1: Correspondence from original Merton papers (some later additions): Dom James Fox with Merton, Fr. Charles Dumont, Edward Glenn Hinson, Msgr. Alfred Frederick Horrigan, Fr. Giovanni Montini, James Morrissey, Naomi Burton Stone, etc.

Scope and Content

Herein is a large collection of letters spanning most of Merton's time at Gethsemani. Letters between Fox and Merton concern Merton's vocation to the monastery, his constant desires for greater solitude, thoughts about leaving Gethsemani and joining the

Biography

Dom James Fox came to Gethsemani in 1927. He was serving as guestmaster when Merton's younger brother, John Paul, visited the monastery, and Fox made arrangements for John Paul's baptism. In 1948, Fox was elected abbot after the death of Dom Frederic Du

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.

Series List

Series Number	Series Name	Total Records
1	Correspondence from original Merton papers (some later additions): Dom James Fox with Merton, Fr. Charles Dumont, Edward Glenn Hinson, Msgr. Alfred Frederick Horrigan, Fr. Giovanni Montini, James Morrissey, Naomi Burton Stone, etc.	93
2	Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with the Abbot of Melleray, Dom Louis de Gonzague Le Pennuen.	21
3	Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with the Abbot of Melleray, Dom Colomban Bissey.	6
4	Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with Abbot General Dominique Noques.	4
5	Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with Abbot General Gabriel Sortais.	202
6	Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with Abbot General Ignace Gillet.	38
7	Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Merton: Special Binding (Archive - Stack 5).	101
8	Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Marie Tadié: (see "Tadié, Marie" file for all physical holdings).	153
9	Special Merton File: Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Abbot General Gabriel Sortais	30
10	Special Merton File: Notes concerning Merton's relationship with "M," from folder labeled "Clyde"	1
11	Special Merton File: Correspondence between Fox and Fr. John Eudes Bamberger concerning a biography of Merton, from folder labeled "Clyde"	2
12	Special Merton File: Correspondence concerning French translator Marie Tadié's grievance with Gethsemani after Merton's death, from folder labeled "Clyde"	6
13	Special Merton File: Correspondence between Dom James Fox and the Sacred Congregation for Religious at the Vatican, earlier with Arcadio Cardinal Larraona and then with Archbishop Paul (later Cardinal) Philippe	6
14	Special Merton File: Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Monsignor Loris Francesco Capovilla, Secretary to Pope John XXIII	5
15	Special Merton File: Correspondence with Fr. Heinrich Dumoulin, S.J., Sophia University in Japan, regarding Merton studying Zen and proposed trip to Japan	4
16	Special Merton File: Correspondence with Archbishop Giovanni Montini (later Pope Paul VI)	7
17	Special Merton File: Correspondence with Fr. Riccardo Lombardi, S.J.	18
18	Special Merton File: Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Abbot General Ignace Gillet, regarding Merton as novice master, studying Zen and proposed trip to Japan	4
19	Naomi Burton Stone, Doubleday, Inc. (earlier correspondence with Fox can be found in the "Curtis Brown, Ltd." file and in Series 1 of this file)	102
20	Publishers' Correspondence: Herder and Herder, Inc.	18
21	Publishers' Correspondence: Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, Inc.; and Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Inc.	34
22	Publishers' Correspondence: New Directions	38
23	Publishers' Correspondence: Foreign Rights	2
24	Merton Publicity File: Correspondence with film makers, book clubs, radio stations, etc.	21
25	Curtis Brown, Ltd. [See "Curtis Brown" file in Section A, correspondence from 1963 continues with Series 19 in this file]	1
26	Correspondence between Gregory Zilboorg and James Fox from Gethsemani Archives	22
27	Correspondence with Bishop Matthew A. Niedhammer, OFM Cap., Apostolic Vicar of Bluefields, Nicaragua, regarding Merton's character	3
28	Correspondence with Bishop James Peter Davis of San Juan, Puerto Rico, regarding Merton's character	3
29	Special File of Dom James on Thomas Merton, 70 Numbered Entries (click here)	1
30	Correspondence with Dom Baldwin Dworschak, O.S.B., Abbot of Saint John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota	3

Container List

Series#	Date	From/To	First Lines	Pub ✓	Notes
	y/m/d	Merton		Scan ✉
Series 1 #1. «All Series«	1949/05/01	transcript from Merton	I am glad to be having this day of recollection before ordination, instead of after. My personal	✓	[Xerox of published letter] goals for priesthood: "obscurity and simplicity", an "unknown saint" «detailed view»
