Trefor M. Owen (1926 – 2015), curator and ethnologist

In the history of traditional Welsh culture, Trefor M Owen stands out as a leader in research, publication and the development of a discipline. Since his death, this role has only become more apparent. This two-part analysis provides a personal and academic biography. A summary of Owen’s cultural formation leads into a detailed outline of his life and career. Part 1, below, also traces his role in the development of Open Air museums, focusing on St. Fagans. The paper ends with an examination of his contribution to Community Studies. Part 2 will examine his contributions to studies of economy and society, his views and approaches to Folk Studies, Folklore and Regional Ethnology. Some discussion of the tensions surrounding these interdisciplinary fields precedes a comparison with predecessors and contemporaries, giving a balanced assessment of his achievements, while also taking into account the local and international trends of his times.