For Immediate Release:

The Invented Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien: Drawings and Original Manuscripts from the Marquette University Collection
October 21 - January 30, 2005

(MILWAUKEE) The Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University presents The Invented Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien: Drawings and Original Manuscripts from the Marquette University Collection October 21 - January 30, 2005. The exhibition opened with a gallery talk by Dr. Arne Zettersten, Professor of English language at the University of Copenhagen, Thursday, October 21, 2004 at 6 p.m. The exhibition opening was in conjunction with The Lord of the Rings, 1954-2004 conference October 22 - 23, which highlighted new scholarship upon the 50th anniversary of the publication of Tolkien's masterpiece.

The exhibition includes selections from Marquette University's collection of the original works of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973), professor of Old and Middle English language and literature at Oxford University, 1925-1959. The exhibition features selections from the original manuscripts preserved at the Raynor Memorial Libraries, including documents from two of the author's most celebrated books, The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955), as well as the original copy of the children's book Mr. Bliss (1982).

J.R.R. Tolkien spent 17 years working on The Lord of Rings and the documents within The Invented Worlds reflect an extraordinary creative process. More than 50 items from the manuscript collection will be featured, including maps, watercolors, sketches in both ink and colored pencil, fine calligraphy, and detailed plot outlines.

The exhibition also includes a look at Tolkien's invented languages. Dr. Zettersten's presentation examined how Tolkien's academic training in philology was of central importance to the author's fiction. Dr. Zettersten was a personal friend of Tolkien and is currently on the Board of the European Society for the study of English and the chairman of the English-speaking Union of Denmark.

The exhibition comes exclusively from the Marquette University Libraries and is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue with essays by Dr. Arne Zettersten, professor of English Language and literature at the University of Copehagen, Matt Blessing, director of Special Collections and University Archives, Marquette University and Dr. Curtis L. Carter, director of the Haggerty Museum of Art.

The Haggerty Museum held the first American exhibition of Tolkien's work, J.R.R. Tolkien: Drawings, Watercolors and Manuscripts from The Hobbit in 1987 upon the 50th anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit. A sister exhibition was also held that year at the Bodeleian Library at Oxford University.

The Haggerty Museum of Art is located at North 13th St. and West Clybourn Avenue on the campus of Marquette University. Museum hours are Monday - Wednesday, Friday - Saturday, 10 am-4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 10 am-8 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.. Free parking is available in the Mary B. Finnigan Parking Lot (enter on 11th St. through Marquette Lot J). For more information on the exhibition or the Haggerty Museum, call 414/288-1669.