The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Pauker, John, 1920-

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1966-1967

Volume: 22 item(s); 24 pg(s)

Scope and Content

This is a file in the correspondence of Thomas Merton under the heading: "Pauker, John".

Biography

John Pauker was a poet, playwright, editor, and translator. He and his wife, Shoo-Shoo, ran an art gallery called the Fun House in Washington, D.C., where he displayed some of Merton's art in 1967. Pauker edited the quarterly Furioso from 1947-1953. He was later the American editor of The Lugano Review. He published books of poetry, a Broadway play called "Moonbirds", and translated the Hungarian novel by Lajos Zilahy, The Dukays, which was a nationwide bestseller.

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See also the "Claire, William" file.

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
 1966/09/15 TL[c]to MertonJames Fitzsimmons writes that you described my sequence "Excellency" as "sorry, drab and very good."  [we don't have - only Georgetown] asks for Merton to do introduction to "Excellency"
 1966/09/27 TL[c]from MertonI am very glad to hear about the limited edition of "Excellency" and I have seriously thought about   
 1966/11/10 TLSto MertonI find, and I regret, that I inadvertently neglected to acknowledge your friendly letter of 27   
 1966/11/10 TLS[c]to MertonI find, and I regret, that I inadvertently neglected to acknowledge your friendly letter of 27  [we don't have - only Georgetown] acknowledges Merton's refusal to do introduction
 1967/02/02 (#01)TALS[x]to Dickey, JamesDo you know the poems of Bob Lax? See his <u>Circus of the Sun</u> and <u>New Poems</u>  [originally sent to James Dickey of Leesburg, Virginia on 1967/01/31 - copy sent to Merton]
 1967/02/02 (#02)otherto MertonREMORSEFUL POEM [-] I am what you might call a quiet drunk, [-] God said, minding My own business,  [handwritten note specifies that poem was written by Pauker for Merton - copy sent to Merton]
 1967/02/02 (#03)other[x]to MertonTHE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN PAUKER (1920 - ) [-] Poet, playwright, propagandist, patron of the arts   
 1967/03/02 HLSfrom MertonIt is a month since you wrote your remorseful poem which I have much enjoyed - and since then I have  [we don't have - only Georgetown] Merton suggests that he might do a new batch of caligraphies for Pauker to sell to benefit peace movements / mentions exhibit that has traveled all over but is "tired now and is retiring to the stable in Louisville."
 1967/03/08 TALS[c]to MertonI have been thinking about you, and fantasying about the Abbey. Therefore: (1) Your March 2 letter  [we don't have - only Georgetown] Pauker sending poems "Flighty Poem" and "Vigilant Poem" / asks Merton to divert the exhibit and let Pauker exhibit drawings
 1967/04/08 TL[c]from MertonSome time ago I asked a friend to arrange to have his drawings sent from Chicago to you   
 1967/04/10 TALSto MertonHow austere and beautiful is the typeface on the letterhead you use. Your drawings are here,   
 1967/04/15 TL[c]from MertonMany thanks for the letter, informing me that the drawings got there without major mishap.   
 1967/05/24 (#01)otherto MertonMr. and Mrs. John Pauker request the pleasure of the company of Fr. Thomas Merton for PEACE in  [invitation to "Peace in Ruritania and Graustark" on 1967/06/10]
 1967/05/24 (#02)TLS[x]to MertonSANS PAREIL? UNIKUM? NONESUCH? [-] Headachy? Are you tired of the old familiars, the randy tacky  [announcement of Merton's "Fifty-Five Calligraphic Drawings" at the Fun House gallery, along with "Cambodian Magnificences" by Chen Chun, "Paintings of Sudan" by Joan Lund, and "The Originals of the Lorton Sculptors" - signed by "Shoo-Shoo and Gunboat Pauker"]
 1967/07/07 TALSto MertonYour drawings glow on the walls of three floors of this Fun House. They mingle mighty well with the   
 1967/07/10 TLSfrom MertonMany thanks for the good letter describing the exhibit. I am glad to hear about the framing  [we don't have - only Georgetown / letterhead states: "the monks. Modern Moving… with Old Fashioned Care"] sending check for exhibit framing expenses - Merton want money paid for those sold to go to Rosemary Ruether for institute for poor African Americans in Washington, DC / asks Pauker to send caligraphies to Fr. John Loftus at Bellarmine after exhibit
 1967/07/14 TLSto Merton(1) I have talked with Rosemary Ruether. We have your instructions, and shall comply.   
 1967/07/17 TAL[c]from MertonThanks for your note and for the enclosures. Since I can't get to Grauman's Chop Suey theater   
 1967/08/02 TLSto MertonWe thank you for the July 17 note and checque. Just sold another of your drawings. Rosemary   
 1968/01/17 TALSfrom Ruether, RosemaryThomas Merton wrote me a few days ago saying that he wanted to turn the drawings over to St.  [we don't have - only Georgetown / phone message is annotation by Pauker regarding call from Ruether about transfer of drawings]
 1968/01/18 TLS[c]to MertonWe are back from Europe, unscathed? scathed? anyway, back. Bob Lax is back too. We're exchanging  [we don't have - only Georgetown] regret that Ruether will receive drawings before Pauker feels he is done with them - needs Merton's written release
 1968/01/22 TLSfrom MertonGlad to get your note and know you're back. Yes, I have been hearing from Bob too, back in Olean.  [we don't have - only Georgetown] explanation of transfer to Ruether instead of return to Louisville
        

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