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Merton's Correspondence with:

Dame Hildelith Cumming, O.S.B.; Cumming, Barbara Theresa Cumming

Cumming, Hildelith, Dame, O.S.B., 1909-1991  printer

 
 

Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence
Dates of materials: 1963-1968
Volume: 63 item(s); 113 pg(s)

Scope and Content

This is a file in the correspondence of Thomas Merton under the heading: "Cumming, Hildelith, Dame, O.S.B.".

Biography

Dame Hildelith Cumming (born Barbara Theresa Cumming) was publisher and head printer at Stanbrook Abbey Press of the Benedictine nuns of Stanbrook Abbey in Callow End, Worcester, England. She was a convert to Catholicism. Besides her great success in raising the prestige of the press in her long tenure from 1956-1991, she was known as a fine musician and had published liturgical music.

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.

Related Information and Links

See published letters from Merton to Cumming in The School of Charity, pp. 161-162, 168, 170-172, 175-178, 203-204, 222-223, 234, 251-252, 289, 318, 330-331.

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

Click icons for links: ✓="Published | Library Record", ✉="Scanned" | 🗷="Scanned, Viewable Only at Merton Center"

#DateFrom/ToFirst LinesPub ✓Notes
 y/m/dMerton Scan ✉ 
1. 1963/03/23 TLS[x] from Merton Thank you for your kind letter. I assure you that I am brimming over with confidence in you, ✓ «detailed view»
2. 1963/05/01 TLS[x] from Merton It is a very lovely May morning here, with larks singing and not a cloud in the sky. ✓ «detailed view»
3. 1963/05/12 TLS[x] from Merton About American distribution of the Raissa Maritain poems: first I think Princeton is a good idea, ✓ «detailed view»
4. 1963/05/29 TLS[x] from Merton There is a little bit of legal bother that has arisen to plague me in connection with the Guigo: «detailed view»
5. 1963/06/09 TALS[x] from Merton Thanks for your good letter and for the two little designs for the "cum permissu." I find the "more ✓ «detailed view»
6. 1963/06/29 TALS[x] from Merton About Guigo: here are some "precisions" on that. My advisor tells me that actually the problem ✓ «detailed view»
7. 1963/07/14 TLS[x] from Merton The Danish samples are most attractive. I think the ones I like best for Guigo are 8,2 and 4 ✓ «detailed view»
8. 1963/09/23 HLS[x] from Merton I am writing this in the hospital so it will be a bit of a [sweat?] and I will confine myself «detailed view»
9. 1963/10/03 HLS to Merton Thank you for your letter and the returned proofs. I am so sorry to hear you are laid low, «detailed view»
10. 1963/10/09 (#01) TAL[c] from Merton Yes, as you can see, I am at home again. I am also able to type, figuratively speaking. «detailed view»
11. 1963/10/09 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Yes, as you can see, I am at home again. I am also able to type, figuratively speaking. «detailed view»
12. 1963/10/20 HLS to Merton Many thanks for your letter. I am so glad your progress is good and the troublesome disk subsiding. «detailed view»
13. 1963/11/03 HLS to Merton The copy of D. Gertrude which you so kindly sent me, arrived, with your admirable Pax medal «detailed view»
14. 1963/11/08 (#01) TAL[c] from Merton I want to get this off to you immediately, and it will be short and to the point, so that Guigo will «detailed view»
15. 1963/11/08 (#02) TALS[x] from Merton I want to get this off to you immediately, and it will be short and to the point, so that Guigo will Merton adds a handwritten note: "PS The Ascent to Truth is rather dry and awful. Can I send you New Seeds of Contemplation?" «detailed view»
16. 1963/11/17 (#01) TAL[c] from Merton Here is something I thought I should send you right away. Next year is the fifth centenary «detailed view»
17. 1963/11/17 (#02) TALS[x] from Merton Here is something I thought I should send you right away. Next year is the fifth centenary «detailed view»
18. 1963/11/17 (#03) other[x]   IN ACCEPTANCE OF THE PAX MEDAL - 1963 First I want to thank you most sincerely for the honor [enclosed with 1963/11/17 letter from Merton to Cumming] «detailed view»
19. 1963/11/28 HLS to Merton How kind: we'd simply love to have New Seeds. Great enthusiasm this end! «detailed view»
20. 1964/01/16 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Many thanks for yours of November 28th. And now I cannot remember whether I immediately put a copy «detailed view»
21. 1964/01/16 (#02) TALS[x] from Merton Many thanks for your of November 28th. And now I cannot remember whether I immediately put a copy Merton adds typed and handwritten additions not included on carbon copy - Denise McNiff and about a Benectine living an active ministry «detailed view»
22. 1964/02/16 HLS to Merton Guigo is almost finished and how I am perplexed [...] Copyright. I enclose two uncut sheets «detailed view»
23. 1964/02/22 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Thanks for your note and for the pages of Guigo. It is most attractive, everything that I hoped for ✓ «detailed view»
24. 1964/02/22 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Thanks for your note and for the pages of Guigo. It is most attractive, everything that I hoped for ✓ «detailed view»
25. 1964/03/08 HLS to Merton Laetare! I hope you have had another such day as we have here - blue skies, brilliant sunshine, «detailed view»
26. 1964/04/12? HLS to Merton Our investigation of the Lille mss has turned out disappointing and a little disturbing. «detailed view»
27. 1964/04/15 (#01) TL[c] from Merton It is some time since the first copy of the Solitary Life arrived and I have not yet thanked you. ✓ «detailed view»
28. 1964/04/15 (#02) TALS[x] from Merton It is some time since the first copy of the Solitary Life arrived and I have not yet thanked you. ✓ «detailed view»
29. 1964/05/03 HLS to Merton Thank you for your letter : I am glad you were pleased with Guigo despite its imperfections. «detailed view»
