 | |
| The Tolkien Society | |
|---|---|
| Company Information | |
| Founded | 6 November 1969 (informal)[1] 15 January 1972 (formal) 7 July 1977 (charitable status)[2] |
| Founder | Vera Chapman |
| Location | England (registered address) Worldwide (members) |
| Type | Educational charity, fan club, academic society |
| Key people | J.R.R. Tolkien (President) Priscilla Tolkien (Vice-President) Shaun Gunner (CEO)[3] |
| Members | 3,801[4] |
| Products | Mallorn Amon Hen |
| Website | www.tolkiensociety.org |
The Tolkien Society is an international fan club and educational charity based in the United Kingdom, devoted to the study and promotion of the life and works of the author and academic J.R.R. Tolkien. Founded in 1969 with the blessing of J.R.R. Tolkien, it has expanded its membership across the United Kingdom, Europe and the world. Its President is Tolkien, the Vice-president is Priscilla Tolkien; since 2025, Shaun Gunner has been the Society's Chief Executive Officer.
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 'the drugs-orientated writings of hippiedom',[5] decided to form a group dedicated to the true appreciation of Tolkien's works.
On 6 November 1969, Chapman announced the formation of the Tolkien Society in the United Kingdom in the New Statesman.[6] 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), which was first published in December 1969.[6] The Society's inaugural meeting was held in January 1970,[6] and its constitution was ratified on 15 January 1972.
The Tolkien 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.
In 2014, the Society inaugurated its annual Awards.[7]
In 2025 the Society was restructured as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation[8] with Shaun Gunner as the first CEO of the Society.[3] One of the main benefits of this change was the ability for the charity to be able to enter into contracts, employ staff, own/lease property in its own name whilst minimising the trustees financial liability for the charity's debts or legal actions.
Relations with J.R.R. Tolkien
In 1972 New Year Honours, Tolkien was made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) just two days before his birthday. Allen & Unwin had encouraged the Tolkien Society to write to Tolkien on the occasion, and they sent the following telegram:
CONGRATULATIONS ON 80TH BIRTHDAY AND HONOUR. ANOTHER 50 YEARS TO BEAT THE OLD TOOK.
THE TOLKIEN SOCIETY (IN BRITAIN)
The Society also published a congratulatory message in The Times on the 3 January in the 'BIRTHDAYS' section: "TOLKIEN. Professor J. R. R. Tolkien, C.B.E. Congratulations on your 80th birthday. 'Elen sila lumenn' omentielmo.' The Tolkien Society." As a birthday present, the Society also sent him a green china tobacco jar - designed with a huntsman and a white deer - which included best Latakia Mixture tobacco; attached was the following note:
FROM all Hobbits, Elves, Elf-friends, Dwarves, Ents, Numenoreans, Rohirrim, etc. etc. etc. of the TOLKIEN SOCIETY (in Britain) with love and honour and hearty congratulations, to the creator of so much wonder. Although not to be compared with the true LONGBOTTOM LEAF, we hope that this will at least raise a few smoke-rings of happy recollection.
THE TOLKIEN SOCIETY
Joy Hill, Tolkien's secretary, phoned Vera Chapman on the 3 January and said, "Of all the tributes he received, this was the one that gave the greatest pleasure."[9] A month later, he wrote to her:
Dear Mrs. Chapman,
May I thank you and the Tolkien Society for your good wishes and kind gift on my 80th birthday. I appreciated your generosity very much indeed.
Best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
J.R.R. Tolkien [signed]
President
On the 27 June 1972, Vera Chapman was invited to a sherry party by Rayner Unwin, where she met Tolkien himself. After exchanging a few words with him about the belladonna plant, she asked if he would would be willing to be the Society's honorary president; he said "Certainly" before concluding, "If I can help your society in any way, I will."[10]
Following the death of J.R.R. Tolkien on 2 September 1973, the Tolkien Society offered the post of Honorary President to Christopher Tolkien, Tolkien's son, but Christopher declined saying he thought the his father should remain president forever. At the AGM on 16 February 1974 the motion was passed that J.R.R. Tolkien should remain the Honorary President in perpetuo; he remains the Society's president to this day.[11]
Leadership
The Society is primarily volunteer-run organisation, governed by a Board of Trustees with the President and Vice-president as purely honorary positions. Historically, the Chair of the Trustees led the Board and represented the Society both internally and externally; however, since 1 June 2025, Shaun Gunner has served as the Society's Chief Executive Officer in leading the organisation, responsible to the Board.[3]
Chief Executives
| Name | Start of term | End of term | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shaun Gunner[3] | 1 June 2025 | present | 4 days |
Chairs
The following is a list of chairs of The Tolkien Society; in April 2017 the Society replaced the title "Chairman" with "Chair". Italic text indicates an acting chairman who was appointed, rather than elected.
| Name | Start of term | End of term | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vera Chapman | 29 January 1970 | 20 November 1970 | 296 days | |
| 1 | Keith Bridges | 20 November 1970[note 1] | 17 February 1973 | 2 years, 89 days |
| 2 | Hartley Patterson | 18 February 1973 | 16 February 1974 | 363 days |
| 3 | Jonathan Simons | 17 February 1974 | 28 April 1984 | 10 years, 71 days |
| 4 | Brin Dunsire | 29 April 1984 | 16 April 1988 | 3 years, 354 days |
| 5 | Alex Lewis | 17 April 1988 | 11 April 1992 | 3 years, 360 days |
| 6 | Amanda Fingleson | 12 April 1992 | 20 April 1996 | 4 years, 9 days |
| 7 | Chris Crawshaw | 21 April 1996 | 19 April 2008 | 11 years, 364 days |
| 8 | Matthew Vernon | 20 April 2008 | 8 January 2009 | 264 days |
| 9 | Sally Kennett | 8 January 2009[note 2] | 20 April 2013 | 4 years, 102 days |
| 10 | Shaun Gunner[3] | 21 April 2013 | 31 May 2025 | 12 years, 41 days |
| 11 | Daniel Helen[note 3] | 1 June 2025 | 19 September 2025 | 111 days |
| 12 | Hannah McDonald | 19 September 2025 | present | -107 days |
- Notes
Smials
Smials are the local groups of the Tolkien Society, formed by members who meet in a particular town, region, or country to share their interest in the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The name derives from Tolkien’s own term smial for a hobbit‑hole.
