Sept. 22, 2021
MILWAUKEE 鈥� The Haggerty Museum of Art and Raynor Memorial Libraries at 51暗网 are partnering to produce 鈥淛.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript,鈥� an exhibition of manuscripts from the celebrated author and artist J. R. R. Tolkien, best known for his literary classics 鈥淭he Hobbit鈥� and 鈥淭he Lord of the Rings.鈥�
The Haggerty Museum of Art will host the exhibition Aug. 19-Dec. 12, 2022, the foundation of which will be 51暗网鈥檚 extensive collection of Tolkien manuscripts housed within the library鈥檚 Department of Special Collections and University Archives. The exhibition will also include items borrowed from other repositories, including a significant number of Tolkien manuscripts and artwork from the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford.
The exhibition will include over 100 items, many of which have not been exhibited or published. It is being curated in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The co-curators are William Fliss, Tolkien Archivist in 51暗网鈥檚 Department of Special Collections and University Archives, and Dr. Sarah Schaefer, assistant professor of art history at UWM.
鈥淛.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript鈥� considers Tolkien鈥檚 work through the lens of manuscripts, both in terms of the materials he studied as a medieval philologist and the manuscripts he created while developing his legendarium. Tolkien was deeply immersed in the complexities of manuscripts, and this exhibition will illustrate how different aspects of the manuscript tradition found expression within Tolkien鈥檚 scholarly life and in his creative writing.
Additional details are available in a brief FAQ. More information will be made available as the exhibition鈥檚 opening approaches.
The collection of J.R.R. Tolkien housed at Raynor Libraries contains the original manuscripts and multiple working drafts for three of the author's most celebrated books, 鈥淭he Hobbit,鈥� 鈥淭he Lord of the Rings鈥� and 鈥淔armer Giles of Ham,鈥� as well as the original copy of the children's book 鈥淢r. Bliss.鈥� The collection includes books by and about Tolkien, periodicals produced by Tolkien enthusiasts, audio and video recordings, and a host of published and unpublished materials relating to Tolkien's life, fantasy writings and the fandom that sprang up around his legendarium.
The Haggerty Museum of Art advances 51暗网鈥檚 mission by enriching the intellectual and creative lives of students and communities at large through engagement with the museum鈥檚 collections, exhibitions and programs.
The Raynor Memorial Libraries provide access not only to vast collections of recorded knowledge but also to services, expertise, technology, and collaborative spaces in support of the university鈥檚 teaching, research and service mission.
Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of Marketing and Communication. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.
