Classification of the Merton Collection

Collapse All, or to view only Sections with Finding Aids, click here.

SECTION A: Correspondence

Scope and Content

This Section contains Merton's correspondence. The bulk years of the collection are between 1963 and his death in 1968 with some earlier correspondence or copies of correspondence. There are an estimated ten thousand pieces of correspondence. Included are both letters to and from Merton. In addition, there are letters that are related to Merton or the Merton Center, but not to or from Merton. Subjects of this collection vary and include personal correspondence, conscience matter and other spiritual direction, dialogue with social activist groups, and correspondence with publishers. Most materials are unpublished at present. Bibliographic records for Bellarmine Library and Merton Center holdings of published volumes can be found by following the "Catalogued Holdings" link below.

This Section is arranged primarily by the name (last, first) of the person corresponding with Merton. Within each person's folder, arrangement is chronological. For example, letters to and from Mark Van Doren are filed under "Van Doren, Mark" in the order sent and received.

Correspondence list

Calendar View of Letters to and from Merton

Archive - File Cabinets 1-4

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

	Letters to Thomas Merton from others are not a part of the Merton Legacy Trust and may be made available for reading and note taking upon the signing of Form A unless the person in correspondence with Merton has expressly restricted such access in writing. Letters may not be copied, quoted, published, or reprinted without the written permission of the person in correspondence with Merton or that person's heir (Form C).
	Letters written by Thomas Merton to others may be made available for reading and note taking upon the signing of Form A unless the Merton Legacy Trust has restricted access to particular letters. Unpublished letters by Merton must not however be copied, quoted, published or reprinted without the written permission of the Merton Legacy Trustees (Form C).
	Although most of the correspondence remains unpublished, please refer to our Copyright page for information concerning use of published materials.

40 cubic feet; 16 drawers

Cataloged Holdings

SECTION B: Books and Pamphlets - Published Materials

B.1: Books and Pamphlets by Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes books and pamphlets wherein Merton is the exclusive author or is a co-author. These works range in date from 1939 through present works of his being published or newly translated. Works with his contributions, but not with him as primary author or co-author, can be found in Section B.2 below. All of his published works are cataloged, and bibliographic records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below.

Arrangement of books by Merton is by title.

Copy 1 – Archive - Wall Stack
Copy 2 – Family Room - Case 1 and top 2 shelves of Case 2
Copy 3 – Reading Room - Bay 2 (Unless particularly rare)

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

104.5 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

B.2: Books with Contributions by Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes books with contributions by Merton, including introductions, forewords, prefaces, etc.; however, works for which he is not the primary author or a co-author. All published works in this section are cataloged, and records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below.

Arrangement of books with contributions by Merton is by author.

Copy 1 – Archive - Wall Stack
Copy 2 – Reading Room - Bay 4

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

17.5 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

B.3: Books with Material about Thomas Merton

B3a. Books about Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes books about Merton by other authors; i.e., biographical works and literary or theological commentary on his writings. These works range in date from 1949 through the present. All published works in this section are cataloged, and records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below.

Arrangement of books about Merton is by author.

Copy 1 – Archive - Wall Stack
Copy 2 – Family Room - Case 2, bottom 2 shelves
Copy 3 – Reading Room - Bay 3.

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

36.5 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

B3b. Books with Chapters or Sections about Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes books with chapters or sections about Merton by other authors, but not works wherein Merton is the primary or only subject of the text. All published works in this section are cataloged, and records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below.

Arrangement of books with chapters or sections about Merton is by author.

Copy 1 – Archive - Stacks
Copy 2 – Reading Room - Bay 4

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

8 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

B.4: Ancillary Books

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes books read by Thomas Merton and other works related to his areas of study. It should be noted that the editions in our collection may differ from the editions he read. Some are books that were in his collection (books he owned with his marginalia are in Section B.5), and some are books collected by the Merton Center because they were books Merton had read or are other works related to his writing that may be of useful reference to a researcher. All published works in this section are cataloged, and records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below.

Arrangement of ancillary books is by author.

Archive - Stack 2

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

15 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

B.5: Marginalia Section

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes books owned and read by Thomas Merton with annotations in the margins. Books that he had read but that have no such marginalia are in Section B.4 above. All published works in this section are cataloged, and records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below.

Arrangement of the marginalia section is by author.

List of Books with Merton's Marginalia

Family Room - Case 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

25 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

B.6: Books Signed and/or Inscribed by Merton

Scope and Content

Books signed by Merton. Some books are inscribed to a person and contain a brief note. Books from the main collection from the Archive are in the process of being integrated into this collection.

Arrangement of books in the sub-section is by title in English.

List of Books with Merton's Signature (partial list, in progress)
(search Bellarmine library catalog for additional entries)

Archives - Stack 1

SECTION C: Books and Pamphlets - Manuscript Material

C.1: Holographic Journals and Reading Notebooks

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes Merton's handwritten personal diaries and journals, as well as his reading notebooks. His journals have been published in their entirety and range in date from 1939-1968. Small sections of the notebooks have been quoted in various works, but the notebooks have not on the whole been published. The notebooks range in date from 1946-1968. All published works in this section are cataloged, and records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below.

