Which Oxford college held J.R.R. Tolkien’s professorship from 1945 until 1959?

Merton College held J.R.R. Tolkien’s professorship from 1945 until 1959.

Tolkien became Merton Professor of English Language and Literature in 1945, succeeding C.S. Lewis in the position. He remained associated with Merton College until his retirement in 1959. The role followed his earlier Oxford appointment as Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College.

At Merton, Tolkien continued teaching and researching English language and literature while developing and revising major parts of his fiction. His professional work involved medieval texts, historical linguistics, and the relationship between language and literary tradition.

Tolkien’s Oxford career is sometimes simplified into a single college affiliation. In fact, Pembroke College was connected with his earlier professorship, while Merton College was the home of his later chair. He also belonged to the Inklings, an informal Oxford literary group whose members included C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams.