A major on-line repository of information documenting the history of the nineteenth century Welsh settlers in the Argentine region of Patagonia has been launched.
In 1865 the first emigrants travelled from Wales over 8,000 miles to the Chubat area of Patagonia hoping for a brighter future.
The trilingual website Glaniad - which means the landing in Welsh - features a vast collection of more than 2,000 digital images about the inception and establishment of this unique Celtic community. The collators of the website - in English, Spanish and Welsh - said it will have two main functions: to preserve records and documents for the future, and to help people research the history of the settlers.
In the 19th Century the nonconformist minister, Michael D Jones, became concerned that Welsh immigrants in America were being absorbed into the American way of life.
He decided to do something about it, and on 28 July 1865 the first settlers, intent on establishing a Welsh-speaking colony, arrived on Patagonian soil. In the following half century they were followed by hundreds of their fellow countrymen and women.
There has been a resurgence of interest in Wales in recent years about this overseas outpost of the Welsh language and it seems likely that this important reference point for information about the communities foundation is sure to stimulate this.
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
19/03/07
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