TCG Letter #1707

Lewis Richard Farnell writes a testimonial in support of Tolkien's application^{Carpenter #7: Letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to [University of Oxford Electors] • 27 June 1925 (#7)[1]} to the vacant seat of Rawlinson and Bosworth Professorship of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford.^{Letters of support for Tolkien's application included: Letter from Henry Bradley to Leeds University (letter of recomendation) • 7 June 1920 (#907), Letter from M.E. Sadler to J.R.R. Tolkien (testimonial) • 17 June 1925 (#1706), Letter from L.R. Farnell to J.R.R. Tolkien (testimonial) • 23 June 1925 (#1707), Letter from Joseph Wright to J.R.R. Tolkien (testimonial) • 22 June 1925 (#1708), Letter from George S. Gordon to J.R.R. Tolkien (testimonial) • 28 June 1925 (#1709), Letter from Allen Mawer to J.R.R. Tolkien (testimonial) • 25 June 1925 (#1710), Letter from Lascelles Abercrombie to J.R.R. Tolkien (testimonial) • June 1925 (#1711).[2]}

On 21 July 1925, the electors to the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professorship of Anglo-Saxon met to discuss and elect one three applicants (Tolkien, Sisam, and one other who has remained unnamed) to the vacated chair. Tolkien is elected in a vote of four to three from Kenneth Sisam. Present are [1] H.M. Chadwick, Elrington and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Cambridge; [2] R.W. Chambers, Quain Professor of English Language and Literature, University College, London; [3] Hermann G. Fiedler, Taylorian Professor of the German Language and Literature, Oxford; [4] C.T. Onions, Lecturer in English, Oxford; [5] the Rev. Charles Plummer, Fellow of Corpus Christi College, editor of medieval texts; [6] Joseph Wells, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University; and [7] H.C. Wyld, Merton Professor of English Language and Literature, Oxford.^{Tolkien's election is announced the following day in The Times[3]}