Priscilla Tolkien (1929–2022), daughter of J.R.R. Tolkien

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Priscilla Tolkien, the youngest child of The Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien, was Vice President of The Tolkien Society.

• Died: February 28, 2022 (Who else died on February 28?)
• Details of death: Died at the age of 92.
• We invite you to share condolences for Priscilla Tolkien in our Guest Book.

A proud family legacy

Priscilla Tolkien was born in Oxford, England, where her father was a professor at the university. Her childhood teddy bear was named Bingo, and in early drafts of The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien originally named his hobbit hero “Bingo Baggins” after his daughter’s bear, before eventually changing the name to “Frodo.” As a teenager, Priscilla helped her father by typing some of his early LOTR chapters while he was writing in longhand.

She studied English at Oxford’s Lady Margaret Hall college before pursuing a long career in social work. Upon her death, Lady Margaret Hall honored her as “one of the generation of women who, after the Second World War, pioneered the entry of women into the professions.”

Following her father’s death, Priscilla acted as a representative for the family during public occasions. She became a trustee of the Tolkien Estate and the Tolkien Trust, and vice president of the Tolkien Society. Together with her brother John, she produced an intimate biographical photo book, The Tolkien Family Album, that was published in 1992.

Priscilla on J.R.R. Tolkien

“From my earliest years I recall my father telling me stories at bedtime, and ini the darkened room as I was falling asleep I have a vivid memory of him retelling the story of Rapunzel and of how her prince sang to her at the foot of the tower where she was imprisoned, telling her to let down her golden hair. This was brought back to my mind when reading the Tale of Beren and Lúthien.” —from a 1977 talk

Tributes to Priscilla Tolkien

This is a very sad day indeed. Those who knew Priscilla will remember her as a kind and warm person who was incredibly generous with her time. As Vice President of the Society no one knew Society members and Tolkien fans better, where she would even invite members round her house during our Oxonmoot events. Those gatherings are cherished memories by attendees, just as for her publications like Mr. Bliss and The Letters from Father Christmas were delightful memories of her childhood and her father’s love and creativity. It is the end of an era, and we send our condolences to all those who knew and loved her.

Shaun Gunner, Tolkien Society Chair

“In sorrow we must go, but not in despair. Behold! we are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory.”
RIP Priscilla Tolkien pic.twitter.com/H1fAIIjyGY

— Ælfwine (@godwinsongang) March 1, 2022

Priscilla Tolkien reading the ending of Leaf by Niggle.
RIP Priscilla as you now begin your journey. pic.twitter.com/LD4jt560G2

— Ælfwine (@godwinsongang) March 1, 2022

RIP Priscilla #Tolkien 1930-2022. Very sad news and my thoughts are with the family. The teddy bear is from the @thetoymuseum and shows a 'Bingo' bear that she also owned, the inspiration for Bingo Baggins (renamed) Frodo in the #TheLordoftheRings. pic.twitter.com/5oPGzR5Y7A

— Trotter #Tolkien (@Trotter_Tolkien) March 2, 2022

According to one of the Tolkien experts on the extras for The Two Towers (probably Tom Shippey), Priscilla asked her father an important question after reading an early draft of #LOTR "Can you do something for the girls?" Tokien thought about it and created Eowyn.

— Laurie #NeverVoteRepublican #DownWithPutin (@lauriedtmann) March 2, 2022

Full obituary: The Tolkien Society