Mary Vaughan Jones

{{Short description|Welsh children's author and schoolteacher}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}

Mary Vaughan Jones (28 May 1918 – April/May/June 1983) was a celebrated Welsh children's author and schoolteacher.

She was born at 'Firs Cottage', Maenan{{Cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/llanrwst/pages/firscottage.shtml |title=Firs Cottage: Mary and Jack Marrow of Firs Cottage, Maenan, delve into the history of their home, bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest |access-date=12 January 2009 |archive-date=20 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720103405/www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/llanrwst/pages/firscottage.shtml |url-status=dead }} near Llanrwst in 1918, and died in the Rhuddlan area, Clwyd in 1983.England & Wales BDM Index
April/May/June 1918; Mary V Jones; Mothers Maiden Name: Vaughan; Registration district: Llanrwst; Volume: 11b; Page: 0839Mynegai Marwolaethau Lloegr a Chymru.
April/May/June 1983; Mary Vaughan Jones; D.O.B.: 28 May 1918; Registration district: Rhuddlan, Clwyd; Volume: 24; Page: 529

Jones authored approximately 20 books, contributing regularly to children's literature in Wales, and the magazines of the Urdd.

Many of her books have been re-published by Gymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion. Many new books are based on her characters, for example: Sali Mali a'r Ceffyl Gwyllt, Dylan Williams, 2006. Various children's television programmes and merchandise connected to her characters have also been produced by S4C. The original illustrations in her books were the work of Rowena Wyn Jones{{citation|last=Jones|first=Mary Vaughan|others=Illustrated by Rowena Wyn Jones|title=Sali Mali|publisher=Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion|year=1969|isbn=1-902416-58-9|edition=1st|language=Welsh|pages=25}} and later, Jac Jones.

During her career as a teacher she worked at:

• Ysgol Gynradd Cwm Penanner (1940–1943)
• Ysgol Lluest Aberystwyth (1943–1949)
• Ysgol Baratoad Aber-mad (1949–1953)
• Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth (1953–1958)
• Lecturer at Bangor Normal College (1958–1972)

An award was established to commemorate her literary contribution.