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The Welsh influence on Tucson is profound, both the famous and infamous.
There are far too many Cymry to present them all here. In fact, easily half the
names listed in the Arizona Historical Society library are Cymreig!

Ansel Adams (1902 � 1984) was a world famous black and white photographer. He was a concert pianist until he was 30. He helped found the University of Arizona�s world renown photography museum the Center for Creative Photography, the California School of Photography, and the photography departments and programs of the San Francisco Art Institute and the New York Museum of Modern Art. In 1975, he was awarded an honorary PhD in photography by the University of Arizona, and his collection of photographs is worth of $30 million (US). Ansel Adams was also an avid conservationist. He was a member of the board of trustees for the Sierra Club. He was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Edith May Adams (1887 � 1976) was one of the first three women to become a priestess for the Episcopal Church. The Deaconess was a missionary for most of her life, and made Tucson her home.

Fred Adams (1875 � 1951) was a prominent jeweler, and established one of the most prestigious jewelry stores in Tucson, Grunewald and Adams. He was also very influential in Tucson politics, and served on the City Council, The Kiwanis Club, the Arizona Pioneer Historical Society and the Knights of Pythias.

Charles Bowden is an avid environmentalist, humanitarian and author. He once walked 50 miles through the desert without water to gain the perspective of the illegal border-crossers. He has also fought the overdevelopment of the desert for several decades and helped fight for water rights for Tucson. His books include Blue Desert, Frog Mountain Blues and Killing the Hidden Water. He is also the editor of City Magazine.

Herbert Brown (1848 � 1954) was a the first Vice President of the Arizona Humane Society, and was a scientist elected to the American Ornithologists Union. This Tucsonan was the curator for the University of Arizona�s museum He also started the first Tucson newspaper � he was the owner, editor and reporter for the Tucson Citizen. He was a Grand Commander of the Knights Templar and received a Full Masonic burial.

James G. Brown was a renown plant pathologist at the University of Arizona who discovered the first use of penicillin with plants in 1944. His work has impacted global agriculture by curing crown cancer

James K. Brown was a prominent cattle rancher, and a Pima County sheriff for many decades.

James A. Davies (1916 -1992) Folklorist and Charter president of the Tucson Y�s Men club and a docent for the Arizona Historical Society.

Rosie Davies (1870 � 1944) was a prominent Southwestern author.

Daniel Davis (1922 � 1997) was an environmentalist who saved the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum from nearly folding. He was instrumental in creating the Earth Science Center, Mountain Habitats and the Tyler Hummingbird Exhibit. He also produced �The Desert Speaks� on national PBS television.

Mattie Green was in 1964 the first Black homecoming queen for the University of Arizona.

Danny Griffith was a musician in Tucson who did much to further the humanitarian causes, especially in the gay community. For several decades, he was a pianist for the melodramatic Gaslight Theater. His talent and humor were a pillar in the fine art community of Tucson. He was also well-known in the Phoenix area, and did shows there.

James Griffith has left an indelible mark on Tucson. He moved here in 1955 to attend the U of A, and is still here. He and his wife Loma started the annual Tucson Meet Yourself festival in the 1970s, and retired from it in 1995. He has written 5 books promoting Hispanic culture, history and traditions of the Southwest.

Effie Dot Hopkins (1908 � 1996) was a gifted Tucson school teacher for 45 years. She also was on the Republican Precinct Committee and in 1977 received the Art Wales Award for the Pima County Republican Party for outstanding volunteering services. She was listed in several editions of Who�s Who of American Women, starting in 1964.

Miss Hopkins (b. 1847) was the first and most consistent patron of Tucson�s first bus system, the Old Pueblo Transit Company. This Black woman never had to ride in the back of the bus.

Juanita Howell was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. She was a trick rider for decades and performed with the Wild Wild West show and many circuses. She helped bring circuses to Tucson in the early 20th century.

Peter Howell (1875 � 1952) was a prominent civic leader and educator for Tucson. He was president of the first Parent-Teacher Association and was Chief Rabban of the Mystic Order of Shriners. Peter Howell school is named for him.

Sam Hughes (1829-1917) came to Pennsylvania in 1836 from Pembrokeshire, Wales when he was 8 years old. His father was interested in farming corn. A native Welsh speaker, he suffered humiliation and bullying by his classmates and teachers, so he dropped out of school. He decided he wanted no part of this kind of education and proceeded to learn English on his own. He traveled west with the military, as a cook. He had a natural skill as a trader and amassed some wealth, however his health was not good. He had weak lungs, and by the time he was in his late 20�s, decided to come to Tucson to die. But instead, he flourished, and continued to amass wealth. When he was 29, he married 12 year old Atanacia Santa Cruz on May 27, 1863. They had 15 children together. Sam wrote one of the first books documenting the history of Tucson, and was a big advocate of public education. He started the second public school in Arizona, and now has a school named in his honor.

Edwin �Blinky� T. Jones (1862 � 1931) was an attache for the Federal Court for 15 years, and a member of the Arizona Pioneer Historical Society. He once walked from Yuma, CA to Phoenix, Az. He also served as the librarian for the US District Court in Tucson. He owned the first land lots mapped in Tucson.
Susan Lowell was an author and winner of the Milkweed National Fiction Award.

Francis Ernest Lloyd (1868 � 1947) was an internationally renown botanist. He was the scientific editor of The Plant World magazine and resident investigator of Tucson�s Desert Botanical laboratories of the Carnegie Institute, in 1906.

Lieutenant Colonel Floyd E. Thomas (1868 � 1947) was a law professor at the University of Arizona. He was renown for his humanitarian streak and was instrumental in seeing justice done in Italy during World War II. He protected Tucson�s citizens for any decades, as well.

Lowell Thomas (1926 � 1991) founded Tucson�s Sahuaro Ski Club.

Robert Thomas (1926 � 1991) was a famous anthropologist at the University of Arizona. He as worked with the Smithsonian Institute, and helped found the annual Wa:k Powwow in Tucson. He was also a prominent author and advocate of Indian rights. His papers became the guides the government used to understand Indian sociology. He helped revive traditional ceremonial grounds and Cherokee religion.

Michael Wales was a prominent author.

Welsh, Leo Dan was the first Parent-Teacher Association president of Tucson School District 1.

by: Caitlyn Johnston

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