The Tolkien Society: Difference between revisions

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<tr><td> </td><td>''[[Vera Chapman]]''</td><td align="center">''29 January 1970''</td><td align="center">''20 November 1970''</td><td align="right">''296 days''</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>''[[Vera Chapman]]''</td><td align="center">''29 January 1970''</td><td align="center">''20 November 1970''</td><td align="right">''296 days''</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>''Keith Bridges''</td><td align="center">''20 November 1970''</td><td align="center">''15 January 1972''</td><td align="right">''1 year, 57 days''</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>''Keith Bridges''</td><td align="center">''20 November 1970''</td><td align="center">''15 January 1972''</td><td align="right">''1 year, 57 days''</td></tr>
<tr><td>1</td><td>Keith Bridges</td><td align="center">16 January 1972</td><td align="center">17 February 1973</td><td align="right">1 year, 32 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>1</td><td>'''Keith Bridges'''</td><td align="center">16 January 1972</td><td align="center">17 February 1973</td><td align="right">1 year, 32 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>2</td><td>Hartley Patterson</td><td align="center">18 February 1973</td><td align="center">16 February 1974</td><td align="right">363 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>2</td><td>'''Hartley Patterson'''</td><td align="center">18 February 1973</td><td align="center">16 February 1974</td><td align="right">363 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>3</td><td>Jonathan Simons</td><td align="center">17 February 1974</td><td align="center">13 April 1985</td><td align="right">11 years, 56 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>3</td><td>'''Jonathan Simons'''</td><td align="center">17 February 1974</td><td align="center">13 April 1985</td><td align="right">11 years, 56 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>4</td><td>Brin Dunsire</td><td align="center">14 April 1985</td><td align="center">16 April 1988</td><td align="right">3 years, 2 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>4</td><td>'''Brin Dunsire'''</td><td align="center">14 April 1985</td><td align="center">16 April 1988</td><td align="right">3 years, 2 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>5</td><td>[[Alex Lewis]]</td><td align="center">17 April 1988</td><td align="center">11 April 1992</td><td align="right">3 years, 360 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>5</td><td>'''[[Alex Lewis]]'''</td><td align="center">17 April 1988</td><td align="center">11 April 1992</td><td align="right">3 years, 360 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>6</td><td>Amanda Fingleson</td><td align="center">12 April 1992</td><td align="center">5 April 1997</td><td align="right">4 years, 358 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>6</td><td>'''Amanda Fingleson'''</td><td align="center">12 April 1992</td><td align="center">5 April 1997</td><td align="right">4 years, 358 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>7</td><td>Chris Crawshaw</td><td align="center">6 April 1997</td><td align="center">19 April 2008</td><td align="right">11 years, 13 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>7</td><td>'''Chris Crawshaw'''</td><td align="center">6 April 1997</td><td align="center">19 April 2008</td><td align="right">11 years, 13 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>8</td><td>Matthew Vernon</td><td align="center">20 April 2008</td><td align="center">8 January 2009</td><td align="right">264 days</td></tr>
<tr><td>8</td><td>'''Matthew Vernon'''</td><td align="center">20 April 2008</td><td align="center">8 January 2009</td><td align="right">264 days</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>''Sally Kennett''</td><td align="center">''8 January 2009''</td><td align="center">''25 April 2009''</td><td align="right">''107 days''</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>''Sally Kennett''</td><td align="center">''8 January 2009''</td><td align="center">''25 April 2009''</td><td align="right">''107 days''</td></tr>
<tr style="background:#99FF99"><td>'''''9'''''</td><td>'''''Sally Kennett'''''</td><td align="center">'''''26 April 2009'''''</td><td  align="center">'''''present'''''</td><td align="right">'''''3 years, {{#expr: {{#time: z}} - 115}} days'''''</td></tr>
<tr style="background:#99FF99"><td>'''9'''</td><td>'''Sally Kennett'''</td><td align="center">'''26 April 2009'''</td><td  align="center">'''present'''</td><td align="right">'''3 years, {{#expr: {{#time: z}} - 115}} days'''</td></tr>
</table>
</table>



Revision as of 18:25, 29 June 2012

File:TS logo colour.gif
The Tolkien Society logo

The Tolkien Society is an international fan club and educational charity based in England. Founded in 1969 with the blessing of J.R.R. Tolkien, it has expanded its membership across the United Kingdom, Europe and the world.

