TCG Letter #1711

Lascelles Abercrombie 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.

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[2]}