Series 1 #2. «All Series«	1949/10/01	transcript from Merton	This is intended to find you safely landed and established at the Valley. First, will you please	✓	[Xerox of published letter] article to give for censorship to Fr. Gabriel - "The White Pebble" and book The Waters of Siloe / proposals for structuring theology classes / feeling more at home at Gethsemani - especially through Mass / Frater Thomas' poetry / Camel in San Francisco «detailed view»
Series 1 #3. «All Series«	1949/no/no (#01)	TLS[x] from Merton	Another protocol from Chop Suey Louie the mad Chinese poet. It is just to say that I am picturing	✓	visiting psychiatrist Dr. de Quevedo / wants "to cease existing as an ego outside of God" «detailed view»
Series 1 #4. «All Series«	1949/no/no (#02)	transcript from Merton	…You can guess that the two hours between 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon, when you let me out into	✓	[Summer of 1949: Xerox of published letter] having the chance to spend time alone in the woods / "When I am alone, Jesus is with me at once." / difficulty of finding Jesus around others «detailed view»
Series 1 #5. «All Series«	1950/09/27	transcript from Merton	May Jesus love you and bless you and bring you home soon. Here is a problem to bother you when you	✓	[Xerox of published letter] Novice Master does not like Merton's current spiritual orientation course for novices - thinks it violates Canon Law 561 / agrees that it causes dissent with novices picking either Merton's or Novice Master's spirituality and should be changed / hospital stay - no ulcers but colitis and low blood pressure «detailed view»
Series 1 #6. «All Series«	1950/no/no?	transcript from Merton	I went through the retreat with the impression of being very much talked at without having	✓	[Xerox of published letter] "Retreat Notes" / meditation on the "Cautions of St. John of the Cross" / ability to live a contemplative life at Gethsemani - letting God direct this activity and not forcing it himself «detailed view»
Series 1 #7. «All Series«	1951/02/04	transcript from Merton	It seems to me that what Jesus wants of me this Lent is less external activity, more recollection,	✓	[Xerox of published letter] cutting down writing load for Lent / needs to finish Ascent to Truth for Harcourt, Brace «detailed view»
Series 1 #8. «All Series«	1951/10/07	transcript from Merton	This is a report on our private retreat from September 29 to October 6. As an act of gratitude for	✓	[Xerox of published letter] retreat days / walking in the woods and quiet work and prayer / mostly silent except for Traxcavator making noise / feels that solitude is key but that it can also help him to appreciate the community life after having spent time in solitude «detailed view»
Series 1 #9. «All Series«	1955/05/16	TL[c] to Montini, Giovanni	Thisis [sic] the first letter I have ever written to you, Your Excellency, but we have received many	✓	[attached to 1955/05/18 letter from Fox to Jean Leclercq - see also a copy in Series 14] Merton's vocational crisis - interest in Carthusians or Camaldolese - desire for solitary life / Merton's background, conversion history, entry into monastery, life as a writer, Master of Novices / Fr. Barnabas Mary, C.P. and Gabriel Sortais - negative effect of Merton leaving «detailed view»
Series 1 #10. «All Series«	1955/05/18	TLS to Leclercq, Jean	Good Father Louis wrote you a letter towards the end of April. From the very nature of the case, I		[see also Series 29 for a carbon copy of the same letter] Merton "disturbed emotionally" in letter to Archbishop Giovanni Montini in Milan / Merton to remain with Order and become grounds keeper of woods surrounding Gethsemani [Fox's letter to Montini attached] «detailed view»
Series 1 #11. «All Series«	1955/06/13 (#01)	TALS to Leclercq, Jean	We received your very kind letter of May 26. Do not think there is any quarrel between good Father		no quarrel between Fox and Merton / agrees with Leclercq that Merton - "Too much of an extrovert." and that he would not be able to give up writing - Gabriel Sortais agrees he should give up writing for 5 years / Merton's "love of adventure" - would not stay long with the Camaldolese «detailed view»
Series 1 #12. «All Series«	1956/01/12	TLS[x] to Stone, Naomi Burton	Father Louis has told us of your plan for a visit next month. We do look forward to that.		[see "Stone, Naomi Burton" file for a copy of this letter - to Merton's literary agent, Naomi Burton Stone] «detailed view»
Series 1 #13. «All Series«	1956/01/16	TL[x] from Stone, Naomi Burton	Thank you for your letter of January 12. Please don't let Miss Doherty sell any manuscript		[see "Stone, Naomi Burton" file for a copy of this letter - from Fox to Naomi Burton Stone] «detailed view»
Series 1 #14. «All Series«	1956/02/no	HLS[x] from Merton	Welcome home! Don't work too hard now that you are back. On this day of recollection--going over	✓	[dated "Day of Recollection Feb '56"] complains of "nervous depression and weakness" / reliance on faith and love of the Cross / "hope it is the darkness before dawn" «detailed view»
