Diaries of Joseph Jenkins

Identifier(s): MS 13267

Collection

Scope and Content

Describes Jenkins' experiences as an itinerant agricultural labourer in Victoria, mainly in the Ballarat, Castlemaine and Maldon areas. Includes comments on farming practices and public affairs, his opinion of them and their effect on rural communities. Contains many of his poems, some of which are in Welsh.

Dates

1869-1894

Creator

Jenkins, Joseph, 1818-1898 (Person)

Restrictions

Restricted access to physical items. Originals will not be issued. Refer to digital copies.

Biographical Information

Joseph Jenkins was born at Blaenplwyf, Cardiganshire, West Wales, and lived on his parents' farm until he married at the age of 28. He then had his own farm, named Trecefel, at Tregaron. He wrote poetry, specialising in the englynion, a Welsh verse form, and kept diaries from the age of 21 until he died. He left his wife and family and emigrated to Victoria in 1869, returning to his home in Wales in 1894.

Extent

66 cm. (25 volumes)

Language

English

Additional description

General note

Original ms.

With the exception of 1872 and 1879, draft transcripts are available for all volumes of the Jenkins diaries. The diaries are written in English for the most part but include some passages of text in Welsh. To date, transcripts and translations of the Welsh passages have been completed for the 1880 volume only. Transcripts in Word format are available and requests (stating which years are of interest) should be placed via Ask-A-Librarian.

Publication note

Described in: Jock Murphy. Diaries of a Welsh swagman. State Library of Victoria news, v. 1, no. 2, Oct.-Dec. 1997, pp. 4-5.

Published as: Diary of a Welsh swagman, 1869-1894, abridged and annotated by William Evans. South Melbourne, Vic.: Macmillan, 1975.