Society commemorates 40 years

Only one person from the original membership of the Tolkien Society is still on campus.

“That’s me,” says Richard West of the College of Engineering’s Kurt F. Wendt Library and staff adviser to the society. The society is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 17, with an evening of reminiscences.

West’s own favorites include the first scholarly conference on Tolkien at Minnesota State University in Mankato in 1966, and publishing the society’s journal Orcrist. Memorial Library houses a complete set.

West says that membership always draws from all over the academic map, and that the society from time to time discusses authors and books other than Tolkien and the Ring Trilogy.

“Studying the work of Tolkien ineluctably leads to other work and authors,” says West. “Everybody makes suggestions about relevant favorites or topics they would like to learn more about. Around the beginning of the semester we vote on what we’ll take up that term.”

Participation is easy: Just appear Sundays at 7:30 p.m. at Union South (check TITU for the room). For more information, contact West at 262-3536 or tolksoc@stdorg.wisc.edu.