Arrangement of journals is chronological. The notebooks are roughly arranged chronologically. For best access, consult the name and subject lists under "Finding Aids" in this section.

Book Citations in Merton's Journals

Index to Reading Notebooks

Archive - File Cabinet 6a

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for manuscript materials

6.25 cubic feet; 2 1/2 drawers

Cataloged Holdings

Published Journals

C.2: Manuscripts and Typescripts of Books and Pamphlets

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes manuscripts for books and other written works. The manuscripts vary from handwritten pages to typed pages with handwritten corrections and insertions. Typically, Merton heavily reworked and amended his drafts before publication. Some of his original writing was editorially abridged, so these serve as useful guides for his writing process and sometimes for an unedited portrayal of what he was writing.

Listing of manuscripts by Thomas Merton at the Merton Center

Archive - Stack 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for manuscript materials

11 linear feet

C.3: Proofs of Books and Pamphlets – Galleys

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes proofs, galleys, and other pre-publication copies of books and pamphlets by Merton from his publishers. They show the trial impression of the type and may be uncorrected versions of what was later published.

Listing of proofs for books by Thomas Merton at the Merton Center

Archive - Stack 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for manuscript materials

4 cubic feet

C.4: Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations about Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes theses and dissertations written about Merton or with substantial reference to Merton. The Center has a copy of almost all such theses and dissertations that are known to exist. Go to "Finding Aids" below for a complete listing by author. All theses and dissertations in the collection are cataloged and may be searched via the "Cataloged Holdings" link below.

Arrangement of dissertations is by author.

Indexes to theses and dissertations specifically about Thomas Merton

Indexes to theses and dissertations with reference to Thomas Merton

Reading Room - Bays 5-6

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for manuscript materials

19 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

C.5: Other Proofs

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes miscellaneous publishers' proofs for works about Merton. See Section C.3 for all galley proofs for works by Merton.

Listing of proofs for books about Thomas Merton at the Merton Center

Archive - Stack 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for manuscript materials

17 cubic feet; 17 boxes

C.6: Contracts for books and articles by Merton, foreign and domestic

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes contracts for published books, including agreements stipulating foreign publication rights and translation rights. There is a small portion of related correspondence, but not much with Thomas Merton. Most correspondence is between Dom James Fox, Abbot of Gethsemani Abbey, and publishers or literary agents. See also "Contracts" in Section A, Correspondence.

This sub-section is arranged in original order and classified by series according to book title (each in one folder) and, thereunder, according to the language of the contract.

Listing of contracts for books by Thomas Merton at the Merton Center

Contracts file in Section A: Correspondence

Archive - Stack 2

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for manuscript materials

1.5 cubic feet; 3 boxes

C.7: Royalties Statements and Sales Summaries for Books by Merton, 1958-1969

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes royalties statements and sales summaries for published books, book sections, and some articles and poems. This includes books in translation and published in foreign countries. There is a small portion of related correspondence, but not much with Thomas Merton. Most correspondence is between Dom James Fox, Abbot of Gethsemani Abbey, and publishers or literary agents.

This sub-group is divided into series based on ranges of years for royalties with later files split between foreign and domestic and a separate file made for summary statements. Another range of series is broken into royalties by language and country. Series names and arrangement are based on the filing method from Gethsemani Abbey.

Listing of royalties statements for books by Thomas Merton at the Merton Center

Archive - Stack 2

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for manuscript materials

1.5 cubic feet; 3 boxes

SECTION D: Opuscula - Published Material

D.1: Articles and Essays by Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes published articles and essays by Merton. Please refer to published bibliographies or the finding aids section for more information.

Arrangement of published articles and essays is by title.

Listing of published articles and essays by Merton at the Merton Center

Archive - File Cabinets 7-8

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

17.5 linear feet; 7 drawers

D.2: Mimeographed Material: Essays, Poems and Lecture Notes by Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section contains mimeographs of various, mostly brief, publications by Merton for distribution to publications and to friends. Included are poems, essays, lecture notes, and reviews of books and articles. There is also a file of "The Cold War Letters" as Merton would have reproduced it for distribution. Mostly, the works in this file are final draft versions of published pieces or the latest draft of pieces unpublished. Mimeographed items with notations and corrections were generally transferred to the manuscripts sections.

Items are arranged in folders alphabetically by title.

List of Mimeographed Essays, Poems and Lecture Notes

Archive - File Cabinets 12-13

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Unpublished mimeographed materials may be made available to scholars and notes taken but this material cannot be copied, quoted, paraphrased, published or reprinted without first obtaining the permission of the Merton Legacy Trust.

Copyright rules for published works

15 linear feet; 6 drawers

D.3: Poetry by Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes copies of publications wherein Merton's poems appeared or photocopies from such publications. For most users, the easiest way to find published poems is to look in the book of Merton's Collected Poems, which includes all published poems except those found in Eighteen Poems, which were published posthumously. Links to bibliographic records of both of these, and the individual volumes of his poetry published prior to the collected volume, can be found under the "Cataloged Holdings" link below. All copies in the Merton Center can be found under the finding aids link in this Sub-Section.

