The Tolkien Society: Difference between revisions

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* '''The Grey Company''' - Newport, Pontypool and valleys of South Wales.
* '''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 1989. It is based in São Paulo, Brasil.
* '''HEREN HYARMENO''' (The Order of the South) - This is the oldest existing smial in the Southern Hemisphere, founded on 19 March 1989. It is based in São Paulo, Brasil.
* '''Heren Istarion'' - Local group in New York City, USA.
* '''Heren Istarion''' - Local group in New York City, USA.
* '''Isengard''' - Birmingham area.
* '''Isengard''' - Birmingham area.
* '''Khand''' - Postal; once based in Saudi Arabia, now in Shropshire.
* '''Khand''' - Postal; once based in Saudi Arabia, now in Shropshire.

Revision as of 09:07, 21 April 2008

File:TS logo colour.gif
The Tolkien Society logo.

Copyright © The Tolkien Society/ Helen Armstrong - all rights reserved

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 the Amon Hen journal six times a year and the more scholarly Mallorn journal once a year.

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 - JRRT'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: Fr John, the Catholic priest, and Michael, a teacher based in Lancashire, also met with 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 UK town or city each year, and the Seminar, presenting a programme of talks on a Tolkien-related subject, in the Summer.

Vera Chapman was invited to a lunch by Rayner Unwin (of the original publishers George Allen & Unwin) where she met JRRT. 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.

JRRT 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.

Smials

  • 1420 - A postal group for those interested in the drinks of Middle-earth. Publishes The Morning After (about 3-4 times a year).
  • Amon Hen - San Jose del Cabo, B.C.S. Mexico
  • Amon Sûl - Halifax and area.
  • Andúnië - Atlanta, Georgia USA based group.
  • 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) and Hessen, Germany - also a smial of Deutsche Tolkien Gesellschaft.
  • The Burrahobbits - Local group in Wisconsin, USA.
  • Cerin Amroth - Local group in Indiana, USA.
  • Far Westfarthing - Local group in Illinois, USA.
  • The Golden Perch - Telford based, with some postal members.
  • 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 1989. It is based in São Paulo, Brasil.
  • Heren Istarion - Local group in New York City, USA.
  • Isengard - Birmingham area.
  • Khand - Postal; once based in Saudi Arabia, now in Shropshire.
  • Lays of Leithian - A smial of Unquendor, the Dutch Tolkien Society. Local and postal.
  • Lómelindi - Local group in Tennessee, USA.
  • Minas Tirith (The Cambridge Tolkien Society) - Cambridge and surrounding area. Publishes Anor (3 editions a year).
  • '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 & Aylesbury. Publishes 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.
  • Misty Mountains - Denver, Colorado.

External links