Series 1 #15. «All Series«	1957/01/25	transcript from Merton	This has been, I believe, a very good retreat for me, one of the best since I entered. In the last	✓	[Xerox of published letter] vocation getting more solid despite "darkness, depression and disgust" - need for hope «detailed view»
Series 1 #16. «All Series«	1957/01/26	transcript from Merton	This note supersedes yesterday's because I wrote our retreat resolution too soon--the best graces	✓	[Xerox of published letter] end of the retreat was the most fruitful / "abandon myself completely into the hands of Our Lady as a child" «detailed view»
Series 1 #17. «All Series«	1957/07/15	transcript from Merton	Well, we are really sweating at last. I think the summer has arrived in honor of St. Stephen, so	✓	[Xerox of published letter] possibility of a new foundation in South America / drawbacks - disease, low work output at high altitude, unstable political situations and potential reprisals against the Church, lack of communications and poor mobility in Andean countries / possibilities in Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay «detailed view»
Series 1 #18. «All Series«	1957/12/30	TLS to Leclercq, Jean	Your good letter to Father Louis arrived some time ago. It was caught in the annual Christmas		Merton back from hospital and recovering / false reports of Merton contributing article to book on Dom Alexis - letters from Fr. Bernard Besret and M. Daniel-Rops «detailed view»
Series 1 #19. «All Series«	1959/11/09	TALS to Leclercq, Jean	Your letter of October 23 to Father Louis arrived. But I deemed it better not to give it to him as		Fox has not given Leclercq's letter to Merton - thinks Leclercq is misguided in advising Merton on a vocation as a hermit - asks that Leclercq not mention this to Merton in the future, but to stick to "literary matters, …the Preface, THOUGHTS IN SOLITUDE, etc. «detailed view»
Series 1 #20. «All Series«	1959/11/19	TALS to Fox, James	In order to obey what you ordered me, I am sending this letter to you, hopping [sic] that you will		[to Dom James Fox and to be given to Merton - see "Ricaurte, José Eusebio" file for original] translation of Basic Principles of Monastic Prayer / possible donor of land around Medellin, Colombia, for founding of Trappist monastery / asking Merton for advice on his group, the Priest Slaves of Mary «detailed view»
Series 1 #21. «All Series«	1959/12/17 (#01)	transcript from Merton	I want you to receive this news when you come home, and before I see you. The whole question of my	✓	[Xerox of published letter] vocation question settled by Rome - Sacred Congregation feels that because of his writing, he must remain at Gethsemani / sees that this is the will of God / resolves not to take steps to leave the Order and will continue as Novice Master / asks to be hermit at Gethsemani / still loves community «detailed view»
Series 1 #22. «All Series«	1959/12/17? (#02)	transcript from Merton	Concerning the rights of conscience: The reason I did not directly consult you about my application	✓	[Xerox of published letter] Merton defends his right to appeal to higher Superiors without going through Fox and that asking for an indult was not an act of disobedience «detailed view»
Series 1 #23. «All Series«	1959/no/no?	TNS from Merton	Reverendissime Gen. has given permission to carry on with the Pasternak article, has appointed other		Boris Pasternak / Czeslaw Milosz / Francois Mayhieu of the "Bede Griffith outfit in India" «detailed view»
Series 1 #24. «All Series«	1960/01/15	TLS from Porter, Thomas Aquinas / to James Fox	Just a few lines with the enclosed Ms. Of Fr. Louis to tell you that we finished our retreat		[for original, see "Porter" file / referenced manuscript is not extant] «detailed view»
Series 1 #25. «All Series«	1960/01/26	TALS to Leclercq, Jean	We understand that you are giving quite a few lectures in Rome. We are very happy that you are		asking for Leclercq's address to the Generals of the Religious Orders on obedience «detailed view»
Series 1 #26. «All Series«	1961/02/14	TLS from Ryan, Joseph	I am indeed most grateful for your generous offering in the amount of forty dollars and for your		enrollment of Merton in the "Catholic Near East Welfare Association" - "The Holy Father's Mission Aid For The Oriental Church" «detailed view»
Series 1 #27. «All Series«	1961/05/04	TLS from O'Meara, Thomas Aquinas	Since so many, for one reason or another, would be interested in writing to Fr. Louis (Thomas Merton		reference to Dominican hermit, Père Vayssière, in Disputed Questions - requesting more information from Merton about Vayssière «detailed view»
Series 1 #28. «All Series«	1962/08/16	TLS[x] to Forest, Jim	You have a long memory-- and I appreciate your gracious note of August 8 with the enclosed copy		«detailed view»
Series 1 #29. «All Series«	1963/04/25	TLS[x] to Marlon Green	We saw your picture in the paper, and that you had won your case with the United States Supreme		[see "Green, Marlon D." file for the physical copy of the letter] Green's Supreme Court victory / lack of success at Gethsemani in retaining black vocations - one black man taking vows within a month «detailed view»