The published poems are arranged in file cabinet alphabetically by title of poem.

List of Mimeographed Essays, Poems and Lecture Notes

Archive - File Cabinet 8

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

1.25 linear feet; 1/2 drawer

Cataloged Holdings

All published works of poetry by Merton

Collected Poems

In the Dark Before Dawn: New Selected Poems

D.4: Articles, Essays, and Reviews about Merton; and Reviews of works by Merton

D.4a. Articles and Reviews about Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes the articles and essays written about Merton. They are mostly photocopies from academic journals. See "Cataloged Holdings" below for a listing by author.

Arrangement of essays about Merton is by author.

Archive Back Storage Filing Cabinets

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

59.25 cubic feet

Cataloged Holdings.

D.4b. Reviews of works by and about Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes reviews of works by or about Merton.

Works by Merton and works about Merton are filed separately, but both are arranged by title of work.

Listing of reviews of works by and about Merton held at the Merton Center

Archive Back Storage Filing Cabinets

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

2.5 cubic feet

D.5: Collected Essays (Monastic Compilation)

Scope and Content

In this Sub-Section is a 24 volume set of bound copies of some of Merton's essays grouped by subject. It was compiled at the Abbey of Gethsemani.

The essays in this collection are divided into 24 volumes and grouped by subject. Within each volume on a particular subject, the essays are listed chronologically.

Alphabetical listing of all the essays from the 24 volume collection compiled at Gethsemani Abbey

Listing of 24 volume titles (collected into topical volumes) with links to the article names

Reading Room - Bay 1

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

2.5 linear feet

D.6: Published Essays (Nelson Compilation)

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes photocopies and typescripts of published materials, compiled and bound by Rev. Thomas J. Nelson, C.M. See the "Cataloged Holdings" link below for bibliographic record for the set.

Arrangement of Nelson's compilation of essays is chronological.

Reading Room - Bay 1

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

2.5 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

D.7: Periodicals, Journals, Essays, and Pamphlets used by Merton

Scope and Content

This section originally included periodicals used by Merton. It was expanded to include extra copies of periodicals sent to Merton with his published articles sorted by journal title (copies of the article are first kept with Sub-Section D.1 by article title). Periodicals containing articles about Merton through the present have been integrated into Sub-Section D.1.

No description available at this time.

List of periodicals/essays used by Merton.

List of extra copies of periodicals.

Archive - Stack 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

4 boxes

Cataloged Holdings

D.8: Newspaper Clippings File

Scope and Content

No description available at this time.

No description available at this time.

Archive - Stack 3-4

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

5 boxes

D.9: Opuscula Signed or Inscribed by Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

These are mimeographs, small pamphlets, or other small works (published and unpublished) that have been inscribed or signed by Merton. This is a growing collection as materials from other sections (mainly D.2) are transferred.

Items are arranged in folders by title.

Archive - File Cabinet 12, Drawer 1

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

1 cabinet

SECTION E: Opuscula - Manuscript Material

E.1: Articles, Essays, and Reading Notes by Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes manuscript articles and essays and unpublished articles and essays by Merton. Also included are Merton's unpublished reading notes on books by others and manuscripts of book reviews written by Merton. Items in this category are not cataloged, but are included in various bibliographies. Much of the material prior to 1993 is included in a card index.

Arrangement of manuscript articles and essays is by title.

List of Essays, Comments, Reading Notes, and Reviews

Archive - File Cabinets 5, 6 and 6a

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for manuscript materials

13.75 linear feet; 5 1/2 drawers

E.2: Poetry by Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes Merton's manuscripts of published and unpublished poems. Some are hand written and some are typed with hand corrections.

Arrangement of manuscript poems is by title of poem.

List of Manuscript Poems

Archive - File Cabinet 14 and Archive Stack 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for manuscript materials

1 cubic foot; 1/4 drawer and 1 box

SECTION F: Works of Art and Audio-Visual Material

F.1: Drawings and Calligraphies by Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes art work created by Merton. The Center contains around nine hundred of his drawings. Most of his drawings and calligraphies are in black ink on paper (the quality of the paper varies from art media to scraps of notebook paper). Early items in this collection tend to be more concrete images of religious motifs, such as Christ or the Virgin Mary. His later art becomes increasingly abstract, some of which Merton refers to as "graffiti".

Filed drawings have a sequential numbering scheme assigned. This numbering matches digitized copies.

Archive - Flat Files
Center Exhibits
Digitized Copies on Compact Disk

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Permission to reproduce any picture, drawings, painting, etc. must be requested to the Merton Legacy Trustees. Pictures, drawings, etc. published in books or periodicals may be copied subject to the general copyright regulations governing published materials.

10 linear feet; 4 drawers

F.2: Photographs by Thomas Merton

F.2a. Photographs by Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes photographs by Merton. There are over thirteen hundred and fifty photographs. Most of his photographs are in black and white. Merton photographed in an artistic fashion and his photos are often more than casual snap-shots. Subjects include scenes of nature; the monastery; people he knew; landscapes of his travels to New Mexico, California, Alaska, and Asia; and people he met on his travels.

