Past Venues, Chairpersons & Presidents of the National Gymanfa Ganu (1929~2002) & North American Festival of Wales (2003~)
Past Venues of Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu
1929 Niagara Falls, NY
1930 Niagara Falls, NY
1931 Niagara Falls, NY
1932 Niagara Falls, NY
1933 Chicago, IL
1934 Cleveland, OH ~ Edward Blythin & John G. Roberts
1935 Youngstown, OH
1936 Atlantic City, NJ ~ Evan Prosser
1937 Johnstown, PA ~ Ewart L. Roberts
1938 Pittsburgh, PA ~ R. H. Davies
1939 Buffalo, NY ~ Lot H. Cooke
1940 Detroit, MI ~ Allen Thomas
1941 New Castle, PA ~ Henry T. Jones
1942 Utica, NY ~ Hobart L. Morris
1943-45 The Gymanfa Ganu was suspended during World War II years.
1946 Akron, OH ~ Ernest Harris
1947 Akron, OH ~ Ernest Harris
1948 Detroit, MI ~ Allen Thomas
1949 Salt Lake City, UT ~ John James & Dr. M. D. Thomas
1950 Canton, OH ~ Mrs. David F. Evans & Edward J. Hopkins
1951 Milwaukee, WI ~ John R. Jones
1952 Columbus, OH ~ E. I. Evans
1953 Rochester, NY ~ Lynn C. Watkins
1954 Philadelphia, PA ~ Thomas E. Rees
1955 Salt Lake City, UT ~ George C. Lloyd
1956 Cleveland, OH ~ John G. Roberts
1957 Washington, DC ~ Mrs. Sarah Ann Davies
1958 Milwaukee, WI ~ John Pritchard
1959 Toronto, ON ~ Douglas C. Jones
1960 San Francisco, CA ~ Dr. M. D. Thomas
1961 Chicago, IL ~ Mrs. Florence E. Williams
1962 Utica, NY ~ Richard Hughes
1963 Detroit, MI ~ Walter T. Perrott
1964 Philadelphia, PA ~ John Ellis Rosser
1965 Pittsburgh, PA ~ George K. Richards
1966 Los Angeles, CA ~ Dr. M. D. Thomas
1967 Toronto, ON ~ Ivor Davies
1968 Buffalo, NY ~ Mair Monkhouse
1969 Cleveland, OH ~ John G. Roberts
1970 Milwaukee, WI ~ Gwynn Parri
1971 Salt Lake City, UT ~ Dr. M. D. Thomas
1972 Chicago, IL ~ Mrs. Robert J. Williams
1973 Toronto, ON ~ W. F. Blanch
1974 Cleveland, OH ~ John G. Roberts
1975 New York, NY ~ Wilfred O. Greenway
1976 Philadelphia, PA ~ Elisabeth Griffith
1977 Ottawa, ON ~ Don Mills & Tal Griffiths
1978 Minneapolis, MN ~ David E. Thomas
1979 Niagara Falls, NY ~ Gwyneth Crysler & Lewis Edwards [*1]
1980 Vancouver, BC ~ Gwenfyl E. Jones
1981 Utica, NY ~ Robert A. Jones
1982 Toronto, ON ~ Eluned Thomas
1983 Wilkes-Barre, PA ~ Jack A. Pritchard
1984 Portland, OR ~ Emmaline Davies & Betty Pierce [*2]
1985 Montreal, PQ ~ Terrence Pearce
1986 Columbus, OH ~ Tom Brownfield
1987 St. Paul, MN ~ Mae Howells Anderson
1988 Baltimore, MD ~ Barbara A. Morgan
1989 Pittsburgh, PA ~ David R. Lewis & John C. Williams
1990 Victoria, BC ~ Yvonne Griffiths-Evans
1991 Cincinnati, OH ~ David Taliesin Richards & Dr. Wm. John Lewis
1992 Kansas City, MO ~ Jack A. Nesbitt & Ann McFerrin
1993 Wilkes-Barre, PA ~ Jack A. Pritchard & Beth Landmesser
1994 Bellevue, WA ~ Alan Upshall
1995 Harrisburg, PA ~ Glenn Grove & Pat St.Clair
1996 Utica, NY ~ Rev. Stephen L. Reese & Patricia C. Driver
1997 Milwaukee, WI ~ David T. Williams & Arline H. Barsamian
1998 Columbus, OH ~ Mary Ellen Morgan & Marietta Riggs Schumann
1999 Minneapolis, MN ~ Dr. Ellis J. Jones & Mary Morris Mergenthal
2000 Ottawa, ON ~ Ian Morris
2001 San Jose, CA ~ Howard Thomas
2002 Harrisburg, PA ~ Glenn Grove & Cheryl Mitchell
Past Venues of the North American Festival of Wales
2003 Richmond, BC ~ Alan Upshall & Lynn Owens-Whalen [*3]