Series 1 #30. «All Series«	1963/10/07	TL[c] to Horrigan, Alfred	We received your gracious letter of October 2 in regard to a "Thomas Merton Collection" at		Merton has already agreed to start a collection at Bellarmine and has already sent some contributions / limitations on what can be given - two other collections already founded - one at University of Kentucky where Merton given honorary degree of Doctorate in the past year «detailed view»
Series 1 #31. «All Series«	1964/02/18?	transcript from Gillet, Ignace	Votre lettre du 7 m'est parvenue le 11, mais c'est aujourd'hui seulement que je trouve le temps,		rejection of Black Revolution and Cold War (Seeds of Destruction) / even though individual articles were permitted, Gillet points to letters from 1962 and 1963 that suggest Sortais was against such articles appearing together in a book «detailed view»
Series 1 #32. «All Series«	1964/03/20 (#01)	TAL[c] from Merton	Concerning the censorship of the book now entitled SEEDS OF DESTRUCTION. 1. I fully accept the		can accept that 3 war articles (previously accepted for print in magazines) should not appear in book form / Bob Giroux (publisher) argues book with 3 articles is already set in type / Dom Ignace Gillet does not like idea of monk being interested in "modern controversial problems" / "Meditations of Fr. Delp" «detailed view»
Series 1 #33. «All Series«	1964/03/20 (#02)	TLS from Merton	Concerning the censorship of the book now entitled SEEDS OF DESTRUCTION. 1. I fully accept the		[found in "censors file"] can accept that 3 war articles (previously accepted for print in magazines) should not appear in book form / Bob Giroux (publisher) argues book with 3 articles is already set in type / Dom Ignace Gillet does not like idea of monk being interested in "modern controversial problems" / Fr. Delp meditations «detailed view»
Series 1 #34. «All Series«	1964/03/no? (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	Many thanks for the letter of Dom Ignace. I was rather surprised. Of course it raises a bit of a		Dom Ignace Gillet and censorship of book Black Revolution / Letters in Crisis (later Seeds of Destruction) - Gillet refuses the whole book because of the articles on war / Merton notes that Farrar Straus is already printing the book with the 3 banned articles / permission to print with only approved articles «detailed view»
Series 1 #35. «All Series«	1964/03/no? (#02)	TAL[c] from Merton	Many thanks for the letter of Dom Ignace. I was rather surprised. Of course it raises a bit of a		[same as TL[c] from 1964/03/00?, but with some annotations by Merton in blue ink - found in "Censors" file] «detailed view»
Series 1 #36. «All Series«	1964/05/30?	TLS to Merton	I received a letter from our Abbot General this morning which reads in part as follows in regard to		Seeds of Destruction and the article "Christian Ethics and World Crisis" - Dom Ignace Gillet opposes the inclusion of the controversial topic of nuclear war in favor of a more generalized plea for peace «detailed view»
Series 1 #37. «All Series«	1964/07/10 (#02)	TAL[c] from Merton	First of all a letter from Fr Illtud Evans says he would like to advance the date of the retreat to		[letter to Fox who left, or is about to leave, for a visitation to other monasteries] Illtud Evans / asking permission to do an article for Holiday magazine / Cuban who does not know English is applying for entry «detailed view»
Series 1 #38. «All Series«	1964/09/24	TLS from Merton	In view of the fact that Fr Dumoulin SJ one of the foremost Catholic experts on Buddhism in Japan		labeled "PETITION" - asking permission to visit Zen and Buddhist monasteries in Japan / already a precedent among Jesuits / advantages to Merton's contemplative life «detailed view»
Series 1 #39. «All Series«	1964/09/29? (#03)	TL[c] from Merton	About yesterday's talk: certainly I am very happy that we were able to consider together the	✓	[see TLS[x] copy in Series 4] possibility of founding hermitage and trip to Japan (of a "personal repugnance" to Fox) to visit Zen and Cistercian monasteries / assurance of Merton's loathing of modern cities - not a "jaunt in the world" / Jim Wygal and Merton's psychological fitness for trip «detailed view»
Series 1 #40. «All Series«	1964/09/29? (#04)	TLS from Merton	About yesterday's talk: certainly I am very happy that we were able to consider together the	✓	possibility of founding hermitage and trip to Japan (of a "personal repugnance" to Fox) to visit Zen and Cistercian monasteries / assurance of Merton's loathing of modern cities - not a "jaunt in the world" / Jim Wygal and Merton's psychological fitness for trip «detailed view»
Series 1 #41. «All Series«	1964/no/no? (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	I got in touch with Fr Paul as soon as I heard the results of the election and asked him to send the		election of new Abbot General - sending Ignace Gillet copy of Black Revolution (Seeds of Destruction) / articles have separately been approved for publishing - can they be joined as a book? / questions of building a little prayer shelter outside for novices, changes to Office - Liturgical Committee «detailed view»