Filed photographs have a sequential numbering scheme assigned. This numbering matches digitized copies.

No description available at this time.

Archive - Stack 3
Digitized Copies on Compact Disk

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Permission to reproduce any photographs must be requested to the Merton Legacy Trustees. Photographs published in books or periodicals may be copied subject to the general copyright regulations governing published materials.

6.75 cubic feet; 20 boxes

F.2b. Negatives by Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes negatives of photographs taken by Merton (see previous sub-section). Most negatives are 35mm, but there are some larger negative formats.

Filed photographs have a sequential numbering scheme assigned, which should correspond to the negatives.

Archive - File Cabinet 5

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Permission to reproduce any photographs from negatives must be requested to the Merton Legacy Trustees.

.25 cubic feet

F.3: Art Works by Other Artists

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes works of art at the Center by artists other than Merton. Most of this art is of Merton or has some connection with Merton. Examples include a portrait of Merton by Randy Browning, quilts of Merton by Penny Sisto, and drawings of Buddhist deities given to Merton by Karlu Rimpoche. For art work by Thomas Merton's father, Owen Merton, see Sub-Section H.3.

Center Exhibits
Archives - Stack 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

The rules of use for works of artists other than Merton vary and must be dealt with on a case by case basis.

.75 cubic foot (stacks volume only)

F.4: Photographs by Other Photographers

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes photographs taken by other photographers besides Merton. The subject of the photo is usually Merton or of subjects related to Merton.

Archive - Stack 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

The rules of use for works of photographers other than Merton vary. For some, copyright permission is not held by the Merton Center or the Legacy Trust, and permission must be obtained through the artist or artistic estate. Examples include photographs by Ralph Eugene Meatyard.

12 boxes

F.5: Audio Recordings

F.5a. Reel-to-Reel Tapes

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section primarily includes audio recordings on reel-to-reel tapes of speeches and lectures of Thomas Merton. Most speeches were given in his role as novice master. For reel-to-reel recordings generated in conjunction with The Merton Project Files, the PBS documentary deposited by Audrey L. Glynn and Paul Wilkes, see Sub-Section H.4 below. Published recordings in this section are cataloged, and records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below. The reel-to-reel recordings have been digitally remastered onto compact disk, see Sub-Section F.5c below. These can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below, or a one-page listing is available below under "Finding Aids".

Most of the reel-to-reel tapes, those transferred from Gethsemani Abbey, are arranged in a sequential numbering scheme that is described in the finding aids listed below (duplicate call number as their CD counterparts). The rest are arranged according to a call number. See records listed under "Finding Aids" for this Sub-Section.

Audio and video finding aids with search feature

Index to Audio Recordings: Sorted by Reel Number (same numbering used for compact disks)

Archive - Stack 1

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

With the collection of reel-to-reel recordings digitally remastered, researchers must use the compact disk versions of the recordings unless special permission is obtained.

Unpublished audio recordings, whether recorded as original material or recorded from previously written or typed material, may be listened to and notes may be taken upon completing the Registration Form. Permission to duplicate, quote or publish must be requested from the Merton Legacy Trustees. Permission to reproduce, quote, paraphrase or publish from published audio tapes must be requested from the individual or agency holding the copyright or ownership of the work.

18 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

Holdings listed as Archive - Audio (all formats)

F.5b. Cassette Tapes

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes audio recordings on cassette tape of speeches, seminars, and lectures of Thomas Merton; audio versions of some of his books read by others; Merton-related conferences; and other Merton-related spoken word and musical works. Many of Merton's voice were speeches given in his role as novice master, and all of these recordings have been transferred from the original reel-to-reel tapes to compact disk. Published recordings in this section are cataloged, and records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below. The reel-to-reel recordings have been digitally remastered onto compact disk, see Sub-Section F.5c below. These can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below, or a one-page listing is available below under "Finding Aids".

Audio cassettes are arranged according to a call number. See records listed under "Finding Aids" for this Sub-Section.

Audio and video finding aids with search feature

Index to Audio Recordings: Sorted by Reel Number (same numbering used for compact disks)

Archive - Cassette Cabinet
Archive - Stack 1-2
Reading Room - Bay 1

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

With the collection of cassette recordings digitally remastered from the original reel-to-reel recordings, researchers must use the compact disk versions of the recordings unless special permission is obtained.

Unpublished audio recordings, whether recorded as original material or recorded from previously written or typed material, may be listened to and notes may be taken upon completing the Registration Form. Permission to duplicate, quote or publish must be requested from the Merton Legacy Trustees. Permission to reproduce, quote, paraphrase or publish from published audio tapes must be requested from the individual or agency holding the copyright or ownership of the work.

53.5 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

Cataloged Holdings (Cassette)

F.5c. Compact Disks

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes audio recordings on compact disk of speeches, seminars, and lectures of Thomas Merton; audio versions of some of his books read by others; Merton-related conferences; and other Merton-related spoken word and musical works. Many of Merton's voice were speeches given in his role as novice master, and all of these recordings have been transferred from the original reel-to-reel tapes to compact disk. Many others copies found on cassette tape have been transferred to compact disk as well. Published recordings in this section are cataloged, and records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below. Merton's remastered lectures to his novices can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below, or a one-page listing is available below under "Finding Aids".

