The J. R. R. Tolkien Professorship of English Literature and Language was established at the University of Oxford in 1980 and named after the author, poet, philologist and academic J. R. R. Tolkien. It is "dedicated to the study of English and related literatures 1066-1550." The inaugural holder was Douglas Gray."Remembering Douglas Gray, FBA", Faculty of English, University of Oxford, 14 December 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2019. In 2021 the future of the professorship was made secure by endowments from Mr and Mrs John Griffiths, and The Tolkien Trust.
List of J. R. R. Tolkien Professors
1980–1997: Douglas Gray, FBA"Gray, Prof. Douglas", Who's Who (online ed., Oxford University Press, December 2018). Retrieved 15 September 2019. 1998–2003: Paul H. Strohm"Strohm, Prof. Paul Holzworth", Who's Who (online ed., Oxford University Press, December 2018). Retrieved 15 September 2019. 2004–2021: Vincent Gillespie, FBA, FSA, FRHistS"Prof Vincent Gillespie" , Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Retrieved 15 September 2019. 2022-present: Marion Turner
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