The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University



Advanced Search 


Individual Series View, Merton's Correspondence with:

Gaither, Marice "Mimi"


Series 1, Merton-Gaither Correspondence


Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence
Dates of materials: 1952-1971
Volume: 76 item(s); 85 pg(s)

Scope and Content

This recently acquired catch of letters was discovered by John E. King and donated to the Merton Center in 2001. King found a reference to a bound set of copied letters from Merton that John F. Gaither, Marice's son, put together. King was able to find

Biography

Marice "Mimi" Gaither was a long time supporter of Gethsemani and often sent money for Mass intentions. She writes from Louisville.

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

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

Related Information and Links

See also Merton's correspondence with Marice Gaither's son in the "Gaither, John Francis" file.

Series List

Series NumberSeries NameTotal Records
1 Merton-Gaither Correspondence 51
2 Gainer Correspondence with Gethsemani (not from or to Merton) 25

Container List

Series#DateFrom/ToFirst LinesPub ✓Notes
 y/m/dMerton Scan ✉ 
Series 1 #1.
«All Series«		 1952/01/21 HCS from Merton Many thanks to you for your kindness in sending me Masses for my intentions. Be sure that I will [also enclosed is a check for $10.00 endorsed by Merton] «detailed view»
Series 1 #2.
«All Series«		 1954/05/20 HCS from Merton I said a Mass for the sick this morning, for the stipend you so kindly sent, including all your «detailed view»
Series 1 #3.
«All Series«		 1954/08/28 TCS from Merton How kind of you to send Masses for my intentions. It will give me a chance to offer Mass for some [verso: standard note card for Mass intentions from Gethsemani: "Thank you for the alms which you have sent for 25 Masses. It is not always possible to comply with requests that Mass be offered by some particular Father"...] «detailed view»
Series 1 #4.
«All Series«		 1955/09/09 TNS from Merton Once again I am overwhelmed by your kindness and generosity. Surely Our Lady herself has provided «detailed view»
Series 1 #5.
«All Series«		 1956/01/03 TLS from Fox, James During the Christmas Festivities we tried to find an opportunity to write of our gratitude «detailed view»
Series 1 #6.
«All Series«		 1957/11/05 TALS from Merton It just happened, for a change, that the secretary's office passed on your latest letter, with the «detailed view»
Series 1 #7.
«All Series«		 1958/05/17 TLS from Merton This is to acknoqledge [sic] the check for $75. The Masses have been entered and I hope that they «detailed view»
Series 1 #8.
«All Series«		 1958/12/19 TLS from Merton Thank you again for your wonderful gift. You are much too generous to me. But I know that your «detailed view»
Series 1 #9.
«All Series«		 1959/06/09 TLS from Merton I find myself indebted to you again. It seems I will never be otherwise. May the Lord Himself pay [Merton encloses photograph of himself (see top of page)] «detailed view»
Series 1 #10.
«All Series«		 1959/11/12 TLS from Merton Here we go again: I think the Lord has raised you up to make sure that I retain some vestiges of [encloses a "bigger, clearer and sillier picture" - black and white photograph by Sibylle Akers of Merton beside monastery wall] «detailed view»
Series 1 #11.
«All Series«		 1960/02/27 HLS from Merton Your letter and gift brought me joy in these last dark and snowy days. You are so kind - «detailed view»
Series 1 #12.
«All Series«		 1960/06/15 TALS from Merton Just before I received your letter I had finally found Sally's address which I had lost, and I wrote «detailed view»
Series 1 #13.
«All Series«		 1961/03/27 HPCS from Merton Very many cordial thanks for your Easter gift. You will be included in all my Masses in this most [verso: black and white photograph of the face of a carved wooden crucifix from Germany] «detailed view»
