Captain Iolo Aneurin Williams (18 June 1890 – 18 January 1962), was a British journalist, author, poet, art historian, folk-song collector, amateur naturalist and Liberal Party politician. His son was the composer Edward Williams.
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Background
Williams was born in Middlesbrough, the son of Aneurin Williams, who was a Liberal member of parliament. He was the brother of Ursula Williams who was also a Liberal politician. He was educated at Rugby School and King's College, Cambridge.
Folk song collecting
Williams began collecting folk songs in the area around his home in Hindhead in 1912. He would cycle around the countryside and make contact with potential sources, sometimes with the assistance of the local Vicar. Being unable to write down the tunes he collected only the words. When he had sufficient sets of words he would return with either Clive Carey or Frederick Keel who would note the tunes. His collecting ceased with the outbreak of the First World War. After the war he succeeded Frederick Keel as Honorary Secretary of the Folk Song Society.
Military service
Williams began as a volunteer driver for the B.R.C.S (British Red Cross). He was given a temporary commission of Lieutenant in the West Yorkshire Regiment and was later promoted to Captain. The only record available is his Medal Index Card which does not give any dates.
Professional career
Williams was Bibliographical Correspondent of the London Mercury from 1920–1939. In 1936 he joined the staff at the Times as art and museums correspondent. In 1926 he edited Sheridan’s plays, in 1927 he wrote ‘Elements of Book-Collecting’, in 1935 ‘English Folk Song and Dance’, in 1946 ‘Flowers of marsh and stream’ and his book ‘Early English water-colours’ was published in 1952. His first book of poetry was published in 1915 with his second in 1919. He made contributions to the Dictionary of National Biography and the Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature. He was a member of the Botanical Society of the British Isles for over 38 years and contributed articles to their journal. In 1944 he was vice-president of the Bibliographical Society, also honorary secretary of the Folk Song Society, and vice-president of the Zoological Society of London. He was proud of his Welsh ancestry; he served on the Council of the National Museum of Wales and on the Welsh Committee of the Arts Council. In 1960 was made an honorary member of the Gorsedd of Bards.
Publications
Poems, 1915
New Poems, 1919
Byways Round Helicon, 1922
Shorter Poems of the 18th Century, 1923
Seven 18th Century Bibliographies, 1924
Editor: plays of Sheridan, 1926
Elements of Book-Collecting, 1927
Poetry To-day, 1927
Where the Bee Sucks, 1929 (illustrated by Katharine Cameron)
The Firm of Cadbury, 1931
Points in 18th Century Verse, 1934
English Folk Song and Dance, 1935
Flowers of Marsh and Stream (King Penguin), 1946
Early English Water-Colours, 1952
Political career
Williams was Liberal candidate for the Chelsea division of London at the 1924 General Election. Chelsea was a safe Unionist seat, so he was not expected to win. 1924 was not a good election for the Liberals and he came in third place in the race. Despite this, he contested Chelsea again at the 1929 General Election, a better election for the Liberals. He increased the Liberal share of the vote, but still finished third. He did not stand for parliament again.
Personal life
In 1920 he married Francion Elinor Dixon (1894 – 1995) from Colorado. They had one son and two daughters.. He died at his home West Hall, a 17th century grade II listed building in Kew where they had lived since at least 1937; his widow lived there until 1973.