1914

22 May 1914

Rob Gilson to Marriane Cary Gilson

#1739

Writing to his step-mother, Rob Gilson tells her that Tolkien is "quite a great authority on etymology - an enthusiast".

1916

10 March 1916

Rob Gilson to Estelle King

#2304

Gilson describes Tolkien's authority on etymology, and writes about Tolkien finishing school in Oxford before joining the Army. He mentions how &qu...

1920

7 June 1920

Henry Bradley to Leeds University (letter of recomendation)

#907

Henry Bradley writes a letter of recomendation to Leeds University where Tolkien has applied for the position of Reader of English Language. Bradley had...

1926

25 June 1926

J.R.R. Tolkien to William G. Harding

#70

Very little is known about this letter beyond the minor details given by Hammond/Scull. Tolkien had replied to William G. Harding about the word gemowe,...

1927

21 October 1927*

J.R.R. Tolkien to Willard G. Harding

#71

Tolkien replies to another inquiry from William G. Harding, this time about the etymology of the word 'sag'.

1931

9 April 1931

Kenneth Sisam to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1740

Kenneth Sisam forwards on a letter from a correpsondent who had asked about a possible connection aliri, a Middle English word, and aleary which appeare...

2 December 1931

R.E.M. Wheeler to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1743

R.E.M. Wheeler, from London Museum, writes to Tolkien on the news that the Society of Antiquaries will publish a report on the excavations at Lydney Par...

c. 3 and 8 December 1931

J.R.R. Tolkien to R.E.M. Wheeler

#1744

Replying to Wheeler's letter. He mentions the possible connections between the names Nuada, Lludd, and Lydney. In July 1932 Tolkien's note &qu...

c. 3 and 11 December 1931

J.R.R. Tolkien to Allen Mawer

#1746

Tolkien writes a letter to the noted scholar, Allen Mawer, on the subject of the word Lydney. This letter is almost certainly in connection to Tolkien&a...

9 December 1931

R.E.M. Wheeler to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1747

Wheeler replies to Tolkien's letter with thanks for his note. He suggests that Tolkien retain his note on 'Nodens' for the time being whi...

c. 10 December 1931 - 1 January 1932

J.R.R. Tolkien to R.E.M. Wheeler

#1749

Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull note that Wheeler wrote to Tolkien on 2 January 1932, asking Tolkien to return to 'Nodens' note, but that To...

12 December 1931

Allen Mawer to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1748

Allen Mawer, of the English Place-name Society, replies to Tolkien's letter on Lydney. He says that he himself has looked into the name but has not...

22 December 1931

Allen Mawer to J.R.R. Tolkien

#2458

Allen Mawer, of the English Place-name Society, replies again to Tolkien on the matter of 'Lydney' including early occurrences of the name.

1932

2 January 1932

R.E.M. Wheeler to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1750

Wheeler writes asking Tolkien to return the 'Nodens' proof as the publisher is asking for it. But later on the same day, the note arrives as T...

2 January 1932

R.E.M. Wheeler to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1751

Wheeler writes a second letter to Tolkien thanking him for sending the proof note on 'Nodens'. In July 1932 Tolkien's note 'The Name...

1939

11 January 1939

J.R.R. Tolkien to Simonne d'Ardenne

#1044

This letter is quoted in D'Ardenne's article 'Two Words in Ancrene Wisse and the Katherine Group' in Notes and Queries 227 (1982), p...

1944

24 December 1944

J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien

#218

 Carpenter #93

Tolkien expresses joy that Christopher enjoyed the next three chapters of "The Ring" and provides information about the schedule for sending t...

1945

11 February 1945

J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher Tolkien

#222

 Carpenter #97

Tolkien describes a letter he has written to the Catholic Herald, in rebuttal to someone who thinks Coventry is derived from Convent.

1951

25 November 1951

J.R.R. Tolkien to Iona and Peter Opie

#155

This letter of which excerpts were published in The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren concerned the etymology of the word 'faynights'. After...

1955

7 September 1955

J.R.R. Tolkien to Richard Jeffery

#481

 Carpenter #168

Tolkien responds to Mr. Jeffery's letter. Tolkien discusses the command of Elvish script and mentions the upcoming release of Volume III, which wil...

1956

12 April 1956

J.R.R. Tolkien to Mrs Earle

#238

Written shortly after the publication of his new trilogy, Tolkien's letter comprises a thoughtful reply to a fan, Mrs Earle, who evidently was so e...

11 November 1956

J.R.R. Tolkien to Mr Britten

#260

Mr Britten asked some questions about the nomenclature of place names, and the map of the Shire. Tolkien discusses the names Pincup, Nobottle, and Oxfor...

1965

8 November 1965

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1010

 Carpenter #280

Tolkien is working on drafts of Sir Gawain and Pearl and finding interesting words and passages that he hopes to write up for academic journals. An expa...

1967

28 August 1967

J.R.R. Tolkien to Mr. S.E.O. Joukes

#801

Mr. Joukes had written to Tolkien suggesting that he would like to name his daughter Ioreth, to which replies that it means 'old woman' and in...

1968

29 January 1968

J.R.R. Tolkien to K. Jackson

#733

Tolkien writes about the origin of Bag-End, which was the local name of a house an aunt of his lived in in Worcestershire.

1970

7 January 1970

J.R.R. Tolkien to Michael George Tolkien

#2298

Tolkien writes to his grandson Michael George soon after the birth of his daughter Catherine in late 1969, delving into the etymology of CathArine (&quo...

1971

4-5 June 1971

J.R.R. Tolkien to Graham Tayar

#419

 Carpenter #324

Tolkien writes about about the use of the name 'Gamgee' in The Lord of the Rings, and whether the name 'Gondor' had been suggested b...