Series 1 #14.
«All Series«		 1961/08/09 TLS from Merton Your letter is here in the bunch of unanswered letters, and I am not positive that it is totally «detailed view»
Series 1 #15.
«All Series«		 1961/11/08 TLS from Merton I am very sorry for the delay, again. I have been terribly busy. There are a lot of things I just «detailed view»
Series 1 #16.
«All Series«		 1962/03/09 TLS from Merton Thank you for your good letter and for the enclosure. I will never cease to be grateful for your «detailed view»
Series 1 #17.
«All Series«		 1962/11/10 TLS from Merton Thanks again for the Masses. Your gifts enable me to say Mass for all kinds of intentions that are «detailed view»
Series 1 #18.
«All Series«		 1963/04/08 TLS from Merton My far flung net of secret service agents tells me that you are not in good health at all. «detailed view»
Series 1 #19.
«All Series«		 1963/06/28 TLS from Merton Thanks again for the letter and for the immense gift: for the Mass is without limit. I shall be [Merton encloses a signed, black and white, close-up photo of himself by John Howard Griffin] «detailed view»
Series 1 #20.
«All Series«		 1963/12/26 HCS from Merton Just a note to thank you and wish you all blessings. Keep courageous - we all have troubles. «detailed view»
Series 1 #21.
«All Series«		 1964/01/23 HPCS from Merton I am awfully sorry to hear you are having trouble but I hope and pray the operation was successful [verso: "Interior: St. John's Abbey and University Church, Collegeville, Minn."] «detailed view»
Series 1 #22.
«All Series«		 1964/03/03 TNS from Merton Thanks for your letter and for the good news that you are going home today. Thanks above all «detailed view»
Series 1 #23.
«All Series«		 1964/07/12 TNS from Merton I have been saying the masses regularly for your Mother. How is she? Certainly it would be a grace «detailed view»
Series 1 #24.
«All Series«		 1965/02/19 HNS from Merton Just a note to say I got your letter and offer Masses for Alice Mattingly as soon as I can. «detailed view»
Series 1 #25.
«All Series«		 1965/07/20 HL to Merton Thank you so much for your very kind note that came some time ago - I appreciated it more than I can «detailed view»
Series 1 #26.
«All Series«		 1966/01/17 HNS from Merton Did I ever acknowledge the Masses you sent in December? With all the rush of Christmas «detailed view»
Series 1 #27.
«All Series«		 1966/01/30 HNS from Merton Thanks for the letter. I will take care of the Masses. Please tell Nan how sorry I am to «detailed view»
Series 1 #28.
«All Series«		 1966/04/21 HNS from Merton Thanks again - I enjoyed your letter and will say the Masses with joy: the needs and intentions «detailed view»
Series 1 #29.
«All Series«		 1966/07/11 TLS from Merton Thanks for your letter, for the stipends and for the relatively good news. I will as always be «detailed view»
Series 1 #30.
«All Series«		 1966/10/18 TCS from Merton I am sorry to hear of the spread of Mother's cancer but at least glad she is not in pain. How brave «detailed view»
Series 1 #31.
«All Series«		 1967/01/31 TNS from Merton Well, God came and took little Mother back to Himself at last. Her sufferings are over and now He «detailed view»
Series 1 #32.
«All Series«		 1967/03/26 TLS  from Merton to Friends It has been a beautiful warm Easter here, though the most recent news from the East Coast complains ✓ [see also "Circular Letters to 'Friends'" - labeled "Easter 1967"] «detailed view»
Series 1 #33.
«All Series«		 1967/10/23 TLS from Merton Thanks again-- it is good above all to hear from you and to have news of the family. «detailed view»
Series 1 #34.
«All Series«		 1968/01/01 TALS  from Merton to Friends Christmas mail was an avalanche this year: it always is, but more so in 1967. News from friends ✓ [labeled "NEW YEAR'S LETTER 1968" - adds a short note to Gaither concerning Mass intentions] «detailed view»
Series 1 #35.