Series 1 #42. «All Series«	1965/08/14	TL[c] from Merton	I am giving this to you as a kind of summary of what I have gathered to be ok from our conversations		"Memo regarding mail" / Br. Patrick and Br. Dunstan / what mail to open, which book and magazines to keep - wants Le Monde and I.F. Stone Weekly but not Commonweal «detailed view»
Series 1 #43. «All Series«	1965/11/13	TLS to Stone, Naomi Burton	Just a quickie for now to say by all means come next week-- November 17th is fine for us here-- with		contract discussions «detailed view»
Series 1 #44. «All Series«	1965/11/22	TLS to Morrissey, James	This is a hard letter for me to write, but I am obliged to do it. Sometime ago, I believe, we		[Morrissey was with Louisville, Kentucky's newspaper, the Courier-Journal] telling Morrissey that he will not be allowed to take new photos of Gethsemani for an article on Merton, but that he can use photos taken for Postulant's Guide and another pictorial book of the monastery / Dan Walsh «detailed view»
Series 1 #45. «All Series«	1965/11/29	TALS to Stone, Naomi Burton	It was wonderful to have you here, if only for a little while. Remember, we promised a "not-so-long		enclosing proposed changes for Burton to present to the Contract Department of the publishing house «detailed view»
Series 1 #46. «All Series«	1966/01/25	TLS to Morrissey, James	We received your gracious letter of the 24th along with copies of your wonderful article. It turned		favorable response on article from Fox and from the Courier-Journal's readers «detailed view»
Series 1 #47. «All Series«	1966/01/28	TLS to Morrissey, James	Many thanks for your kind note of the 26th along with extra copies, which we will be able to make		Merton sending Morrissey's article to friends, including his aunts in New Zealand (Aunt Ka and Aunt Kit) / permission to give photo portrait of Merton to Newsweek and the Times / photo credit to Merton's friend Arthur Fillmore of St. Louis «detailed view»
Series 1 #48. «All Series«	1966/02/02	TAL to Stone, Naomi Burton	I received your gracious letter of January 27. I am glad our attempt to write to the "Eiffel Tower"		"'Eiffel Tower' woman" - Fox's trepidations in writing Marie Tadié / Ed Rice - New York vs. Kentucky - lack of modern conveniences at hermitage (no more visitors?) - Rice and a gloomy article for Jubilee / Dan Berrigan's comments on Merton / huge publicity of Morrissey's article - Dan Walsh «detailed view»
Series 1 #49. «All Series«	1966/02/no?	HLS from Merton	Please do not worry about Naomi. I will take care of her. Why don't these people mind their own		despite Naomi Burton Stone's report to Fox, Merton claims he finds no problems in conditions at the hermitage (not too cold for him) / Merton proposes that banning all visitors might solve such problems and keep Fox from getting involved in trouble with guests «detailed view»
Series 1 #50. «All Series«	1966/03/02 (#01)	TN[x] from Merton	Re file and memo on Marie Tadie: Dear Rev Father. The copies of my letters to Marie Tadie and the		Tadié does not want to cooperate with New Directions - trouble between Tadié and Hoffman / Tadié first only wanted to handle prose but now wants poetry including Chuang Tzu book / in future Merton will not correspond with Tadié about business «detailed view»
Series 1 #51. «All Series«	1966/04/08	TLS to Stone, Naomi Burton	We received your gracious letter of March 30. In regard to good Father Louis-- he will be home here		Merton's surgery and recovery / Life magazine and serial rights - commercialization of Merton's face and media sensationalism / Burton's working relations with John Delaney «detailed view»
Series 1 #52. «All Series«	1966/07/28 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	In regard to our current "problems". I shall discuss possible psychological causes with Fr Eudes	✓	Fr. John Eudes Bamberger and psychological evaluation / "fault does not lie with hermitage" nor will problems be solved by returning to community - still a need for contacts with "exceptional people" outside of monastery and in foreign countries «detailed view»
Series 1 #53. «All Series«	1966/07/29 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	Will you let me make a couple of suggestions, about the future of hermits around here and related	✓	create a system of open communications between hermits and superiors to avoid suspicion on both sides / affair with M. over / inspections of hermitage / second hermit moving in / no visits to hermits by monks - danger of homosexual affairs between some monks, Merton - "I am not so inclined" «detailed view»
