The Tolkien Society’s membership has grown by 300 in a year, representing a 21% rise, as more and more people join the Society to support its mission and activities.
The Tolkien Society was founded in 1969 and received the support of J.R.R. Tolkien himself when he became the Society’s president in 1972; he remains the Society’s president to this day. The Society’s mission is the promote and educate the public in the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and the increasing membership is a demonstration of the support for that mission.
“I am delighted that membership has increased by a fifth in the last year – it shows that the work we do is popular and has increasing support from the Tolkien community. We more members than ever before, with members in 54 countries and have seen strong growth in North and Latin America; the only part of the globe in which we don’t have members is Antarctica! ” – Shaun Gunner, Chair
As of the 31st December 2018, the Tolkien Society had 1,683 individual members, rising to 1,720 when including other special organisations. This represents a 21% increase in a year, as well as more than double the low point of 666 members on 1st April 2014. This comes at a time when some other membership organisations are struggling, and there are no films being released (which had previously contributed to rises in membership).
Benefits of membership of the Tolkien Society include access to our annual journal Mallorn and our bi-monthly magazine Amon Hen, discount at our events, the opportunity to meet fellow fans and supporters of Tolkien’s works, and of course the knowledge that you are helping to promote Tolkien throughout the world.
It takes just five minutes to join the Society, which you can do through our website.
