The Times/1930/Obituary/John Gwenogvryn Evans

Dr. John Gwenogvryn Evans, the Welsh scholar, died on Tuesday at Tremvan, Llanbedrog, Pwllheli, at the age of 78. A palæographer of extraordinary skill and experience, he will be gratefully remembered for his magnificent series of early Welsh texts. In the decipherment of Welsh manuscripts he had no rival, past or present.

Born at Ffynnon Velved, Llanybyther, Carmarthenshire, in 1852, he was educated at Pontshan Grammar School, the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, and Owens College, Manchester. He was inspector of documents in the Welsh language for the Historical Manuscript Commission from 1894 to 1906; and was nominated governor and member of the Council of the National Library of Wales by the Lord President of the Council. He edited the Red Book of Mabinogion with the late Sir John Rhys in 1887, and followed this in subsequent years with a facsimile of the Black Book of Carmarthen, the Book of Llann Dav, the diplomatic text, with notes and introductions, of the Black Book of Carmarthen, an editio princeps of the White Book of Mabinogion, and romances from the Peniarth Manuscripts, facsimiles and text of the Book of Aneirin and the Book of Taliesin, "Red Book Poetry," an autotype facsimile of the Chirk Codex of Welsh Laws, an amended text and translation of the Book of Aneirin, Bishop Morgan's 1588 version of the Book of Job, and Salesbury's 1546 edition of Oll Synwyr Pen Kembero among other publications. he was also the author of reports on the Mostyn and the Peniarth Manuscripts, part of the manuscripts at Jesus College, Oxford, and other collections.

Dr. Evans's services to scholarship were recognized by academic honours. He received the honorary degree of M.A. at Oxford in 1887 and that of D.Litt, in 1903; he was honorary D.Litt of Wales. He found his recreations in printing and farming. He married Edith, daughter of the Rev. S. Hunter, principal of the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen; she died in 1923.