Elvish Is Studied Here
- March 24, 2004
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The LA Times has an article on Marquette University’s Tolkien collection in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Marquette’s collection is considered the best in the world.
The original text for “The Hobbit,” his first published book, is here. So is the manuscript of “The Lord of the Rings.” There are hand-drawn maps. Rejected epilogues. Abandoned chapters. Elvish songs. Mounds of paper scraps. More than 11,500 items written by his hand.
The article mentions Carl Hostetter (someone I’ve conversed with a few times, and whose knowledge of Tolkien’s languages is amazing), the head of the Elvish Linguistic Fellowship. Hostetter has visited the collection several times.
The article also points out that interest in the collection has risen quite a bit since the release of the film trilogy. About 3000 people a year visit the collection now.
I would love to be able to visit it. My collection of notes takes up a 3-ring binder. I can’t imagine a room full of the stuff!