The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Local Draft Boards, Letters to

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1962-1968

Volume: 8 item(s); 10 pg(s)

Scope and Content

This file contains statements by Merton on behalf of individuals claiming conscientious objector status. He often wrote to local draft boards in favor of those morally opposed to war.

Biography

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See also one published letter from Merton to a Draft Board in The Road to Joy, pp. 322-323.

Other Finding Aids

If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
   

Series List

This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.

Container List

SeriesDateTypeTo/FromFirst LinesPubFull TextNotes
 1962/05/21 (#01)TLfrom MertonI have been asked by Mr James A. Kennedy to offer a statement that objection to nuclear war,Yes Kennedy - member of Pax, an international Catholic peace movement / Merton declares that conscientious objection can be held by a Catholic in regard to nuclear war and other wars given present weapons technology / just war for self defense possible, but unlikely today / statements by Pope Pius XII and John XXIII
 1962/05/21 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonI have been asked by Mr James A. Kennedy to offer a statement that objection to nuclear war,Yes Kennedy - member of Pax, an international Catholic peace movement / Merton declares that conscientious objection can be held by a Catholic in regard to nuclear war and other wars given present weapons technology / just war for self defense possible, but unlikely today / statements by Pope Pius XII and John XXIII
 1964/01/29 TL[x]from MertonThis letter is written in support of Mr Robert Kachnowski who is hoping to be classified  [to Local Board 90 - Detroit, Michigan]
 1965/04/08 TL[c]from MertonJoseph M. Morse has asked me to write a supporting letter regarding his draft classification.  [to Local Board 129 - Winona, Minnesota]
 1966/09/07 TL[c]from MertonI have been asked by Thomas Thompson to write this letter in regard to his application to be  [to Local Board 87 - Detroit, Michigan]
 1967/01/07 TL[c]from MertonI am writing to you in behalf of John Wu Jr, son of a very good friend of mine and a former  [to Local Board 18 - Newark, New Jersey]
 1968/02/19 HLS[x]from MertonAs a spiritual advisor I have been consulted by Joseph Mulloy who is seeking to follow  [to Local Board 47 - Louisville, Kentucky - see also the "Mulloy, Joseph" file for related correspondence]
 undated/no/no TAL[c]from MertonMr Michael F. Humphrey has written asking that I support him in his claim for special classification  [to Local Board 116 - Stearns County, St. Cloud, Minnesota]
        

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