30. 1964/05/07 HLS[x] from Merton An exciting and joyful from today with the arrival of Dame Margaret's life and Dame Barbara's «detailed view»
31. 1964/05/08? TLS[x] from Merton Your letter came today after I had sent off my note yesterday. I am sending back the "blurb" which ✓ [published as 1964/September/10; however, evidence from the Stanbrook Archives indicates the above May date] «detailed view»
32. 1964/06/02 HLS to Merton Thank you for your two notes. I am glad the mss have arrived safely. I hope to send some more, «detailed view»
33. 1964/07/03 HLS to Merton Thank you so much for your letter, received this morning. I am in the middle of writing you «detailed view»
34. 1964/07/17 HLS to Merton We are in the middle of a posted strike, so it seems a suitable time to write a letter that needs «detailed view»
35. 1964/07/22 (#01) TAL[c] from Merton Today two books arrived, beautifully bound, the Spritual Anker [sic] and the Treatise ✓ «detailed view»
36. 1964/07/22 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Today two books arrived, beautifully bound, the Spritual Anker [sic] and the Treatise ✓ «detailed view»
37. 1964/08/03 TLS[x] from Rackley, Denys, Fr. Greetings and peace and joy in our Lord Jesus Christ from the Grande Chartreuse! asks Cumming to convince Merton into translating a letter of Carthusian founder St. Bruno with the same subject as Merton's translation of a letter of Guiges (i.e., Guigo I, Prior of the Grande Chartreuse, 1083?-1136) «detailed view»
38. 1964/09/05 (#01) TL[c] from Merton This is not a real answer to your last long letter which was very interesting and encouraging. «detailed view»
39. 1964/09/05 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton This is not a real answer to your last long letter which was very interesting and encouraging. «detailed view»
40. 1964/09/09 HLS[x] from Merton Here is the prayer of Cassiodorus which I mentioned in my last letter. I send also the Latin ✓ «detailed view»
41. 1964/09/23 HLS to Merton Thank you for your letter, note and the typescript of Cassiodorus. I like it immensely and have «detailed view»
42. 1964/11/11 TLS[x] from Merton The cards arrived today and they are simply splendid. Thank you ever so much, and thanks also ✓ «detailed view»
43. 1964/12/20 HLS to Merton This is a brief note to thank you for your letter and the typescripts which have arrived and are now «detailed view»
44. 1965/03/09 HLS[x] from Merton Sorry to subject you to my handwriting but it is a quiet time and I can't type - the novices are ✓ «detailed view»
45. 1965/04/06 HLS[x] from Merton I am not just subjecting you to my handwriting because you said it was legible (most charitably!!) Dialectic B / Dame Hildelith's essay on virginity and Merton's thoughts «detailed view»
46. 1965/07/04 HLS to Merton I have so much to thank you for and this letter should have been written weeks ago. I waited «detailed view»
47. 1965/07/11 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Many thanks for the letter and for the mss of Cambrai material, which I will go over later. «detailed view»
48. 1965/07/11 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Many thanks for the letter and for the mss of Cambrai material, which I will go over later. ✓ «detailed view»
49. 1965/08/12 HLS to Merton Thank you so much for your letter and for the packets which have arrived since. These were «detailed view»
50. 1965/08/23 TLS[x] from Merton Unfortunately I have misplaced your last letter, but I know what the main point was and I hasten ✓ «detailed view»
51. 1966/04/22 HLS[x] from Merton I must give the impression of being always in the hospital - just got out after a back operation. «detailed view»
52. 1966/04/27 HLS to Merton Thank you for your note. I intended writing this week anyway. I was so sorry to hear from «detailed view»
53. 1966/09/12 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Certainly much water has gone under the bridge-- whether of the Severn or of the Ohio-- since your «detailed view»
54. 1966/09/12 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Certainly much water has gone under the bridge-- whether of the Severn or of the Ohio-- since your «detailed view»
55. 1966/10/02 HLS to Merton Thank you for your letter. The Severn has been flowing peacefully with no floods - it is very apt «detailed view»
56. 1966/10/15 HL to Merton At last the Cassiodorus proofs - and the paper came yesterday, so we are all set to print [last page[s] missing] «detailed view»
57. 1966/10/24 (#01) TL[c] from Merton I think I must now remember not to call you Dame, is that right? Personally I rather liked it. ✓ «detailed view»
58. 1966/10/24 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton I think I must now remember not to call you Dame, is that right? Personally I rather liked it. ✓ «detailed view»
59. 1967/03/20 HLS to Merton I am quite ashamed to write for this letter should have been sent to you before Christmas. «detailed view»
60. 1967/04/28 TL[c] from Merton (I have no idea now whether I should call you "Dame" or merely "Sister" but since you have been ✓ «detailed view»
61. 1968/11/18 HLS to Merton It is ages since I wrote, but that is deliberate because you must be so snowed under with writing «detailed view»
62. undated/no/no (#01) HLS from Sitwell, Gerard Herewith the pictures and the necessary permissions. Thank you for letting me see Merton [undated - from Dom Gerard Sitwell, O.S.B. to Dame Hildelith] «detailed view»
63. undated/no/no (#02) other   THE ACT OF BEING [-] Patriarch tree [-] With foliage light [poem by Raissa Maritain and translated from French to English by Merton? - original handwritten comments by Dame Hildelith, "French is a spare language, and English a rich one, don't you think? One can't really achieve the same texture." - included after 1964/02/22 letter] «detailed view»
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