Iorwerth Peate, also known as Cyfeiliog, (27 February 1901 – 19 October 1982) was a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...

poet and scholar, best known as the founder, along with Cyril Fox, of

St Fagans National History Museum St Fagans National Museum of History ( ; cy, Sain Ffagan: Amgueddfa Werin Cymru, links=no), commonly referred to as St Fagans after the village where it is located, is an open-air museum in Cardiff chronicling the historical lifestyle, cultu ...

. 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 Aberystwyth University ( cy, Prifysgol Aberystwyth) is a Public university, public Research university, research university in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding member institution of the former federal University of Wales. The universi ...

under professor

Herbert John Fleure Herbert John Fleure, (6 June 1877 – 1 July 1969) was a British zoologist and geographer. He was secretary of the Geographical Association, editor of ''Geography'', and president of the Cambrian Archaeological Association (1924–25), Roy ...

and writer

T. Gwynn Jones Professor Thomas Gwynn Jones C.B.E. (10 October 1871 – 7 March 1949), more widely known as T. Gwynn Jones, was a leading Welsh poet, scholar, literary critic, novelist, translator, and journalist who did important work in Welsh literature, W ...

. Peate received an M.A. in 1924 for a dissertation on the anthropology, dialect and folklore of the people living in the Dyfi valley. 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, a ...

. 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. C ...

and Meirioneth, before being appointed in 1927 to catalogue the National Museum of Wales' 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. Peate published work on the study of folk life in both English and

. He was a pacifist who registered as a

conscientious objector A conscientious objector (often shortened to conchie) is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion. The term has also been extended to obje ...

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 by both the

National University of Ireland The National University of Ireland (NUI) ( ga, Ollscoil na hÉireann) is a federal university system of ''constituent universities'' (previously called '' constituent colleges'') and ''recognised colleges'' set up under the Irish Universit ...

and the

University of Wales The University of Wales (Welsh language, Welsh: ''Prifysgol Cymru'') is a confederal university based in Cardiff, Wales. Founded by royal charter in 1893 as a federal university with three constituent colleges – Aberystwyth, Bangor and Cardiff � ...

. 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 {{Wales-writer-stub