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As the two chairs of The New York Tolkien Society, who have only just begun our foray
into Tolkien scholarship, this conference was the most inspiring and enlightening of the few we have attended. We have helped organize and execute Tolkien
academic tracks at large events, organized our own events, and have published/lectured in regards to Tolkien. The small contributions to the Tolkien community and
the plans we have for the future have been due to Tolkien and his work, as well as our academic peers who were in attendance and presented at Marquette
University. This conference was strictly about Tolkien and his work with only minor references to the film in individual lectures. We did not have to pay extra to hang
with the academics and raise a pint to the professor at the Beyond Bree Banquet, which is the case at most film oriented events where fans have to pay exorbitant
prices to even rub shoulders with the film stars or academics.
In union with the spirit of the Inklings, where Tolkien and his colleagues sat in a pub and spoke of stories and their work, we had dinner with our favorite artist
Ted Nasmith and spoke of Tolkien, his works and Life, the Universe and Everything (<--figure out that reference and I will say so long and thanks for the fish!) ,
over a pint of Spotted Cow and Leine's Red we discussed with John Garth his book Tolkien and the Great War, and the particulars of elvish with Carl
Hostetter and Arden Smith. For us and the attendees of the conference its not about competitive websites, or the #1 fan-academic oriented website or even the best
journal, its about creativity, community and the love of JRR Tolkien and his works as evident in every single lecture and the time spent with them outside of the
presentations.
On Thursday, October 21st we attended a lecture concerning the AB Language presented by Arne Zettersten, which concluded with the opening of The Invented Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien Drawings and Original Manuscripts from the Marquette University
Collection. As a fan of Tolkien if you have the ability to get to this exhibit before it closes on January 30th 2005 then we highly suggest you do so. To see the
thought process of our favorite stories, showcased in this exhibit, is indeed breathtaking. For us, to be within a breath of the master storyteller was not only inspiring
and enlightening, but it brings to the surface the well of emotions and spirit that goes with studying Tolkien's works. If we were to even begin to describe what we saw
it would not do it justice. If you cannot make the exhibit then see if you can order the catalog from the museum or Marquette, for surely to have even that, with its
pictures and essays concerning the collection, adds to your library ten fold.
Our thanks go to first Nancy Martsch who allowed us our 5 minutes of fame and Gary Hunnewell who's devious idea it was to
have Carl Hostetter and Arden Smith sing it, being joined by Mike Foster, Jane Chance, Gary Hunnewell, John Garth, and Dave Emerson. Thank you to everyone
who made this a very special moment in our lives. Many thanks to Kathleen Myers, Cincinnati, Ohio 2004 for the pictures!
On a final note concerning the conference, a more expansive look at the lectures and the conference will be available in future issues of our journal Parma
Nole. If you intend to visit Marquette or do research there, which is the place to go for Tolkien research, then you must be sure to visit the Chapel of St. Joan of
Arc. You need not be of a religious nature, but it is very spiritually moving. Read more and see pictures here
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