Series 1 #54. «All Series«	1966/08/07 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	I think this ought to take care of the essentials, and I presume we agree on the essential	✓	Merton promises not to smuggle out letters, make illicit phone calls, or leave monastery (even to Loretto) without permission / asking Fox to believe in him and not make it a relationship of distrust with fears of "constraint and (veiled) punitive measures" / [attached document in Series 5, "Dom James Binder"] «detailed view»
Series 1 #55. «All Series«	1966/10/01	TL[c] from Merton	I am sorry to bother you with this but I think it is necessary. At the request of this Negro singer		wrote "Freedom Songs" poems for Robert Williams to raise money for a foundation for African Students / Williams created leaflet stating that Merton was actively involved in the fund drive, which he does not have permission to do / Merton wrote to him and asks Fox to do the same «detailed view»
Series 1 #56. «All Series«	1966/10/21	telegram to Maritain, Jacques	DORA COME ANYTIME AFTER NOV 2ND. PLEASE NOTIFY EXACT TIME OF ARRIVAL IN LOUISVILLE		[see "Dana, Doris" file for telegram - message from Dom James Fox, Abbot of Gethsemani, to Jacques Maritain to notify Doris Dana about arrangements to visit Gethsemani Abbey] «detailed view»
Series 1 #57. «All Series«	1966/no/no? (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	This is an important matter which I have been putting off but I guess I might as well state it	✓	reasons for continuing to go for medical treatment in Louisville despite Merton's episode with a nursing student from Louisville - medically, since the doctors know his conditions better in Louisville - non-medically, since "M." moved from the area midsummer (1966) and will not likely come back «detailed view»
Series 1 #58. «All Series«	1967/01/13	TL[c] from Dana, Doris	I want to express my deepest thanks to you once again for having made it possible for me to visit		[see the "Dana, Doris" file - from Doris Dana to Dom James Fox] «detailed view»
Series 1 #59. «All Series«	1967/01/19	TNS from Merton	Memo on Communications. In regard to the new system of handling the mail and so on: 1. I feel		Merton thinks he should get all mail / Fr. Matthew's office to help with routine acknowledgements and Mass offerings / letters concerning aggiornamento - renewal of contemplative religious life - will not give lectures, but will mail responses and make recordings for non-public, non-circulating use / telephone at hermitage? «detailed view»
Series 1 #60. «All Series«	1967/01/31	TLS[x] to Merton	To-day-- how thankful-- how thankful-- you should be to God-- The anniversary of His bringing you		Fox saying Merton should be grateful on his birthday for the gift of being allowed to live in solitude at the hermitage - contrasts this with what he sees as a bad idea of traveling (responding to invitation from Fr. Bernard of Melleray Abbey to travel to France, see also "Bissey, Colomban" file and Series 3 of Fox letters) «detailed view»
Series 1 #61. «All Series«	1967/07/13	TL[x] to Merton	Here is a magazine and letter that came from a certain Father-- or rather Msgr Robert J Fox.		[see also the "Fox, Robert" file] «detailed view»
Series 1 #62. «All Series«	1967/07/15	TLS from Merton	Herewith I am returning the letter of Mgr Fox, and suggest the following solution. 1-About		no to collaboration with Msgr. Fox this year - "out of contact with Harlem for thirty years", so not the right perspective / should give him some time for discussion of matter if he wants to come to Gethsemani - role owed by contemplatives for all those with such a legitimate purpose / careful management of Merton's time «detailed view»
Series 1 #63. «All Series«	1967/08/02	TLS[x] to Maloney, Charles	I recently received a letter from a certain Father Richard W. Rousseau, S.J., from Fairfield		[letter to Bishop Charles Mahoney, then Auxiliary Bishop of Louisville, Kentucky] visit to Fairfield University, Connecticut, of Franz Cardinal König «detailed view»
Series 1 #64. «All Series«	1967/08/03	TLS[x] from Maloney, Charles	I received your letter of August 2, concerning the request that Father Louis take part in a "meeting		[letter from Bishop Charles Mahoney, then Auxiliary Bishop of Louisville, Kentucky] visit to Fairfield University, Connecticut, of Franz Cardinal König «detailed view»
Series 1 #65. «All Series«	1967/08/07 (#01)	TL[x] to König, Franz	It has been brought, indirectly, to my attention, that you intend to visit the United States		[letter to Franz Cardinal König, then Archbishop of Vienna] visit to Fairfield University, Connecticut, in late August 1967 and Merton's invitation «detailed view»
Series 1 #66. «All Series«	1967/08/07 (#02)	TL[x] to Rousseau, Richard	Father Louis received a letter from you, dated July 31. He showed it to me, for my perusal		[letter to Fr. Richard W. Rousseau, then President of Fairfield University, Connecticut] visit to Fairfield University, Connecticut, of Franz Cardinal König in late August 1967 and Merton's invitation «detailed view»