2004 Buffalo, NY ~ Myfanwy Davies [*4]
2005 Orlando, FL ~ Jan Briggs & Trudy Howells
2006 Cincinnati, OH ~ Ian Morris
2007 Washington, DC ~ Hywel Davies
2008 Chicago, IL ~ Barbara Jones
2009 Pittsburgh, PA ~ Ian Morris
2010 Portland, OR ~ Janet Figini & Betty Pierce
2011 Cleveland, OH ~ Barbara Jones *[5]
2012 Scranton, PA ~ Beth Landmesser
2013 Toronto, ON ~ Betty Cullingworth
2014 Minneapolis, MN ~ Mary Morris Mergenthal & Kay Gavin
2015 Columbus, OH ~ Laura Jenkins Gorun
2016 Calgary, AB ~ David Matthews & Elaine Westlake
2017 Rochester, NY ~ David & Janet Allen
2018 Alexandria, VA ~ Katherine De Francis & Diane Owen
2019 Milwaukee, WI ~ Jan Jones Batty & Danny Proud
2020 Virtual North American Festival of Wales [*6]
2021 Utica, NY ~ Ted Engle
2022 Philadelphia, PA ~ Jack Williams & Taylor Williams
2023 Lincoln, NE ~ Gwenith Closs-Colgrove & Susan Evans Atchison
2024 Pittsburgh PA ~ Betsy Teti, Ian Samways & Jessica Davis
2025 Ottawa, ON ~ Myfanwy Davies
1929 Niagara Falls, NY
1930 Niagara Falls, NY
1931 Niagara Falls, NY
1932 Niagara Falls, NY
1933 Chicago, IL
1934 Cleveland, OH ~ Edward Blythin & John G. Roberts
1935 Youngstown, OH
1936 Atlantic City, NJ ~ Evan Prosser
1937 Johnstown, PA ~ Ewart L. Roberts
1938 Pittsburgh, PA ~ R. H. Davies
1939 Buffalo, NY ~ Lot H. Cooke
1940 Detroit, MI ~ Allen Thomas
1941 New Castle, PA ~ Henry T. Jones
1942 Utica, NY ~ Hobart L. Morris
1943-45 The Gymanfa Ganu was suspended during World War II years.
1946 Akron, OH ~ Ernest Harris
1947 Akron, OH ~ Ernest Harris
1948 Detroit, MI ~ Allen Thomas
1949 Salt Lake City, UT ~ John James & Dr. M. D. Thomas
1950 Canton, OH ~ Mrs. David F. Evans & Edward J. Hopkins
1951 Milwaukee, WI ~ John R. Jones
1952 Columbus, OH ~ E. I. Evans
1953 Rochester, NY ~ Lynn C. Watkins
1954 Philadelphia, PA ~ Thomas E. Rees
1955 Salt Lake City, UT ~ George C. Lloyd
1956 Cleveland, OH ~ John G. Roberts
1957 Washington, DC ~ Mrs. Sarah Ann Davies
1958 Milwaukee, WI ~ John Pritchard
1959 Toronto, ON ~ Douglas C. Jones
1960 San Francisco, CA ~ Dr. M. D. Thomas
1961 Chicago, IL ~ Mrs. Florence E. Williams
1962 Utica, NY ~ Richard Hughes
1963 Detroit, MI ~ Walter T. Perrott
1964 Philadelphia, PA ~ John Ellis Rosser
1965 Pittsburgh, PA ~ George K. Richards
1966 Los Angeles, CA ~ Dr. M. D. Thomas
1967 Toronto, ON ~ Ivor Davies
1968 Buffalo, NY ~ Mair Monkhouse
1969 Cleveland, OH ~ John G. Roberts
1970 Milwaukee, WI ~ Gwynn Parri
1971 Salt Lake City, UT ~ Dr. M. D. Thomas
1972 Chicago, IL ~ Mrs. Robert J. Williams
1973 Toronto, ON ~ W. F. Blanch
1974 Cleveland, OH ~ John G. Roberts
1975 New York, NY ~ Wilfred O. Greenway
1976 Philadelphia, PA ~ Elisabeth Griffith
1977 Ottawa, ON ~ Don Mills & Tal Griffiths
1978 Minneapolis, MN ~ David E. Thomas
1979 Niagara Falls, NY ~ Gwyneth Crysler & Lewis Edwards [*1]
1980 Vancouver, BC ~ Gwenfyl E. Jones
1981 Utica, NY ~ Robert A. Jones
1982 Toronto, ON ~ Eluned Thomas
1983 Wilkes-Barre, PA ~ Jack A. Pritchard
1984 Portland, OR ~ Emmaline Davies & Betty Pierce [*2]
1985 Montreal, PQ ~ Terrence Pearce
1986 Columbus, OH ~ Tom Brownfield
1987 St. Paul, MN ~ Mae Howells Anderson
1988 Baltimore, MD ~ Barbara A. Morgan
1989 Pittsburgh, PA ~ David R. Lewis & John C. Williams
