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This file contains original letters from Agnes Merton and carbon copies of the letters Thomas Merton sent in the 1960's. There are a few photocopies of letters from Agnes Merton to Robert Giroux at Harcourt Brace publishers.
Agnes Gertrude Stonehewer Merton, Thomas Merton's Aunt "Kit", was Owen Merton's sister, and she lived in New Zealand. Thomas Merton met her twice: once coming with her mother Gertrude Hannah Merton to Flushing, New York, in 1919; and once visiting him at Gethsemani in 1961. She suffered a tragic death aboard the ferry Wahine, which sank between New Zealand's largest islands. (Source: The Thomas Merton Encyclopedia, p. 293).
Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.
See also published letters from Thomas Merton to "Aunt Kit" in The Road to Joy, pp. 59-63, 68-70, 73-75, 79, 81-82 and 84.
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.
This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.
Click icons for links: ✓="Published | Library Record", ✉="Scanned" | 🗷="Scanned, Viewable Only at Merton Center"
| # | Date | From/To | First Lines | Pub ✓ | Notes |
| | y/m/d | Merton | | Scan ✉ | |
| 1. |
1953/08/09 |
HLS[x] to Giroux, Robert |
My nephew, Thomas Merton, (Father Louis of Gethsemani) wrote that he had asked you to send us a copy |
|
«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1953/10/27 |
HLS[x] to Giroux, Robert |
I have to thank you very sincerely for the copy of Thomas Merton's book, 'The Sign of Jonas,' which |
|
«detailed view» |
| 3. |
1954/07/19 |
HLS[x] to Giroux, Robert |
I have to thank you for very much for the copy of my nephew's latest book, 'The Last of the Fathers. |
|
«detailed view» |
| 4. |
1963/12/01 |
TAL[c] from Merton |
I am not sure I remember when I last wrote but I have an uneasy feeling, rooted perhaps in bad habit |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 5. |
1964/05/15 |
HLS to Merton |
It is long since I wrote, and longer since you wrote, but I know how busy you are and so excuse you. |
|
«detailed view» |
| 6. |
1964/05/27 |
TAL[c] from Merton |
Your letter came this morning and since I have been such an abominable correspondent I will make |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 7. |
1964/12/17 |
HLS to Merton |
I can't be sure whether I wrote earlier to wish you Christmas wishes, and I hope this will reach you |
|
«detailed view» |
| 8. |
1965/04/20 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Your letter arrived this morning. I was certain I had answered your last letter. |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 9. |
1965/05/02 |
HLS to Merton |
I am delighted to have news of you, and to look forward to a copy of the latest book. |
|
«detailed view» |
| 10. |
1965/06/09 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Before I forget, here is the sleeve measurement: on the inside, from armpit to cuff, it is nineteen |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 11. |
1965/09/11 |
TALS[x] from Merton |
The sweaters arrived yesterday and I am delighted to have them: they fit very nicely, though a bit |
|
[copied from Sub-Section H.7, Accession 2, Hart Working Files]
«detailed view» |
| 12. |
1966/01/30 |
TL[c] from Merton |
The new sweater arrived yesterday, which happened to be the coldest day of this winter so far, |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 13. |
1966/06/01 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Your letter postmarked May 25th reached me today and I can see from it that I probably have not |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 14. |
1966/12/12 |
TAL[c] from Merton |
Here is a picture of me with the sweater you knitted. I would have sent it long ago but I only just |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 15. |
1967/04/27 |
HLS to Merton |
It is a long time since we heard from you, and I expect, a long time since I have written. I think |
|
«detailed view» |
| 16. |
1967/06/27 |
HLS to Merton |
I should have written before to thank you for your latest book-- too deep for me, I fear me, |
|
«detailed view» |
| 17. |
1967/08/14 |
TL[c] from Merton |
I am finally trying to catch up with my mail. I don't dare count the letters I should answer -- |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 18. |
1968/01/05 |
TL[c] from Merton |
I have not heard from anyone in the family this Christmas (except by surprise from Uncle Harold who |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 19. |
1968/04/11 |
other |
WAHINE [-] Record of a disaster [-] THIS is the story as it happened. A story recorded on the spot |
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[special edition of the The Dominion Sunday Times about the Wahine Disaster of April 10, 1968, where Agnes Gertrude Merton died - sent by Sr. M. Nivard, see "Nivard, Mary, Sr." file]
«detailed view» |
| 20. |
1968/04/18 |
other |
OBITUARY [-] Miss A. Merton [-] Miss Agnes G. S. Merton, who was well know in education |
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[obituary for Agnes Gertrude Merton from the Christchurch Press - sent by Elsie M. Ryan, see "Ryan, Elsie M." file]
«detailed view» |
| 21. |
undated/05/30 (#01) |
HLS to Merton |
I can't remember whether I wrote in answer to your letter of March 19th, but I think I must have |
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«detailed view» |
| 22. |
undated/05/30 (#02) |
HLS to Merton |
I told you, I think about our interesting tours in North Canterbury, and seeing the place where our |
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[see n.d./05/30[3] for newspaper clipping enclosed]
«detailed view» |
| 23. |
undated/05/30 (#03) |
other to Merton |
PIONEER HOMESTEADS - II [-] Hillcrest, Fernside [-] (Specially written for "The Press" by JOHN A. |
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«detailed view» |
| 24. |
undated/no/no |
HPCS to Merton |
The center of our town, both locally and religiously. Cathedral Square surrounds the Cathedral |
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[verso: black and white photograph labeled, "Anglican Cathedral, Christchurch, N.Z."]
«detailed view» |
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