1972

Tolkien-related events that took place in 1972.

January

• 2 - In honour of his 80th birthday the following day, The Sunday Times runs an interview of William Cater with J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Lord of the Legends".
• 3 - J.R.R. Tolkien celebrates his 80th birthday.
• 24 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes Letter 332.
• 30 - Actress Jennifer Hale is born.

February

• 6 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes a letter to Vera Chapman and the Tolkien Society.
• 9 - Actor Crispin Freeman is born.
• 26 - Actor Keith Ferguson is born.

March

• 16 - Tolkien writes letter 333.
• 27 - Rayner Unwin organizes a party in celebration of J.R.R. Tolkien's CBE the following day.
• 28 - At Buckingham Palace, J.R.R. Tolkien receives his CBE from Her Royal Highness, Queen Elisabeth II.
• 30 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 334.

May

• 18 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 335.
• 23 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 336.
• 25 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 337.

June

• 6 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 338.
• 7 - Actor Karl Urban is born.
• 30 - Mythcon III begins.
• 30 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 339.

July

• 4 - Mythcon III ends.
• 4 - Letter 339 is published in the Daily Telegraph.
• 11 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 340.

September

• 17 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 341.

October

• 21 - Actor Felix Felton dies.
• ? - Master of Middle-earth: The Fiction of J.R.R. Tolkien is published.

November

• 9 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 342.
• 21 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 343.
• 23 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 344.
• 30 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 345.

December

• 13 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 346.
• 17 - J.R.R. Tolkien writes letter 347.

?

• ? - J.R.R. Tolkien returns to Oxford and rooms at Merton College.
• ? - Tolkien receives an honorary doctorate from Oxford University.
• ? - The Swedish Tolkien Society Forodrim is founded.
• ? - Scholar Anne C. Petty presents her Ph.D. thesis The Creative Mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien: A Study of the Mythic Impulse.

Years 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975