The Tolkien Society: Difference between revisions

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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.
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.


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


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 UK town or city each year, and the Seminar, presenting a programme of talks on a Tolkien-related subject, in the Summer.
==Events==
The Tolkien Society organizes the following events annually:
*September: the [[Oxonmoot]] at one of Oxford's colleges<ref>http://www.tolkiensociety.org/oxon/ (accessed 07-12-2011)</ref>.
*Spring: the Annual General Meeting<ref>http://www.tolkiensociety.org/agm/ (accessed 07-12-2011)</ref>.
*Summer: the Seminar<ref>http://www.tolkiensociety.org/seminar (accessed 07-12-2011)</ref>.
Throughout the year [[Smials (Tolkien Society)|Smials]] (e.g. local chapters) of the Tolkien Society also meet throughout the world.


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.
==Oxonmoot==
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: [[John Tolkien|Fr John]], the Catholic priest, and [[Michael Tolkien|Michael]], a teacher based in Lancashire, also met with Tolkien Society members.


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.
==AGM==
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 UK town or city each year.


==Smials==
==Seminar==
* '''1420''' - A postal group for those interested in the drinks of Middle-earth. Publishes The Morning After (about 3-4 times a year).
The Seminar consists of a program of talks on a Tolkien-related subject, in the Summer.
* '''Amon Hen''' - San Jose del Cabo, B.C.S. Mexico
 
* '''Amon Sûl''' - Halifax and area.
==Unique Events==
* '''Andúnië''' - Atlanta, Georgia USA based group.
The Tolkien Society also organized unique events in recent decades, typically an anniversary around J.R.R. Tolkien  and his works.
* '''Armari''' - A postal group with no defined focus; which can be very tongue in cheek, good sense of humour required! Publishes Gondtengwen (about once a year at present).
 
* '''Brandy Hall''' - Cologne (Köln), Germany - this is in origin the [[Deutsche Tolkien Gesellschaft]], but with the growth of that society, the Cologne meetings became its ''Stammtisch'' (smial) ''Oskölliath''.
===Centenary Conference 1992===
* '''The Burrahobbits''' - Local group in Wisconsin, USA.
In 1992, the Tolkien Society orchestrated the Centenary Conference in cooperation with other [[Tolkien societies]] and scholars from throughout the world<ref>http://www.tolkiensociety.org/1992/ (accessed 07-12-2011)</ref>.
* '''Cerin Amroth''' - Local group in Indiana, USA.
 
* '''Far Westfarthing''' - Local group in Illinois, USA.
===Tolkien 2005===
* '''The Golden Perch''' - Telford based, with some postal members.
In 2005, , the Tolkien Society orchestrated the Centenary Conference in cooperation with other [[Tolkien societies]] and scholars from throughout the world <ref>http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2005 (accessed 07-12-2011)</ref>.
* '''The Grey Company''' - Newport, Pontypool and valleys of South Wales.
 
* '''Heren Hyarmeno''' (The Order of the South) - This is the oldest existing smial in the Southern Hemisphere, founded on [[19 March|March 19]], [[1989]]. It is based in São Paulo, Brasil.
===The Return of the Ring 2012===
* '''[[North East Tolkien Society|Heren Istarion]]''' - Local group in New York City, USA.
In 2012 the Tolkien Society will organize The Return of the Ring conference<ref>http://www.returnofthering.org/ (accessed 07-12-2011)</ref).
* '''Isengard''' - Birmingham area.
* '''Khand''' - Postal; once based in Saudi Arabia, now in Shropshire.
* '''Lay of Leithian''' - A smial of [[Unquendor]], the Dutch Tolkien Society. Local and postal.
* '''Lómelindi''' - Local group in Tennessee, USA.
* '''[[Minas Tirith (Cambridge smial)]]''' - Cambridge and surrounding area. Publishes ''[[Anor (journal)|Anor]]'' (3 editions a year).
* '''Misty Mountains''' - Denver, Colorado.
* '''Mundeli Sernieva''' - Central England. Publishes Mundo (about 4 a year).
* '''Nigglings''' - A postal smial focusing on Middle-earth based fiction and sub-creation.
* '''Northfarthing''' - London and home counties - the oldest in the Society and essentially the founding smial.
* '''Rivendell''' - Grimsby, Louth and Lincoln area.
* '''The Shire''' - Coventry area.
* '''Southfarthing''' - Southampton area.
* '''Taruithorn''' (The Oxford Tolkien Society) - Oxford and Aylesbury. Publishes ''[[Miruvor (journal)|Miruvor]]'' (3 editions a year).
* '''Taruithorn International''' - The postal smial for those no longer in Oxford.
* '''Tol Andúnë''' - Oahu, Hawaii.
* '''Tol Harndor''' - Australasia & South Pacific postal.
* '''Turin''' - Northern Italy, with an interest in Tolkien inspired art.
* '''Vinyamar''' - Local group in British Columbia, Canada.
* '''Westemnet''' - A cyberspace smial for the West Country.


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 19:05, 8 December 2011

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The Tolkien Society is a Tolkien Society and registered educational charity (number 273809) based in the U.K., but with members in at least 40 different countries throughout the world. They publish Amon Hen six times a year and the more scholarly Mallorn twice a year.

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 Vera's North London Flat; they kept in communication via a xerox'd newsletter called "Belladonna's Broadsheet" ( Vera adopted the name Belladonna Took as her Middle-earth alias)

The Society grew steadily, and Vera willingly passed over responsibility for the bulletin to other hands. A further, 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 the name it is still published under: "Amon Hen" (the first such being number 2).

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.

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.

Oxonmoot

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.

AGM

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 UK town or city each year.

Seminar

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

Unique Events

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

Centenary Conference 1992

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

Tolkien 2005

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

The Return of the Ring 2012

In 2012 the Tolkien Society will organize The Return of the Ring conference<ref>http://www.returnofthering.org/ (accessed 07-12-2011)</ref).

External links