The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Williams, Jonathan, 1929-

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1966-1968, 1971

Volume: 31 item(s); 33 pg(s)

Scope and Content

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

Biography

Jonathan Williams is a poet, publisher, designer, photographer and essayist, born in Asheville, North Carolina. After studies at Princeton and painting at the Phillips Memorial Gallery, he returned to Asheville to study photography at Black Mountain College. After his return to North Carolina, he became associated with the Black Mountain group of poets and began a publishing venture, the Jargon Society Books. Williams visited Gethsemani Abbey in January of 1967 with Guy Davenport and Ralph Eugene Meatyard. (Source: The Courage for Truth, p. 284.)

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See also published letters from Merton to Williams in The Courage for Truth, pp. 284-289.

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
 1965/06/02 other GREEN CORN THRU A COW or Where Were You When The Cultural Explosion Hit the Fan?  [pamphlet of "Observations by Jonathan Williams" and a Curriculum Vitae from 1962-1965]
 1966/11/09 TLSto MertonI was in Norfolk on a visit recently and told J. Laughlin that I would soon be visiting the campus   
 1966/11/11 (#01)TL[c]from MertonGood to get your letter. Bring the snake oil over this way. Afternoons are the best time, that isYes  
 1966/11/11 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonGood to get your letter. Bring the snake oil over this way. Afternoons are the best time, that isYes  
 1966/11/23 TPCSto MertonI've had to postpone that visit to Lexington because of illness in Guy Davenport's family down  [verso: color print of "Eagles Home No. 1009, Knoxville, Tenn."]
 1966/11/29 (#01)TL[c]from MertonI got your card. It is cold and mean anyway. Perhaps the weather in January may be milder.Yes  
 1966/11/29 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonI got your card. It is cold and mean anyway. Perhaps the weather in January may be milder.Yes  
 1966/12/18 TPCSto MertonJust back from two weeks of hawking the orphic snake-oil in the Mid-Atlantic, which needs it.  [verso: color print of "Eight Street Viaduct, Cincinnati, Ohio."]
 1967/01/10 TPCSto MertonSo, I am beginning to pack the car for the next Parson Weems tour. Davenport and I hope to come  [verso: color print of "North Entrance and Bridge, Cincinnati, O."]
 1967/04/24 TPCSto MertonI hope Ron Johnson's book turned up, from G. Davenport some months back??? If not, I'll chide our  [verso: color print of "No. 257. Lake at Chilhowee Park, Near Knoxville, Tenn."]
 1967/04/28 TLSto Merton<u>INVITATION TO A FESTSCHRIFT IN HONOR OF EDWARD DAHLBERG'S ACHIEVEMENT</u>   
 1967/05/04 (#01)TL[c]from MertonI am terribly sorry for the delay in writing. Doctors again, operation again, nonsense again, testsYes  
 1967/05/04 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonI am terribly sorry for the delay in writing. Doctors again, operation again, nonsense again, testsYes  
 1967/05/08 TLSto MertonIt doesn't sound very anchoritic, that invaded life you've been forced to live lately.   
 1967/05/19 (#01)TL[c]from MertonThanks for your of May 8th. No, I haven't been anchoritic enough these last weeks, and itYes  
 1967/05/19 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonThanks for your of May 8th. No, I haven't been anchoritic enough these last weeks, and itYes  
 1967/05/19 (#03)other[c]from MertonCurriculum vitae Merton May 1967 [-] Born 1915 in Southern France a few miles from CataloniaYes  
 1967/06/09 (#01)TL[c]from MertonYou know, Ron Johnson's book never arrived. I tried to inquire about it, but got nowhere.Yes  
 1967/06/09 (#02)TALS[x]from MertonYou know, Ron Johnson's book never arrived. I tried to inquire about it, but got nowhere.Yes  
 1967/10/31 (#01)TAL[c]from MertonI'm off to a start. Here is a concrete poem I am working on. Right away I am up against the newYes  
 1967/10/31 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonI'm off to a start. Here is a concrete poem I am working on. Right away I am up against the newYes  
 1967/10/31 (#03)other[c]from MertonConcrete racegram of Pluto king of hell as he meets white foe in Gaol while one or both is/are setYes [typed carbon copy of concrete poem by Merton with Merton's signature (through carbon) and drawings of an "o" and "ô" - sent to Williams]
 1967/11/18 TLSto MertonYour letter was delayed a little in reaching me from North Carolina, but I have it and thank you   
 1967/12/13 (#01)TL[c]from MertonMany, many thanks for the Concrete Poets. Magnificent. Great to have and soak in. I see what youYes  
 1967/12/13 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonMany, many thanks for the Concrete Poets. Magnificent. Great to have and soak in. I see what youYes  
 1967/12/20 (#01)TLSto MertonEnclosed are a few rustic bits from my forthcoming book on the Appalachians, <u>Blues</u>   
 1967/12/20 (#02)otherto MertonPoets for Tom Merton's Magazine: [-] RJ McClure [-] Paul Carroll [-] Geof Hewitt [-] Alfred Starr  [list of poets recommended by Williams for <u>Monks Pond</u> - sent with Williams' letter to Merton of the same dated - red check marks by some names]
 1968/04/12 TLS[x]from MertonI think I will use picture of you as harvest spirit with beer and thyrsis (Gene Meatyard) in nextYes  
 1968/12/17 TLS[x]to Laughlin, JamesIt was a real jolt to pick up TIME this afternoon in Westfield, Massachusetts while waiting for my  contains a poem written by Williams while at Gethsemani with Guy Davenport, Ralph Eugene Meatyard and Merton, "Tom Merton's Neighbor, Andy Boone, Look Up"
 1971/03/02 TLS[x]to Center from Williams, JonathanI am enclosing xerox copies of all of Tom Merton's correspondence that a quick look unearthed   
 1971/04/15 TL[x]from Center to Williams, JonathanForgive me for being so long in answering your letter, but Fr. Pooler asked me to write you since   
        

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