Imagine the year 1818: six families set sail from a rocky coast, their only guide a pamphlet called The American Traveller, or Guide through the United States. The families make their way to Ohio, where they purchase 40 acres for $50. They have no idea their arrival will spark a migration of 3,000 to 4,000 Welsh settlers.
Today, it is estimated that about 100,000 people in the state can claim some Welsh descent, including famed Gallia County restaurant entrepreneur Bob Evans.
In Jackson County, Dan Rowbotham, another descendant of these original immigrants, works to connect the region to its Welsh roots. Dan Rowbotham now directs the Madog Center for Welsh Studies at the University of Rio Grande, the only Welsh study center in the U.S. and Canada.
Rowbotham’s journey to his current position began in 2018 with a part-time internship at the Madog Center, teaching Welsh culture to elementary students. After a few years, Rowbotham received a life-changing offer: to become the director. Rowbotham recalls the moment vividly.
“The whole flight back to Heathrow in London, I literally didn’t sleep,” Rowbotham says. “I put in my notes all my ideas and things I’d love to see and do.”
One could say Rowbotham has a “hywl” for Welsh culture, a Welsh word used to express a stirring sensation, emotion and enthusiasm.
Rowbotham officially assumed his position as director in August of 2023.
According to Rowbotham, Welsh customs are often reflected in Southeast Ohio culture, even if people don’t realize it. He often speaks to residents who are unaware of their Welsh traditions.
One example is quilting, a beloved pastime in the area and a Welsh tradition dating back hundreds of years. Another aspect of Welsh heritage ingrained in local culture is the eisteddfod, a celebration of culture that includes singing, dancing, playing instruments and other art competitions.
The tradition is, as Rowbotham puts it, “A celebration of all things artsy.”
For years, the city of Jackson hosted local eisteddfods until public support for them waned. Jackson City Schools picked the tradition back up and now hosts them every year with students.
Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, the Moriah Church, known as “The Mother of Welsh Churches,” received a historical destination marker in Jackson. Welsh churches, like Moriah, are so common in Jackson that the Welsh-American Heritage Museum was built inside one.
The Welsh Scenic Byway is lined with historic landmarks, underscoring the influence of Welsh settlers in the area.
What is next for the Welsh Center and Welsh History Museum? Both institutions are funded almost entirely by donations, a testament to the residents’ dedication to preserving Welsh history. And now, Rowbotham is looking across the pond for help.
The center is working on a strategic plan in order to gain more access to funding available from the Welsh government and other sources. The plan outlines innovative programs, such as a Welsh studies minor, the digitization of historical records and a study-away program connecting students in Ohio and Wales. The hope is that diversification of the Madog Center’s offerings could open possibilities for more funding in the form of grants and registration fees.
A larger source of funding would allow Rowbotham to spend more time connecting with others and spreading the customs, language and culture of Wales.
Engaging young people remains challenging for the center. As the center grows, Rowbotham hopes to bring Wales to the forefront of their minds.
No matter what the future holds, Rowbotham is happy to share what he loves with others.
“If someone told (my younger self) that you could go and do things, and that you could travel, and that you could get on a plane by yourself with a suitcase and go and move and have a job which is awesome and you’d love, and you’d love getting up and going to it every day, he wouldn’t have believed you,” Rowbotham says.