Series 1 #67. «All Series«	1967/08/22	TL[c] from Merton	Since the letter I wrote yesterday was too late for yesterday's mail I am adding this one which may		[another letter from 1967/08/21 is mentioned as being attached] Holy Father's acknowledgement of Merton / not "our" place to write apologetics, but to bear witness / prayer and contemplation - lesson of religious alienation by Marx - monastery not a place of "dead works" - prayer can be a "liberating force" «detailed view»
Series 1 #68. «All Series«	1967/09/13	TAL[c] from Merton	I'm not arguing about Chile, because in any case I do not really think it would be the answer		[from one folder from the "New Directions Publishing" papers at Harvard, entitled "Letters (carbons) to various people, 1967"] reasons to leave monastery for Chile or some other place «detailed view»
Series 1 #69. «All Series«	1967/09/22?	TLS to Merton	A certain Mr. Barry Garfinkel called from N.Y. He is a member of Mr. Slate's law firm. He wanted		Merton's friend and lawyer handling Trust Agreement, John Slate, has died [on 09/19] / Barry Garfinkel from the same firm wants the authority to continue Slates work on the Agreement «detailed view»
Series 1 #70. «All Series«	1967/09/23	HANS from Merton	I'd appreciate it if the following cable could be sent [-] Robert Lax - Kalymnos - Greece [-] Slate		text for telegram to Bob Lax reading "Slate died Tuesday" - announcement that one of his fellow Columbia University friends, John Slate, had died - Slate died of a heart attack - see also "Slate, John H." correspondence file «detailed view»
Series 1 #71. «All Series«	1967/11/11	TL[c] from Merton	re Trust Agreement [-] To summarize some of the points in our good talk today and add some useful		Merton's notes for discussion on the Trust Agreement - founding of the Merton Legacy Trust / stipulation not to make Merton's autobiography into a film or program for TV or radio / kinds of magazines acceptable for publishing - small and literary / the Trustees' and monastery's relationship in the rights to approve publication «detailed view»
Series 1 #72. «All Series«	1967/11/14 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	1. The address of the Paris lawyer is M. Pierre Kramer-Raine		"Summary of the position in regard to M Tadie." / foreign rights entirely in the hands of Merton's publishers / Marie Tadié is still translator for all previously contracted work / Marie Tadié may be used in the future for French translation or someone else, but this is in the hand of the publishers «detailed view»
Series 1 #73. «All Series«	1968/02/02	HCS from Merton	My prayers go with you into the desert[?] this Feb. 2 - and I hope you will find there all that you		[verso: nativity scene with a quote from St. Augustine] «detailed view»
Series 1 #74. «All Series«	1968/10/06	TL[c] to Merton	Perhaps you are not expecting a note from me - at least so soon. But I do want you to know - that,		[filed as p. 7-8 attached to 1969/02/01 letter (Fox's handwritten copy in Series 29)] rapid changes in Trappist community - less mandatory silence, hermits permitted, trips outside monastery / Fox's call to be hermit and how he had to wait - how he made Merton wait for Asian journey - in the end Fox a "loyal friend and brother" not Merton's "nemesis" «detailed view»
Series 1 #75. «All Series«	1968/10/20 (#02)	transcript from Merton	I have been waiting for a chance to thank you for your warm and gracious letter, which reached me		[filed as p. 9 attached to 1969/02/01 letter, original in Series 7, response to Fox letter of 1968/10/06 (Series 1)] does not blame Fox for his past decisions / new openness in monastic life might lead to abuses - want his trip to be for a "spiritual goal" / finding Asian Buddhist meditation centers unknown in the West / Americans don't meditate nor "really know themselves" «detailed view»
Series 1 #76. «All Series«	1969/02/01 (#01)	TL[c] to "Gethsemani Diaspora"	It was Tuesday, December 10 - about 15 minutes before 1:00 in the afternoon. I was about to prepare		copy of a letter Dom James writes about Merton's death and how he heard the news / reflections on Merton's life, works and character; their monk-superior relationship and popular misunderstandings of it / "burnt men" from Seven Storey Mountain / encloses two 1968 letters to and from Merton in Asia and two prayers by Merton «detailed view»
Series 1 #77. «All Series«	1969/02/01 (#02)	other to "Gethsemani Diaspora"	PRAYER [by TM] O God of Mercy and of truth, look down we beg You upon this troubled world, and grant		[filed as p. 10 attached to 1969/02/01 letter of Fox] two prayers by Merton - first from the New York World's Fair of 1964, the Vatican Pavilion - second called, "Act of Abandonment": "MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going..." «detailed view»
Series 1 #78. «All Series«	1977/04/no?	other[x]	Two charged with robbery of retired Trappist abbot [-] Two New Hope men have been arrested and		[newspaper clipping regarding the assault and robbery of Dom James Fox retired to a hermitage by two men from near Gethsemani Abbey who were looking for money and beat Fox when they found he did not have any] «detailed view»
