {00:47:41] PM thoughts on relationship between university and town. Discussion of PM’s family heritage in Swansea. [00:49:37] Description of the campus on PM’s arrival, change from university centred on the Abbey. PM describes TJM’s annoyance at growing divide between teaching staff and administrative staff, bad treatment of administration staff by academic staff. Description of small size of staff faculties in early days of the university [00:53:12] Description of the importance of the new library building during PM’s tenure, replacing original building that was built in 1937. Description of the importance of Fulton House. Discussion of interior design of Fulton House. Anecdote about Europa Hotel and Ceri Richards’ painting. Description of Fulton House as a wonderful social centre [0:56:51] Further discussion of PM’s happiness during the 1960s. Relaxed nature of department. [00:57;30] Discussion of student protest during the 1960s and 70s. Later nature of left wing student politics in 1970-1973. Role of TJM as Deputy Principal in dealing with protests. Spread of protests across the country starting in the mid-1960s. Description of agitation revolving around the Philosophy Department. Description of Trade Union disputes and strikes by technical staff. Incident of students demonstrating outside of the Principal’s house. Description of eventual crackdown on student radicalism. Description of Welsh language protests. Anecdote about students blocking the Mumbles Road in protest. Description of strike actions shutting down the campus. [1:09:29] Discussion of protests surrounding women’s accommodation at Beck Hall. Highly strict moral nature of women’s accommodation. Anecdote about PM’s visit to Beck Hall. [end of track 2]
Track 3 [00:42:22] [Session two: 2nd February 2017] PM discusses becoming a university lecturer, shocked by friendly nature of staff. Anecdote about marking exams [ 0:05:33} Description of junior lecturers and staff acting as chaperones at student dances, anecdote about The Who performing at the student dance in the 1960s [00:09:05] Description about staff room conversations, learning history of the university. Anecdote about Hebert Hill (HH) and meeting of HH’s wife with Edith Summerskill. Description of attitudes towards wives of academics [00:15:17] HH anecdote about SL. Description of University pride in 1920s and reporting of lectures in newspapers. Description of SL’s character [00:21:36] Description of socialisation between departments, mixing of academic disciplines. Further discussion of role of staff club. Description of meeting Professor Mary Williams (MW), Anecdote about MW flying across the sea in 1909. Remark about dedication of women’s hostel [Neuadd Mary Williams] to MW, MW’s speech at the inaugural dinner. Remark about popularity of Marie Stopes amongst PM’s mother’s generation. Professor Henry Lewis’ negative opinion of MW. Comments on nature of women in the workplace as having to be thick skinned in order to survive. Mentions Armel DeVeres and Poul DeVeres (sp) Talks about MW and her marriage to Dr Arbour Stephens [AS], talks about AS. [00:30:32] Discussion of importance of extra-mural classes. Remark on GW’s view of teaching extra-mural classes as training for lecturing. [00:32:17] Discussion of the importance of the University Education department. Description of importance of Education Department in helping poorer students. Recollection of HR sent to art training by the Education Department. Anecdote about HR being taught by Percy Gleaves [PG]. Recollection of PG’s painting of the laying of the foundation stone of the university. [00:37:22] Discussion of role of Welsh language at university. Remark on bilingual signs found in Singleton Abbey. Recollection of foundation of Welsh Language Society by JD. Anecdote about toilet signs in 1940s [end of track 3]
Track 4 [00:55:09] Description of the events of 1970s recession on the university, more serious and fearful atmosphere from 1973 to the 1980s. Fears of university closures during the Margaret Thatcher era. PM mentions that his brother Rhodri Morgan was warned that Swansea University might be abolished. Description of students becoming more serious, contrast with 1960s. Recollection of growing competition for academic jobs. [00:05:52] Description of PM’s sadness as lecturers left the History department. Anecdotes about Kevin Morgan [KM]. Description of KM being given a standing ovation by students. Discussion of KM’s charisma. Departure of KM to Queens College, Oxford. GW’s reaction to KM’s departure. Influence of KM in developing study of Welsh Political History. Recollection of KM saying his happiest were at Swansea University. [00:10:27] Recollection of new appointments to the History department. Description of close paternal relationship between GW and Dai Smith [DS]. Departure of DS to Cardiff. Description of arrival of John Law [JL] and Hugh Dunthorne [HD] to the department. Description of JL and HD’s influence on PM’s growing interest in cultural history. Description of HD’s interest in music and art. Recollection of HD’s ability to discuss 18th century history. [00:14:02] PM’s transition to specialisation in Welsh History. Anecdote about PM’s role in early Erasmus program, teaching Welsh History. {00:19:07] Description of PM’s relationship with Erasmus and North American students. Anecdotes about differences between students of different nationalities. Description of differences between European universities and Swansea University. Anecdote about dismissive approach of French universities to British qualifications.
[Track 4 Cont from 00:24:36] Discussion of PM’s relationship with University of Brest [University of Western Brittany], delivering lectures in Welsh History [00:29:06] Description of PM’s bonds with academics. Discussion of EB’s family background. EB’s interment during the war. [00:31:12] Description of tensions surrounding merger between Economic History and History department. Anecdote about PM’s farewell dinner, continued tensions between History and Economic History staff. Description of cuts to staff numbers. Reflection on and contrast with academic paradise of the 1960s. Description of wide range of extra mural activities participated in by PM early in career [00:37:25} Description of the effect of large growth in student numbers during 1980s and 1990s. Beginning of divide between students and lecturers. Description of development of more impersonal university experience.[00:40:20] Anecdote about run up to PM’s retirement. Description of lack of appointment in Welsh History to replace PM. PM writes to Bob Evans at Oxford to appeal to University for funding of Welsh History. [00:46:39] PM discusses reasons for retirement, PM’s mother’s increasing age. PM’s easy adjustment to retired life, nursing his mother. PM’s lack of contact with the university after retirement. Further discussion of the freedom of 1960s and personal happiness. Discussion about debates around Welsh History. Anecdote about Labour and Plaid Cymru rivalry. Anecdote about sea swimming lessons. Discussion of 1960s experience as experience of a new generation. [End of track 4]
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