«All Series«		 1968/04/20 TLS from Merton Here's a little picture I took: it brings you inside the enclosure of the monks: an old beat up [paper has photocopied photograph of a section inside the cloister wall - "an old beat up wall and Our Lady quite and serene in the midst of everything"] «detailed view»
Series 1 #36.
«All Series«		 1968/04/no? TL[c]  from Merton to Friends As I write this there is snow on the ground from a blizzard we had the other day, but the sun is ✓ [labeled "EASTER LETTER 1968"] «detailed view»
Series 1 #37.
«All Series«		 1968/08/05 TANS from Merton It must be awful rough on Nancy to be in the hospital in hot weather like this. I hope all is «detailed view»
Series 1 #38.
«All Series«		 1968/08/07 TNS from Merton Yesterday I mailed my letter to you just before getting yours about Nan. I am sorry she is having «detailed view»
Series 1 #39.
«All Series«		 1968/09/no? TLS[x] from Merton As you know, I have been cutting down more and more on letters and now my contacts will be almost ✓ [labeled "FALL 1968"] «detailed view»
Series 1 #40.
«All Series«		 undated/no/no (#01) HCS from Merton Thanks for the "little old Christmas letter" and I'm glad the heart demanded it. «detailed view»
Series 1 #41.
«All Series«		 undated/no/no (#02) HNS from Merton Glad to hear the good news. Take a good rest and when you get home ask Jesus to be patient in you «detailed view»
Series 1 #42.
«All Series«		 undated/no/no (#03) HNS from Merton Thanks again for letter, news and gift. I have many to pray for everywhere and there is «detailed view»
Series 1 #43.
«All Series«		 undated/no/no (#04) HCS from Merton Many thanks for your beautiful gift and kind remembrances to all of you at Easter - very special «detailed view»
Series 1 #44.
«All Series«		 undated/no/no (#05) HPCS from Merton Thanks for the check for Masses and for all the family news. I will be saying the Masses for all «detailed view»
Series 1 #45.
«All Series«		 undated/no/no (#06) TCS from Merton I am always in your debt, and now as much as ever. Thanks for all your thoughtfulness and for your [includes a card printed at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York, with a drawing of a kneeling monk and quote from Merton: "Let my eyes see nothing in this world but your glory [-] Let my hands touch nothing that is not for your service"] «detailed view»
Series 1 #46.
«All Series«		 undated/no/no (#07) HCS from Merton Your letters are always so kind that they fill me with confusion. But indeed God is good.. «detailed view»
Series 1 #47.
«All Series«		 undated/no/no (#08) TNS from Merton I can hardly find words to express my appreciation of your kindness and charity. Surely the Sacred «detailed view»
Series 1 #48.
«All Series«		 undated/no/no (#09) HCS from Merton Your letter about dear Ann's sickness is distressing and I am seeing that seven Masses will be said «detailed view»
Series 1 #49.
«All Series«		 undated/no/no (#10) HNS from Merton Thanks again for your wonderful and unfailing kindness. I will keep up the Masses for your [written on verso of a "PRAYER for PEACE" - "(This prayer, written by Father Thomas Merton, was read in the House of Representatives by Congressman Frank Kowalski (Dem., Connecticut) on April 17, 1962 - Tuesday in Holy Week)" - (see also "Laucks, Irving F." file)] «detailed view»
Series 1 #50.
«All Series«		 undated/no/no (#12) HCS from Merton Again- more of your wonderful generosity. May I include in these Masses something for others «detailed view»
Series 1 #51.
«All Series«		 undated/no/no (#14) HNS from Merton Many thanks for your letter and for the Masses. So many priests are having a rough time these days. «detailed view»

Return to the top of the page.

The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University | 2001 Newburg Rd, Louisville KY, 40205 | 502-272-8177 or 8187

Copyright © The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University. All rights reserved.
Photographs copyright of the Merton Legacy Trust. Not to be used without written permission.