1990 Victoria, BC ~ Yvonne Griffiths-Evans
1991 Cincinnati, OH ~ David Taliesin Richards & Dr. Wm. John Lewis
1992 Kansas City, MO ~ Jack A. Nesbitt & Ann McFerrin
1993 Wilkes-Barre, PA ~ Jack A. Pritchard & Beth Landmesser
1994 Bellevue, WA ~ Alan Upshall
1995 Harrisburg, PA ~ Glenn Grove & Pat St.Clair
1996 Utica, NY ~ Rev. Stephen L. Reese & Patricia C. Driver
1997 Milwaukee, WI ~ David T. Williams & Arline H. Barsamian
1998 Columbus, OH ~ Mary Ellen Morgan & Marietta Riggs Schumann
1999 Minneapolis, MN ~ Dr. Ellis J. Jones & Mary Morris Mergenthal
2000 Ottawa, ON ~ Ian Morris
2001 San Jose, CA ~ Howard Thomas
2002 Harrisburg, PA ~ Glenn Grove & Cheryl Mitchell
Past Venues of the North American Festival of Wales
2003 Richmond, BC ~ Alan Upshall & Lynn Owens-Whalen [*3]
2004 Buffalo, NY ~ Myfanwy Davies [*4]
2005 Orlando, FL ~ Jan Briggs & Trudy Howells
2006 Cincinnati, OH ~ Ian Morris
2007 Washington, DC ~ Hywel Davies
2008 Chicago, IL ~ Barbara Jones
2009 Pittsburgh, PA ~ Ian Morris
2010 Portland, OR ~ Janet Figini & Betty Pierce
2011 Cleveland, OH ~ Barbara Jones *[5]
2012 Scranton, PA ~ Beth Landmesser
2013 Toronto, ON ~ Betty Cullingworth
2014 Minneapolis, MN ~ Mary Morris Mergenthal & Kay Gavin
2015 Columbus, OH ~ Laura Jenkins Gorun
2016 Calgary, AB ~ David Matthews & Elaine Westlake
2017 Rochester, NY ~ David & Janet Allen
2018 Alexandria, VA ~ Katherine De Francis & Diane Owen
2019 Milwaukee, WI ~ Jan Jones Batty & Danny Proud
2020 Virtual North American Festival of Wales [*6]
2021 Utica, NY ~ Ted Engle
2022 Philadelphia, PA ~ Jack Williams & Taylor Williams
2023 Lincoln, NE ~ Gwenith Closs-Colgrove & Susan Evans Atchison
2024 Pittsburgh PA ~ Betsy Teti, Ian Samways & Jessica Davis
2025 Ottawa, ON ~ Myfanwy Davies
[1] 50th Anniversary Jubilee Gymanfa Ganu
[2] The first all female team to chair a National
venue committee
[3] 1st Annual North American Festival of Wales
[4] 75th Anniversary Nelson L. Llewellyn Gymanfa Ganu
[5] Organization name changed to the Welsh North
American Association
[6] Was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A virtual NAFOW was presented in its place
[2] The first all female team to chair a National
venue committee
[3] 1st Annual North American Festival of Wales
[4] 75th Anniversary Nelson L. Llewellyn Gymanfa Ganu
[5] Organization name changed to the Welsh North
American Association
[6] Was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A virtual NAFOW was presented in its place
Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu ~ Past Presidents
1929-31 William E. Lewis, Youngstown, OH
1932 James Attwood, Youngstown, OH
1933 George D. Rees, Chicago, IL
1934 Edwin Blythin, Cleveland, OH
1935 Edward B. Williams, Youngstown, OH
1936-37 John Evans, Chicago, IL
1938-39 George Hopkins, Canton, OH
1939-41 Caradoc Ellis, Johnstown, PA
1942-49 Henry T. Jones, New Castle, PA
1950-53 Allen Thomas, Ferndale, MI
1954-55 Henry T. Jones, New Castle, PA
1956-57 M. D. Thomas, Salt Lake City, UT
1958-60 John G. Roberts, Cleveland, OH
1961-62 Douglas C. Jones, Toronto, ON
1963-64 H. L. Roberts, Pelham Manor, NY
1965-66 Angharad Lloyd Roberts, Vancouver, BC
1967-68 John G. Roberts, Cleveland, OH