The compact disks of Merton's talks with the novices, transferred from reel-to-reel, follow the numbering scheme assigned at Gethsemani Abbey for the reel-to-reel tapes. The rest of the compact disks are arranged according to a call number. See records listed under "Finding Aids" for this Sub-Section.

Audio and video finding aids with search feature

Index to Audio Recordings: Sorted by Reel Number

Archive - Cassette Cabinet
Archive - Media Cabinet
Archive - Stack 1-2
Reading Room - Bay 1

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Unpublished audio recordings, whether recorded as original material or recorded from previously written or typed material, may be listened to and notes may be taken upon completing the Registration Form. Permission to duplicate, quote or publish must be requested from the Merton Legacy Trustees. Permission to reproduce, quote, paraphrase or publish from published audio recordings must be requested from the individual or agency holding the copyright or ownership of the work.

10.5 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

Cataloged Holdings (CD)

F.5d. Analog Long Play Record Disks

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes audio recordings on 33 1/3" long play records of Thomas Merton's poetry read by others, with and without musical background, a musical recording of Gregorian Chant with program notes by Merton, etc. Some have been transferred to compact disk. Some of the published recordings in this section are cataloged, and records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below.

The records are arranged according to a call number. See records listed under "Finding Aids" for this Sub-Section.

Audio and video finding aids with search feature

Archive - Stack 1

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Permission to reproduce, quote, paraphrase or publish from published audio recordings must be requested from the individual or agency holding the copyright or ownership of the work.

.3 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

Cataloged Holdings (LP)

F.6: Video Recordings

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes video recordings about Merton, quoting or mentioning Merton, about Gethsemani Abbey, and concerning other topics related to Merton. Most are VHS tapes or DVD disks, but there is a small number of broadcast videotape media. For more on the PBS documentary, see Sub-Section H.4. Some of the published works in this section are cataloged, and records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below.

Arrangement of video recordings is by classification number.

Audio and video finding aids with search feature

Archive - Stack 1

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Films may be viewed at the Merton Center by interested persons unless in a specific instance a film's use has been restricted by the individual or agency holding the copyright or ownership of the film. Requests for permission to use the films for commercial purposes or public showings for which an admission fee is charged must be requested from the individual or agency holding the copyright or ownership of the film. Permission to duplicate, quote or publish from the film must be requested of the individual or agency holding the copyright or ownership of the film.

6 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

F.7: Plays about Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes plays that were written about Thomas Merton after his death. All published works in this section are cataloged, and records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below.

Archive - Stack 4

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

.33 cubic foot; 1 box

Cataloged Holdings

F.8: Musical Settings

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes musical settings composed by various composers using the writings, usually poetry, of Thomas Merton as words. All published works in this section are cataloged, and records can be searched online through the "Cataloged Holdings" link below.

Archive - Stack 1

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

.1 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

SECTION G: Miscellaneous Merton Material

G.1: Miscellaneous Printed Material

Scope and Content

No description available at this time.

No description available at this time.

Archive - File Cabinets 7-8

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Unpublished mimeographed materials may be made available to scholars and notes taken but this material cannot be copied, quoted, paraphrased, published or reprinted without first obtaining the permission of the Merton Legacy Trust.

G.2: Memorabilia and Ephemera

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section is comprised of Merton-related artifacts that do not fit into other categories of print works, art works, audio-visual materials, or other intellectual property materials. Such items are Merton's cowl, a typewriter from the monastery, etc.

Merton's clothing (2015 donation)

Archive
Center Exhibits

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Many of the items in this Sub-Section are on permanent display. Others can be viewed upon request, while some items may be too fragile to be handled and may only be presented under special circumstances.

G.3: Conference Materials

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section contains materials created for and about Merton-related conferences, mainly for the International Thomas Merton Society (ITMS). Included are conference brochures, speeches, presentation materials, etc.

No description available at this time.

Archive - Stack 5

7 cubic feet; 14 boxes

G.4: Merton Seasonal, Merton Annual, and the ITMS Newsletter

Scope and Content

The Merton Seasonal: A Quarterly Review is a joint publication of the International Thomas Merton Society and the Thomas Merton Center. This publication includes articles, poetry and original artwork directly related to the life, work, and influence of Thomas Merton. Included at the end of each issue is a running bibliography of recent works by or about Merton. The Merton Center is the official repository for this journal.

For other journals exclusively concerning Merton, follow the links under "Finding Aids" and "Cataloged Holdings" in this section for The Merton Annual and The Merton Journal. The Merton Center is not the official repository of the aforementioned two, but the Center has full runs of each. The Center also has copies of Contactblad Mertonvrienden.

Arrangement of The Merton Seasonal is chronological.

