This is a file in the correspondence of Thomas Merton under the heading: "Pauker, John".
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.
See also the "Claire, William" file.
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. |
1966/09/15 |
TL[c] to Merton |
James 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"
«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1966/09/27 |
TL[c] from Merton |
I am very glad to hear about the limited edition of "Excellency" and I have seriously thought about |
|
«detailed view» |
| 3. |
1966/11/10 |
TLS to Merton |
I find, and I regret, that I inadvertently neglected to acknowledge your friendly letter of 27 |
|
«detailed view» |
| 4. |
1966/11/10 |
TLS[c] to Merton |
I 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
«detailed view» |
| 5. |
1967/02/02 (#01) |
TALS[x] to Dickey, James |
Do you know the poems of Bob Lax? See his Circus of the Sun and New Poems |
|
[originally sent to James Dickey of Leesburg, Virginia on 1967/01/31 - copy sent to Merton]
«detailed view» |
| 6. |
1967/02/02 (#02) |
other to Merton |
REMORSEFUL 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]
«detailed view» |
| 7. |
1967/02/02 (#03) |
other[x] to Merton |
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN PAUKER (1920 - ) [-] Poet, playwright, propagandist, patron of the arts |
|
«detailed view» |
| 8. |
1967/03/02 |
HLS from Merton |
It 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."
«detailed view» |
| 9. |
1967/03/08 |
TALS[c] to Merton |
I 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
«detailed view» |
| 10. |
1967/04/08 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Some time ago I asked a friend to arrange to have his drawings sent from Chicago to you |
|
«detailed view» |
| 11. |
1967/04/10 |
TALS to Merton |
How austere and beautiful is the typeface on the letterhead you use. Your drawings are here, |
|
«detailed view» |
| 12. |
1967/04/15 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Many thanks for the letter, informing me that the drawings got there without major mishap. |
|
«detailed view» |
| 13. |
1967/05/24 (#01) |
other to Merton |
Mr. 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]
«detailed view» |
| 14. |
1967/05/24 (#02) |
TLS[x] to Merton |
SANS 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"]
«detailed view» |
| 15. |
1967/07/07 |
TALS to Merton |
Your drawings glow on the walls of three floors of this Fun House. They mingle mighty well with the |
|
«detailed view» |
| 16. |
1967/07/10 |
TLS from Merton |
Many 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
«detailed view» |
| 17. |
1967/07/14 |
TLS to Merton |
(1) I have talked with Rosemary Ruether. We have your instructions, and shall comply. |
|
«detailed view» |
| 18. |
1967/07/17 |
TAL[c] from Merton |
Thanks for your note and for the enclosures. Since I can't get to Grauman's Chop Suey theater |
|
«detailed view» |
| 19. |
1967/08/02 |
TLS to Merton |
We thank you for the July 17 note and checque. Just sold another of your drawings. Rosemary |
|
«detailed view» |
| 20. |
1968/01/17 |
TALS from Ruether, Rosemary |
Thomas 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]
«detailed view» |
| 21. |
1968/01/18 |
TLS[c] to Merton |
We 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
«detailed view» |
| 22. |
1968/01/22 |
TLS from Merton |
Glad 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
«detailed view» |
|