Series 1 #79. «All Series«	undated/07/08?	HPCS to Merton	I received your note. Bro Simon talked to me on phone - so that we could expedite matters with		[verso: postcard of "Novitiate House" - "Our Lady of the Genesee Abbey" in Piffard, NY] "matters with 'Mac'" «detailed view»
Series 1 #80. «All Series«	undated/07/18?	HPCS to Merton	Just rec'd your charming letter - I thought you might have forgotten! But no - not you. I'm glad		[verso: postcard of "Winter Scene, Quonset Trappist Abbey" in Huntsville, Utah] «detailed view»
Series 1 #81. «All Series«	undated/07/20?	HCS from Merton	Thanks for your "cooling" Utah card. I hope the visitation is as cool as the landscape. For my		[verso: heart and flame design with the words "O Clara Luce"] response to Fox's postcard from Utah / Merton's health problems / possible visit by Jean Leclercq in August / Marie Tadié «detailed view»
Series 1 #82. «All Series«	undated/09/26?	HPCS to Merton	I rec'd your most gracious note		[verso: postcard from Rome with four photos of famous structures] «detailed view»
Series 1 #83. «All Series«	undated/11/14?	HPCS to Merton	A quote from your friend P. Neruda. [?] said he has "mellowed" in his latter years - not so		[verso: postcard of a "Mural 'Presencia de América Latina' in the "Casa del Arte - Concepción - CHILE"] Pablo Neruda / Marie Tadié «detailed view»
Series 1 #84. «All Series«	undated/no/no (#06)	TL[c] from Merton	I received this big package from Dom Gorla. It is conscience matter addressed to me and presumably		diaries of conscience matter sent to Merton / Merton's thoughts on someone's vocation to the monastery «detailed view»
Series 1 #85. «All Series«	undated/no/no (#07)	TN[x] from Merton	PERSONAL SCHEDULE. Br. M. Louis. 2.15. Rise. Lauds. 2.30 Meditation (Old Testament) (about an		Merton's personal schedule - partial morning schedule only «detailed view»
Series 1 #86. «All Series«	undated/no/no (#08)	TAL from Censor (anonymous)	A manuscript of Father Louis of Gethsemani (Thomas Merton) has been sent to me for censorship. It		Nihil Obstat or conditional with notes - "Mystics and Zen Masters", "Classic Chinese Thought", "Jesuits in China", "From Pilgrimage to Crusade", "English Mystics", "Self Knowledge in Gertrude More and Augustine Baker", "Russian Mystics", "Protestant Mysticism", "Pleasant Hill", "Contemplation and Ecumenism" «detailed view»
Series 1 #87. «All Series«	undated/no/no (#09)	TL from Censor (anonymous)	I concede the nihil obstat but wish to bring the following to the attention of the author. 1. At		points out some grammatical problems and some area that might be confusing to the reader «detailed view»
Series 1 #88. «All Series«	undated/no/no (#10)	TLS to Merton	Here is a letter I received from a good family who lives near the monastery of Our Lady of the		[letter from family not attached herein] letter from family near Our Lady of the Genesee in Piffard, NY - help out Dom Gerard McGinly and other pioneer monks «detailed view»
Series 1 #89. «All Series«	undated/no/no (#11)	HNS to Merton	Could you tell me: 1) is that James Fitzsimmons who edits some magazine		magazine in Switzerland «detailed view»
Series 1 #90. «All Series«	undated/no/no (#12)	HNS to Merton	I received your last two notes ok. No doubt our account of the audience with Our Holy Father has		asking Holy Father about "Greek Orthodox priests offering Mass" / Holy Father mentions interest in Merton's work and "interested in any help that can be given our non-Catholic brothers" «detailed view»
Series 1 #91. «All Series«	undated/no/no (#37)	TNS from Merton	Concerning temperature inhermitage, [sic] just for information: last night, with below zero weather		Merton comfortable and has no complaints despite frigid conditions of hermitage «detailed view»
Series 1 #92. «All Series«	undated/no/no (#38)	TAN from Merton	Points for letter to censors about Suzuki article-- you can complete it with other points. 1) We		D. T. Suzuki article - separation of article from Desert Fathers book - not objectionable because it is to be published in a book with other authors and addressed to non-Catholics «detailed view»
Series 1 #93. «All Series«	undated/no/no (#39)	TAN from Merton	Marie Tadié is askingabout [sic] that letter you were to write her. I don't think Naomi is going to		Marie Tadié and rights as agent for French, Italian and Spanish works / Naomi Burton Stone and Doubleday «detailed view»

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The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

Individual Series View, Merton's Correspondence with:

Fox, James, Dom, O.C.S.O., 1896-1987

Series 1, Correspondence from original Merton papers (some later additions): Dom James Fox with Merton, Fr. Charles Dumont, Edward Glenn Hinson, Msgr. Alfred Frederick Horrigan, Fr. Giovanni Montini, James Morrissey, Naomi Burton Stone, etc.

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