Contents of earlier volumes of The Merton Annual

Contents of the current volume of The Merton Annual with publication information

Contents of earlier volumes of The Merton Seasonal

Contents of the current volume of The Merton Seasonal with publication information

Archive - File Cabinet 15
Archive - Stack 3
Reading Room - Bay 3 (Bound copies)

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

6 linear feet (4 drawers) and 1/3 cubic foot (2 boxes)

Cataloged Holdings

The Merton Seasonal
The Merton Annual
The Merton Journal

SECTION H: Related Merton Collections

H.1: Griffin-Bonazzi Collection

Scope and Content

Materials from the Estate of John Howard Griffin related to his unfinished biography of Merton. Gift of Elizabeth Griffin-Bonazzi and Robert Bonazzi.

Archive - Stack 3

H.2: William Habich Collection of Mertonia

Scope and Content

These were books received from William Habich, some of which were signed by Merton, that were later integrated into the Center's holdings, see Section B.1.

H.3: Owen Merton Collection

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes paintings, correspondence, etc. related to the Merton family.

Archive - Stack 3
Family Room

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Copyright rules for published works

2 cubic feet

Cataloged Holdings

H.4: The Merton Project Files - Material from the PBS Documentary

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes material from the PBS documentary Merton: A Film Biography. It consists of the full set of movie reels created in the filming of the documentary. As with many such projects, a very small amount gets included in the finished product. At present, negotiations are being made for an appraisal before full permission is given the Center for re-mastering of materials onto digital media. These materials were deposited by Audrey L. Glynn and Paul Wilkes. See below for cataloged records of the finished video and its transcripts.

Archive - Stack 1

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

This material is restricted until a full appraisal and transfer of ownership can be completed.

42 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings: this is not a record of the unedited movie reels themselves, but cataloged records for the finished video and transcripts

H.5: Merton Legacy Trust Files

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes Merton Legacy Trust material and correspondence. The Trust is Merton's artistic estate and was established by him a year before his death in 1967. In doing so, he named Bellarmine as the official repository for his works. The Trust handles copyright permissions for non-published works, sets restrictions on access to materials, and negotiates usage rights with publishers.

Archive - Stack 2

H.6: Daggy Personal Papers

Scope and Content

No description available at this time.

Archive - Stack 4

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

3 cubic feet; 6 boxes

H.7: Hart Working Files

Scope and Content

This collection contains working files and some correspondence related to book publication of Br. Patrick Hart, O.S.C.O., secretary for Thomas Merton in 1968. Br. Patrick has written and edited books about Merton. He was the general editor for the seven volumes of Merton's journals and continues to serve as an authority on Merton on behalf of the Abbey of Gethsemani. (Source: The Thomas Merton Encyclopedia, edited by Shannon, Bochen and O'Connell).

The first accession of materials is in Box 1. Boxes 2-7 contain files received May 2016. Original order of files maintained but new groupings of folders were created where identifiable groupings of files were kept together. Some full issues of periodicals were removed from Accession 1 (reference copied and in file) and transferred to Sub-Section D.7.

Click here for a finding aid for this collection.

Archive - Stack 4

3 cubic feet; 7 boxes

H.8: Shannon Correspondence Files

Scope and Content

William Shannon's files have been integrated with the main section of correspondence in the collection, so this Sub-Section is no longer used.
This Sub-Section contained working notes and pieces of correspondence compiled by William H. Shannon in the publication of some of Merton's correspondence. The correspondence contained mostly duplicates of pieces from the Merton Center's collection (Section A); however, some are copies obtained from other collections or from those who were in correspondence with Merton.

Not applicable (see Scope and Content note)

Correspondence List
As Shannon's files were integrated, they were added to this list.

[Formerly] Archive - File Cabinet 11 (see Scope and Content note)

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Letters to Thomas Merton from others are not a part of the Merton Legacy Trust and may be made available for reading and note taking upon the signing of Form A unless the author or recipient of the correspondence has expressly restricted such access in writing. Correspondence must not however be copied, quoted, published, or reprinted without the written permission of the person in correspondence or that person's heir (Form C).

10 cubic feet; 4 drawers

H.9: James Laughlin Trust Papers

Scope and Content

No description available at this time.

Archive - File Cabinet 9

10 cubic feet; 4 drawers

H.10: Dan Walsh Papers

Scope and Content

No description available at this time.

No description available at this time.

Archive - File Cabinet 10

5 cubic feet; 2 drawers

H.11: Delius Papers

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section contains the papers of Betty Delius, Library Director at Bellarmine College, related to the foundation, organization, administration and programming of a Merton collection and Merton Center at the college. The date range of the materials is circa 1960 to 1980. The papers include correspondence (much are copies of letters between members of the Merton Legacy Trust and others involved in the foundation of the Merton Center); architectural specifications, plans and photographs of the Thomas Merton Room at the Bellarmine Library; forms and contracts; finding aids for the early collection; bibliographies; committee minutes; an address list of those on Merton's correspondence list; and working files. There is one original piece signed by Merton: "Concerning the Collection in Bellarmine College Library", which was read at the opening ceremony for the Merton Room in 1963. Books, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, and early Merton Center brochures and programs from Delius' papers have been interfiled with other parts of the collection. The files detail the arrangements made to obtain a small collection of Merton's papers at Bellarmine, the renovation of space in the library for a Merton Room, the designation of Bellarmine as official repository of Merton's papers, the collection and arrangement of the books and manuscripts, foundation of the Thomas Merton Studies Center, staffing of the Merton Center, rules governing ownership and use of the collection, accession lists, and programming for Merton related events at the college that were hosted by the Merton Center. Ms. Delius donated the papers to the Merton Center in July of 2005.

