Exhibition highlights women's central role in working for peace

Gwynedd residents will have the opportunity to learn and find out more about the history of the Welsh Women's Peace Petition, 1923-24 and the central role of Welsh women in working for peace as the exhibition visits Storiel, Bangor.

The exhibition brings together art and archives to tell the stories of these remarkable women, both locally, nationally, and internationally.

In 1923-24, 390,296 Welsh women signed an appeal to American women calling for world peace. Following the horrific losses of the First World War, the women were inspired to appeal for peace, calling for 'LAW NOT WAR'.

Find out more about Annie Hughes Griffiths and others who led the delegation to America, as well as those from north Wales who campaigned for peace, including organising the walk from Penygroes to Hyde Park in 1926.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a number of arts workshops, including stitching workshops with Bethan Hughes, a painting workshop with Meinir Mathias and creative sessions with Mair Tomos Ifans, Ness Owen, and Fiorella Wyn, as well as a series of entertaining talks about some of the women who fought for peace and the story of the petition. Iona Price and Angharad Tomos will be among those who will be giving a talk. Registration details will be available on Storiel's website and social media.

Dr Owain Rh. Roberts, Director of Collections and Digital Services at the National Library of Wales said:

"Since the Welsh Women's Peace Petition and chest returned to Wales in 2023, the National Library of Wales has been working closely with partners to share this iconic piece of history. Through our work on digitisation and engagement our aim is to enable the people of Wales and beyond to learn more about the enormous efforts of the women of Wales in the pursuit of peace.

“The Library has a wealth of items in our collection relating to our rich history of involvement in peace work and we are thrilled to bring these stories to audiences in north Wales."

Jill Evans, Chair of Heddwch Nain-Mamgu notes:

“The petition was a remarkable feat: hundreds of women collecting the names of thousands upon thousands of women across Wales for peace. The women of 1923 were not willing to witness everything that was happening in the world and do nothing about it themselves. They shouldered the responsibility to act. The exhibition celebrates the appeal which is part of our nation’s history.

"Heddwch Nain-Mamgu was formed to remember, celebrate and realise the message of women in Wales a hundred years ago. The story has seized the imagination of people in Wales and beyond. Today, the peace message is as relevant and as powerful as ever.”

Councillor Medwyn Hughes, Cabinet Member for Economy and Community, Cyngor Gwynedd said:

"Storiel is a valuable location in Bangor where Gwynedd residents can come and learn more about their history and heritage, either through the permanent exhibitions, or through the variety of temporary exhibitions that are welcomed here throughout the year.

"We are delighted that Storiel as an accredited museum is offering itself as the only venue in north Wales that will stage the Women's Peace Petition Cymru exhibition. This story is an inspiring one and as relevant today as it was a hundred years ago."

The official exhibition opening will be at 12 noon on Saturday 12 April, with Meg Elis, granddaughter of Annie Hughes Griffiths speaking at the event. Everyone is welcome.

The unique artefacts and documents will be on display at Storiel from Saturday, April 12 through Saturday, June 21, 2025.

The exhibition includes loans from the collections of the National Library of Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, Bangor University Archives, Gwynedd Archives Service and the Welsh Centre for International Affairs.

For further information, please visit www.storiel.cymru