1969-70 Lewis Edwards, Niagara Falls, ON
1971-72 Emlyn Lloyd, Detroit, MI
1973-74 Owen C. Roberts, Montreal, PQ
1975-76 Gwynn J. Parri, Milwaukee, WI
1977-78 Eluned M. Thomas, Toronto, ON
1979-80 David L. Mandry, Ravenswood, WV
1981-82 J. Humphreys Jones,Toronto, ON
1983-84 Norman E. Williams, Utica, NY
1985-86 Gwenfyl E. Jones, Vancouver, BC
1987-88 David E. Thomas, Edina, MN
1989-90 Paul E. Stevens, Poland, OH
1991-92 Don Mills, Kanata, ON
1993-94 Dr. Ellis J. Jones, St. Peter, MN
1995-96 William John Lewis MD, Kettering, OH
1997-98 Rev. Dr. R. Cerwyn Davies, Scarborough, ON
1999-00 Col. Alfred J. Reese, Jr., Lehighton, PA
2001-02 Dr. Alan Upshall, Kenmore, WA
2003-04 Lynn Owens-Whalen, Vancouver, BC
2005-06 Rev. Richard P. Baskwill, Lutherville, MD
2007-08 Roy Morris, Kanata, ON
2009 Rev. Robert Hughes, Akron, OH
2009-10 Dr. AdaMae Lewis, Ames, IA
1929-31 William E. Lewis, Youngstown, OH
1932 James Attwood, Youngstown, OH
1933 George D. Rees, Chicago, IL
1934 Edwin Blythin, Cleveland, OH
1935 Edward B. Williams, Youngstown, OH
1936-37 John Evans, Chicago, IL
1938-39 George Hopkins, Canton, OH
1939-41 Caradoc Ellis, Johnstown, PA
1942-49 Henry T. Jones, New Castle, PA
1950-53 Allen Thomas, Ferndale, MI
1954-55 Henry T. Jones, New Castle, PA
1956-57 M. D. Thomas, Salt Lake City, UT
1958-60 John G. Roberts, Cleveland, OH
1961-62 Douglas C. Jones, Toronto, ON
1963-64 H. L. Roberts, Pelham Manor, NY
1965-66 Angharad Lloyd Roberts, Vancouver, BC
1967-68 John G. Roberts, Cleveland, OH
1969-70 Lewis Edwards, Niagara Falls, ON
1971-72 Emlyn Lloyd, Detroit, MI
1973-74 Owen C. Roberts, Montreal, PQ
1975-76 Gwynn J. Parri, Milwaukee, WI
1977-78 Eluned M. Thomas, Toronto, ON
1979-80 David L. Mandry, Ravenswood, WV
1981-82 J. Humphreys Jones,Toronto, ON
1983-84 Norman E. Williams, Utica, NY
1985-86 Gwenfyl E. Jones, Vancouver, BC
1987-88 David E. Thomas, Edina, MN
1989-90 Paul E. Stevens, Poland, OH
1991-92 Don Mills, Kanata, ON
1993-94 Dr. Ellis J. Jones, St. Peter, MN
1995-96 William John Lewis MD, Kettering, OH
1997-98 Rev. Dr. R. Cerwyn Davies, Scarborough, ON
1999-00 Col. Alfred J. Reese, Jr., Lehighton, PA
2001-02 Dr. Alan Upshall, Kenmore, WA
2003-04 Lynn Owens-Whalen, Vancouver, BC
2005-06 Rev. Richard P. Baskwill, Lutherville, MD
2007-08 Roy Morris, Kanata, ON
2009 Rev. Robert Hughes, Akron, OH
2009-10 Dr. AdaMae Lewis, Ames, IA
Welsh North American Association ~ Past Presidents
2011-12 Hywel Davies, Bethesda, MD
2013-14 Barbara Leedy, Grand Rapids, MI
2015-16 Ian Samways, Pittsburgh, PA
2017-18 William Fanning, Orange, CA
2019-22 David Matthews, Calgary AB
2022-24 Jeanne Jones Jindra, Gallipolis, OH
2011-12 Hywel Davies, Bethesda, MD
2013-14 Barbara Leedy, Grand Rapids, MI
2015-16 Ian Samways, Pittsburgh, PA
2017-18 William Fanning, Orange, CA
2019-22 David Matthews, Calgary AB
2022-24 Jeanne Jones Jindra, Gallipolis, OH
Future Venues of the
North American Festival of Wales
2026 Springfield, Massachusetts
2027 Cleveland, Ohio
2028 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2029 Niagara Falls, New York
North American Festival of Wales
2026 Springfield, Massachusetts
2027 Cleveland, Ohio
2028 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2029 Niagara Falls, New York