Files are loosely arranged by subject of file folder.

Click here for a finding aid for this collection.

Archive - Stack 4

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

1/3 cubic foot; 1 box

H.12: Yoder Papers - The Spiritual Roots of Protest, Retreat 1964

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section contains files of John Howard Yoder in relation to classes he taught on Thomas Merton, his connection with the peace conference at Gethsemani in 1964 which Yoder attended, and a proposed essay on the 1964 conference. Conference at Gethsemani Abbey in 1964 was entitled, "The Spiritual Roots of Protest." The date range of the materials is from at least 1964 to 1994.

Files are loosely arranged by subject of file folder.

Click here for a finding aid for this collection.

Archive - Stack 4

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

2/3 cubic foot; 2 boxes

H.13: Marie Charron Papers

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes papers collected by Marie Charron, a typist for Thomas Merton from 1967-1968. The donation included mimeographs and carbons of Merton's articles, book reviews and poetry; correspondence between Merton and Charron, and between Tommie O'Callaghan regarding the Merton Legacy Trust (after Merton's death); newspaper clippings regarding Merton, the Merton Center, and Merton biographer John Howard Griffin; and various brochures and event bulletins regarding programs regarding Merton and the Merton Center. The date range of the materials is from 1967 to 1977.

All items donated by David Charron, March 2008. Box list of donationed items filed at the end of the box containing donation.

This Sub-Section is divided into records series (see "Finding Aids" below).

Click here for a finding aid for this collection.

Archive - Stack 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

1/3 cubic foot; 1 box

H.14: A.J. Flogge Collection

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes papers collected by A.J. Flogge, a collector of books and manuscripts, who specialized in Hollywood memorabilia. He collected a valuable group of books and manuscripts related to Merton. A portion of his collection was on loan to the Thomas Merton Center beginning in 2001. In 2016, he donated the loaned collection and a larger group of Merton books and papers to the Center.

This Sub-Section is divided into records series (see "Finding Aids" below).

Click here for a finding aid to materials remaining in the Flogge collection.
Most items donated by Merton were intergrated into the collection and noted as donated by A.J. Flogge.

Archive - Stack 2

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

1/3 cubic foot; 1 box

H.15: David D. Cooper Papers

Scope and Content

Manuscripts and working files for David Cooper's books about Thomas Merton, including Thomas Merton and James Laughlin: Selected Letters , Thomas Merton's Art of Denial: The Evolution of a Radical Humanist, and a proposed book of Merton's correspondence.

This Sub-Section is divided into records series (see "Finding Aids" below).

Click here for a finding aid for this collection.

Archive - File Cabinet 15

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

3 cubic feet

H.16: Ann Skakel Papers

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes papers collected by Ann Brannack Skakel. She was the mother of Robert F. Kennedy's widow, Ethel Skakel Kennedy. Ann Skakel volunteered her time for Merton as a typist during the early 1950's. Most of the files herewith are related to Merton's "Monastic Orientation" classes. There is also a manuscript for "The Cloud and the Fire" (early draft of The Ascent to Truth), and a number of copies of "'The Sacrament of Advent' in the Spirituality of St. Bernard." See also the "Skakel, Ann" file in Merton's correspondence, Section A; "Conferences on St. Bernard of Clairvaux" in Section C.2; and The Sign of Jonas in Section C.3.

This Sub-Section retains the original order, but similar items were grouped into folders. The folders are grouped into Series. (see "Finding Aids" below).

Click here for a finding aid for this collection.

Archive - Stack 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

1/3 cubic foot; 1 box

H.17: Joseph Zarrella Catholic Worker Papers

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes materials related to the Catholic Worker Movement and prominent figures in the movement, including co-founder Dorothy Day and artists for the newspaper Ade Bethune and Fritz Eichenberg.

Joseph Zarrella met Dorothy Day in New York and joined the Catholic Worker movement in its early days. Zarrella married Mary Alice Lautner and moved to her home town of Tell City, Indiana, where he established a Catholic Worker House of Hospitality. Dorothy Day visited Zarrella many times.

H.17a, Accession 1 (not fully described) of the Zarrella papers, contains a nearly complete collection of Catholic Worker newspapers from 1933 (the first issue) through the 1990's. Also included are a magazine and newspaper clippings file about Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement, photographs and recordings of Dorothy Day and a photo of Peter Maurin, and a collection of prints by Ade Bethune and Fritz Eichenberg.

The finding aid for H.17b, Accession 2, has complete folder descriptions (see below). All items were donated by Joseph and Mary Alice Zarrella. Accession 2 was processed and described by Ethne Evans, July 2012.

