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In this interesting group of letters, Merton provides insights on how the body of his works were viewed within the Church, by the academic community, and by non-Catholics like James T. Baker, a Baptist.
James Thomas Baker, at the time of writing, was a graduate student in humanities at Florida State University. He was writing an interdisciplinary dissertation about Merton in literature, the arts, and religion (see "Related Information" below). Baker first came to know of Merton's writings while a student of Glenn Hinson at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.
Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.
See also a dissertation, a book, and a play by James Thomas Baker about Thomas Merton, and published letters from Merton to Baker in The Hidden Ground of Love.
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. |
1967/09/13 |
TLS to Merton |
Glenn Hinson, who was my teacher and spiritual adviser at the Baptist seminary in Louisville, |
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mentions dissertation proposal and asks if he can meet with Merton to ask him some questions
«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1967/09/29 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Thanks for your letter. As I have not made any firm commitments as far ahead as next March, I leave |
✓ |
suggestions of what to read / sending mimeographs of articles on different subjects
«detailed view» |
| 3. |
1967/10/10 |
TLS to Merton |
I am grateful for your interest in my dissertation and for your concern that I get materials which |
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a time for visit / "Sacred and Profane Art" from Jubilee and "Religion and Race in the United States" from Blackfriars
«detailed view» |
| 4. |
1967/10/16 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Fine. I'll keep Feb. 28th for you. Let me know when you will arrive, and whether you will want |
✓ |
sending "Hot Summer of Sixty Seven?" to appear in small magazine Katallagete
«detailed view» |
| 5. |
1968/03/04 |
TLS to Merton |
I wish to express my appreciation to you for your hospitality last week and for the help which you |
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sending back a manuscript and a copy of The Spire by William Golding
«detailed view» |
| 6. |
1968/03/28 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Thanks for the return of the various items. Actually, the mimeographed ones did not need to be |
✓ |
pamphlet on Camus' Plague / support of conscientious objector angers conservative Catholics in Louisville / burning Merton's books / review on Altizer's book on Blake / Shaker material in Bowling Green [KY]
«detailed view» |
| 7. |
1968/05/no? |
TLS to Merton |
I am happy to tell you that my committee accepted the dissertation this week and that I have now |
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completed PhD / moving to Bowling Green [to teach at Western Kentucky University] / sending dissertation / sending dialogue with Baptist church students
«detailed view» |
| 8. |
1968/06/11 (#01) |
TAL[c] from Merton |
In the past couple of weeks I have hardly had time to answer any mail at all. Things have been more |
✓ |
praise for dissertation with a few minor corrections / first dissertation, and most balanced perspective on his works, from a Baptist / Catholics have "either total adulation or total rejection" of his works
«detailed view» |
| 9. |
1968/06/11 (#02) |
TL[c] from Merton |
In the past couple of weeks I have hardly had time to answer any mail at all. Things have been more |
✓ |
praise for dissertation with a few minor corrections / first dissertation, and most balanced perspective on his works, from a Baptist / Catholics have "either total adulation or total rejection" of his works
«detailed view» |
| 10. |
1968/07/03 |
TLS to Merton |
We are safely settled in Bowling Green and are enjoying the "cool" Kentucky summer. I am working in |
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planning to visit Merton / discuss Shaker material from Western's library and museum
«detailed view» |
| 11. |
1968/07/25 |
TL[c] from Merton |
In your letter you mention the cool summer: it has got hot enough now! I have thought often of you |
✓ |
trip to Asia / Buddhist and other forms of monasticism / themes of "unity and reconciliation of opposites" in Merton's work and brought out in dissertation - true meaning of "Catholic"
«detailed view» |
| 12. |
1980/no/no? |
other[x] |
James Thomas Baker [-] 335 Sumpter Avenue, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101 |
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[Vita of James Thomas Baker]
«detailed view» |
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