History

The Tolkien Society was formed in 1969 by Vera Chapman, an Oxford-educated retired teacher/civil servant, who, horrified at the annexation of Tolkien's works by "hippies and drop-outs" decided to form a group dedicated to the true appreciation of Tolkien's works.

Initially London-based, the Society would meet in Chapman's North London flat; they kept in communication via a photocopied newsletter called "Belladonna's Broadsheet" (Chapman had adopted the name Belladonna Took as her Middle-earth alias).

The Society grew steadily, and Chapman willingly passed over responsibility for the bulletin to other hands whilst a more scholarly publication, "Mallorn" also appeared. Belladonna's Broadsheet went through a number of identity changes, being "Henneth Annun" for one issue before its then editor, John Martin, adopted its current name: "Amon Hen".

The Society also undertook a pilgrimage to Oxford, exploring the colleges and sites relevant to J.R.R. Tolkien's life. Visit was made to Wolvercote Cemetery where wreaths in tribute were laid. At that first visit, it was found that a wild bramble had rooted in the topsoil of the grave. This was rapidly uprooted, and the Society offered to buy a rose plant, the offer of which Priscilla Tolkien - Tolkien's only daughter - accepted. The weekend event culminated with a visit to the home of Priscilla Tolkien.

President

Vera Chapman was invited to a lunch by Rayner Unwin, where she met Tolkien himself. At the lunch she invited him to become President of the Society, and also presented him with a handsome tobacco jar, filled with his favourite leaf. J.R.R. Tolkien graciously agreed to the presidency of the Society; on his death, the other family members who were in touch with the Society suggested that he remain Honorary President "in perpetuo" and this was gladly accepted by the Society, with Priscilla Tolkien becoming Honorary Vice President.

List of Chairmen

The following is a list of chairmen of The Tolkien Society. Italic text indicates an acting chairman who was appointed, rather than elected.

NameTerm of officeDuration
Vera Chapman29 January 197020 November 1970296 days
Keith Bridges20 November 197015 January 19721 year, 57 days
1Keith Bridges16 January 197217 February 19731 year, 32 days
2Hartley Patterson18 February 197316 February 1974363 days
3Jonathan Simons17 February 197413 April 198511 years, 56 days
4Brin Dunsire14 April 198516 April 19883 years, 2 days
5Alex Lewis17 April 198811 April 19923 years, 360 days
6Amanda Fingleson12 April 19925 April 19974 years, 358 days
7Chris Crawshaw6 April 199719 April 200811 years, 13 days
8Matthew Vernon20 April 20088 January 2009264 days
Sally Kennett8 January 200925 April 2009107 days
9Sally Kennett26 April 2009present3 years, -27 days

Publications

The Tolkien Society publishes Amon Hen six times a year and the more scholarly Mallorn twice a year.

Events

The Tolkien Society organizes the following events annually:

  • September: the Oxonmoot at one of Oxford's colleges.[1]
  • Spring: the Annual General Meeting.[2]
  • Summer: the Seminar.[3]

Throughout the year Smials (e.g. local chapters) of the Tolkien Society also meet throughout the world.

The Oxonmoot grew to be an annual event, and in subsequent years other members of the Tolkien family, including two of the Professor's sons: Fr John, the Catholic priest, and Michael, a teacher based in Lancashire, also met with Tolkien Society members.

Other annual events include the AGM & Annual Dinner (with guest speaker), held as part of a weekend of activities in the Spring in a different town or city in the United Kingdom each year.

The Seminar consists of a program of talks on a Tolkien-related subject, in the Summer.

The Tolkien Society also organized unique events in recent decades, typically an anniversary around J.R.R. Tolkien and his works.

In 1992 the Tolkien Society orchestrated the Centenary Conference in cooperation with other Tolkien societies and scholars throughout the world.[4]

In 2005 the Tolkien Society orchestrated Tolkien 2005 in cooperation with other Tolkien societies and scholars throughout the world.[5]

In 2012 the Tolkien Society will organize The Return of the Ring conference.[6]

References

External links