Welsh Journals

The Glamorgan History Society and the Standing Conference for Local History D. Huw Owen Members of the Glamorgan History Society will be aware of recent developments affecting the practice and study of local history in England and Wales. 1982 witnessed the dissolution of the Standing Conference for Local History and the establishment of a successor body, the British Association for Local History. The Standing Con- ference, founded in 1948 within a national voluntary organisation, the National Council of Social Service, sought to promote the study of local history in England and Wales and to provide services nec- essary for its furtheranceU]. The various activities of the S.C.L.H., throughout its existence, have benefited from the participation of numerous Welshmen, including members of our Society, established in 1950 as the Glamorgan Local History Society. It therefore seems appropriate that the 1982 edition of the journal Morgannwg should include a brief note on the continuous association of the S.C.L.H. and the Glamorgan History Society. The 25th anniversary issue of Morgannwg (1981) contained a reference to the momentous decision by the Glamorgan Local History Society to publish an annual journal[2]. The Society had already issued to its members in 1951 a pamphlet, The Appeal of Local History in Glamorgan^]. The author, Sir J.F. Rees, formerly Principal of University College, Cardiff, was at that time the chair- man of the S.C.L.H. He had in 1950 delivered a lecture on 'The Local Historian and the 19th Century' at the second annual meeting of the S.C.L.H. and he served as chairman of the Standing Conference during the next two years. At frequent intervals since that time dis- tinguished Welsh historians have addressed the annual meetings of the S.C.L.H. Welsh representatives attending the annual meetings have also welcomed the opportunity of maintaining contacts with other local historians, keeping abreast of new developments and techniques, and receiving guidance on practical subjects.