The life and career of S. O. Davies
S.O Davies (bottom row, second from right) with members of the Welsh Labour Party, 1950
Parliamentary Archives, PUD/18/214
Who was S.O Davies?
Stephen Owen Davies (best known as S.O Davies) was a Welsh labour politician and trade unionist. His long life was marked by nearly forty years as Member of Parliament for Merthyr Tydfil (1934-1972), eighteen years as a local councillor (1931-1949), a year as mayor of Merthyr (1945-46), and decades involved in the upper echelons of the South Wales Miners' Federation – including as Vice President (1924-1933). His was a long life of public service both to the people of Merthyr and to the people of Wales.
What materials relating to S.O Davies' life and career exist in the Parliamentary Archives?
How did Davies become interested in politics?
What did Davies achieve in his later life? How did his relationship with the Labour party evolve and change?
How did Davies become involved with unions and the South Wales Miners' Federation? What is a miners' agent? What work did he do as an agent?
How was Davies involved with the Independent Labour Party? What were his first attempts at election?
How did Davies represent Merthyr at Parliament?
When was S.O Davies elected to Parliament? What issues was he concerned with at Parliament? How was he perceived by other politicians?
Where was Davies born? What was his childhood like?