On 3 November 2023, Aberystwyth played host to two major events marking the centenary of the 1923-24 Welsh Women’s Peace Appeal to America: unveiling of a ‘Purple Plaque’ commemorating 1923 appeal leader Annie Hughes Griffiths, and a book launch at the National Library of ‘Yr Apel / The Appeal’, with the 10 co-authors sharing the ‘journey of rediscovery’ of the story behind the appeal.
Welsh TV Channel S4C have produced a short feature about the day’s events, which can be viewed here or below.
Purple Plaque commemorating Women’s Peace Appeal leader Annie Hughes Griffiths
‘Purple Plaques’ honour women who have made a remarkable contribution to Welsh society and culture – and over a hundred people turned out to witness the unveiling of a plaque to Annie Hughes Griffiths on her former home in Laura Place, Aberystwyth, by her great graddaughter Gwenllian in the company of Annie’s present day family descendants, of whom Meg Elis has co-authored a chapter of the book ‘Yr Apel’ on her Mamgu (grandmother’s) experiences in 1924 America.
Flickr Album of Purple Plaque Unveiling
Videos of Purple Plaque Ceremony & Speakers to follow
Book Launch of ‘Yr Apel’ at National Library of Wales
‘Yr Apel / The Appeal’, published by Lolfa of Talybont and co-authored by 10 contributors closely involved with the centenary campaign, tells the story behind the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition campaign of 1923, the 1924 ‘Peace Tour’ of America working with American Women’s movements and Welsh diaspora communities across the United States, and the ‘journey of rediscovery’ of the petition memorial from 2014 onwards as volunteers Wales-wide pieced together the hidden history behind this remarkable document and social movement.
Flickr Album of Purple Plaque Unveiling
Videos of Book Launch + Speakers to follow
Annie ‘Cwrt Mawr’ Performance Tour by Mewn Cymeriad
In addition to these 2 events in Aberystwyth, Welsh theatre company ‘Mewn Cymeriad’ have over Oct-Nov been touring ‘their ‘Annie Cwrt Mawr’, a 1 woman show by Siwan Jones starring Anni Dafydd ‘bringing to life’ the story of Annie Hughes Griffiths, who led the 1923 women’s appeal campaign and 1924 Welsh Peace Tour of America.
S4C Feature