Smials operate semi‑independently and vary widely in size and activity. Many hold regular meetings, while others organise reading groups, lectures, themed walks, or celebrations of Tolkien‑related anniversaries such as Tolkien Reading Day. Although they are recognised by the Tolkien Society, they are run by volunteers and set their own programmes, providing a local complement to the Society’s events. Smials exist in the United Kingdom and in several countries worldwide, and new groups may be founded by members with the Society’s approval.[12]
Publications
- Belladonna's Broadsheet, the first bulletin of The Tolkien Society.
- Amon Hen is the bulletin of the Society and is published six times a year.[13]
- Mallorn is the journal of the Society and is currently published once a year, in the Spring.[14]
- Quettar was the journal of the Linguistic Fellowship of The Tolkien Society.
Events
The Tolkien Society organises the following events each year:
- The Birthday Toast is held on 3 January (Tolkien's birthday) every year. The Society encourages Tolkien fans from across the world to toast the Professor at 9pm wherever they are.
- Tolkien Reading Day, held annually on 25 March, is an international event which promotes the reading of Tolkien's works.
- The Annual General Meeting and Springmoot involves a meeting where formal business (with regard to the running of the Tolkien Society) is discussed, followed by a semi-formal dinner with a guest speaker. It is held over a weekend each April.[15] The Tolkien Society Awards are announced during the dinner of this event.[16]
- The Seminar is an event which consists of a programme of talks on a Tolkien-related theme. It is held most summers (around June or July).[17]
- Oxonmoot is a convention held at an Oxford college on the weekend closest to 22 September, Bilbo and Frodo's birthday.[18]
- Westmoot is a new convention aimed at US members of the Society. The inaugural event took place in Kansas City, Missouri on Friday May 9 - Sunday May 11 2025 at the National World War I Museum and Memorial.[19]
The Tolkien Society also organises large conferences in order to celebrate an anniversary around J.R.R. Tolkien and/or his works. Past events:
- The J.R.R. Tolkien Centenary Conference was held at Keble College (in Oxford, England) in 1992. It celebrated the centenary of J.R.R. Tolkien's birth. It was organised in conjunction with the Mythopoeic Society and was a combination of Oxonmoot 1992 and Mythcon 23.[20]
- Tolkien 2005: The Ring Goes Ever On was held at Aston University (in Birmingham, England) in 2005. It celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the complete publication of The Lord of the Rings.[21]
- The Return of the Ring: Celebrating Tolkien in 2012 was held at Loughborough University (in Leicestershire, England) in 2012. It celebrated the seventy-fifth anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit.[22]
See also
External links
- Official website
- Twitter feed
- Facebook page
- Facebook group
- Discord server (members only)
References
- ↑ Charles E. Noad, "The Tolkien Society - the early days" in Henry Gee (ed.) Mallorn 50, p. 17
- ↑ "Charity Commision - THE TOLKIEN SOCIETY - Charity number: 273809", The Charity Commission, accessed 13 November 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Daniel Helen, "Tolkien Society appoints new Chief Executive", The Tolkien Society, accessed 2 June 2025
- ↑ Hannah McDonald, "Behind Glass Doors" in Amanda Drake et al. (eds.), Amon Hen 310, p. 28
- ↑ Charles E. Noad, 'The Early Days of the Tolkien Society', A Long-expected Party: Progress Report 1, p. 10
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond (2006), The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: II. Reader's Guide, p. 287
- ↑ Daniel Helen, "Awards", The Tolkien Society, accessed 15 December 2022
- ↑ "Charity Commision - THE TOLKIEN SOCIETY - Charity number: 1211591", The Charity Commission, accessed 13 November 2025
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Charles E. Noad, "The Tolkien Society - the early days" in Henry Gee (ed.) Mallorn 50, p. 21
- ↑ Charles E. Noad, "The Tolkien Society - the early days" in Henry Gee (ed.) Mallorn 50, p. 22
- ↑ Charles E. Noad, "The Tolkien Society - the early days" in Henry Gee (ed.) Mallorn 50, p. 23
- ↑ "Smials". The Tolkien Society. Retrieved 2026-03-25
- ↑ "Amon Hen - The bulleting of the Tolkien Society", The Tolkien Society, accessed 7 August 2012
- ↑ "Mallorn - The Journal of the Tolkien Society", The Tolkien Society, accessed 7 August 2012
- ↑ "About The Annual General Meeting", The Tolkien Society, accessed 7 August 2012
- ↑ "Awards", The Tolkien Society, accessed 15 December 2022
- ↑ "Seminar home page", The Tolkien Society, accessed 7 August 2012
- ↑ "Oxonmoot index page", The Tolkien Society, accessed 7 August 2012
- ↑ "Westmoot 2025", The Tolkien Society, accessed 28 November 2024
- ↑ "Tolkien Centenary Conference 1992", The Tolkien Society, accessed 7 August 2012
- ↑ "About Tolkien 2005", The Tolkien Society, accessed 7 August 2012
- ↑ "The Return of the Ring - Celebrating Tolkien in 2012", The Return of the Ring, accessed 7 August 2012