Person

Davies, Margaret Beatrice

Margaret Beatrice Davies [BD] born in Llanddewi Brefi and attended the Technical College in Cardiff; while in Cardiff BD received a message from home to tell her about work being advertised at the National Library of Wales (NLW); BD started working at NLW in 1923 as short hand typist for Syr John Ballinger [JB], Librarian; stories about JB, his personality, and life at work; talks about Syr William Llewelyn Davies [WLD] as Librarian; BD mentions building the book stack, the front of the building, then Central Hall; stories about burst in the basement, Royal visits, BD work in organising the visits such as selecting the flowers from Cors Caron, Tregaron; mentions staff leaving to go to war; NLW during war time (Second World War) - room held by the British Museum and Canadian Air force - talks of the collections being kept in the tunnels and the strong rooms during wartime - security officers at night protecting the National Gallery collection before they were moved to Blaenau Ffestiniog - collections arriving by rail and sea from 1939 till 1945; mentions Hengwrt, the home for the Librarian; BD going through her notebook of stories recorded during her time at NLW.