This Sub-Section retains the original order, but similar items were grouped into folders. The folders are grouped into Series. (see "Finding Aids" below).

Click here for a finding aid for H17a, Accession 1 (Records Series headings only).

Click here for a finding aid for H17b, Accession 2 (full folder descriptions).

Click here for a finding aid for H17c, Accession 3 (full folder descriptions).

Click here for a full list of Catholic Worker newspapers in the collection.

Archive Room 222, and Archive Stack 13

16.5 cubic feet; 23 boxes and 104 books

Cataloged Holdings

H.18: Patrick Samway Papers, Editing the Robert Giroux and Thomas Merton Correspondence

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes papers related to a book edited by Patrick Samway, S.J., The Letters of Robert Giroux and Thomas Merton. Samway made copies of a substantial number of letters from other collections between Giroux and Merton, Naomi Burton Stone, Dom James Fox, James Laughlin, T.F. Burns, and many others related to the publication of Merton's books. Source collections include the archives of Harcourt Publishers in Orlando, the New York Public Library, and Loyola University New Orleans. The papers also include manuscripts and proofs of Samway's book, original essays by Giroux about Merton (some are temporarily restricted until they can be published), sales figures for some of Merton's books, and background research and published materials on Giroux and on Merton.

This Sub-Section is divided into records series. Correspondence between Merton and Giroux and between Merton and others were copied for inclusion in Section A of the Merton Papers, but Samway's copy has been retained in his papers as filed.

Materials were accessioned August 2015.

Click here for a finding aid for this collection.

Archive - File Cabinet 15

2 cubic feet

H.19: Irenaeus Herscher Clippings File on Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

The bulk of this Sub-Section includes news clippings or copies of full periodicals and journals containing essays, reviews, and poetry by or about Thomas Merton which were kept in a file by Fr. Irenaeus Herscher, O.F.M. (1902-1981), head librarian of Friedsam Memorial Library at St. Bonaventure University in New York, which houses the primary collection of papers by Herscher and one letter between Merton and Herscher (http://archives.sbu.edu/herscher/Irenaeus%20Collection.htm ). See also correspondence in the Thomas Merton Center, Section A, between Merton and Herscher .

This Sub-Section is not processed. Some materials were in labelled files and some were not in file folders.

Archive - File Cabinet 8

2 cubic feet

H.20: John Edgar Raub Papers (Fr. Jacob, OCSO)

Scope and Content

John E. Raub was a priest from 1962-1972. He became a Trappist monk (in religious life, Fr. Jacob) of the Abbey of Gethsemani for twenty-eight years from 1972-2000. After being dispensed from the priesthood, he married Ann B. Hunter in June 2001. He was he author of two books: the first, as a Trappist writing under John Jacob Raub in 1992, Who Told You that You Were Naked: Freedom from Judgment, Guilt and Fear of Punishment; and the second as John Edgar Raub in 2014, Francis Repair My Church: Pope Francis Revives Vatican II. Both books are available in the Merton Center Archives with inscriptions by Raub.

Materials in this subsection include essays by Raub, correspondence, reviews of Raub's books, and miscellaneous print memorabilia.

Rob Labadie donated the materials in 2019.

This Sub-Section retains the original order, but similar items were grouped into folders. The folders are not grouped into Series.

Click here for a finding aid for this collection.

Archive - Stack 4

1/3 cubic foot; 1 box (partial); 6 folders

H.21: Serge Bolshakoff's Manuscript, "Introduction to Wales"

Scope and Content

This file contains one handwritten manuscript by Serge Bolshakoff, "Introduction to Wales." Bolshakoff was a close friend of Archimandrite Nicholas Gibbes and left the manuscript with him. It was passed down in the family. Charles Gibbes Paveliev donated in the manuscript in 2021. In the Merton correspondence file under Bolshakoff, there is a bibliography of Bolshakoff’s work, published and unpublished, but it does not include this work. See also Section A, Correspondence, "Bolshakoff, Serge".

This Sub-Section is not grouped into Series and contains only one item.

Click here for a finding aid for this collection.

Archive - Stack 4

1/3 cubic foot; 1 box; 1 item

SECTION I: Miscellaneous Collections

I.1: Mother Teresa (1910-1997) and Lou Torok (1927-2000) Collection

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes papers collected by Lou Torok of his correspondence and friendship with Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C.). While serving a prison sentence in Kentucky the last decade of his life, Lou Torok petitioned a number of United States governors to proclaim October 7 (some chose another day) as Love Day. October 7 was the anniversary of the day Mother Teresa received permission to establish the congregation that would later be known as the Missionaries of Charity. The Missionaries of Charity observe October 7 as a special day of prayer for those who were hungry, suffering, or abandoned. The collection contains mostly original copies of the gubernatorial proclamations of Love Day in the mid-1990's from various states. There are also writings by and about Lou Torok and information about Mother Teresa receiving the Bellarmine Medal from Bellarmine College (now Bellarmine University).

Materials were accessioned and described in 1998. Arrangement and description by Theresa H. Sandok, O.S.M. Prepared for the web and updated by Mark Meade in 2016.

This Sub-Section is divided into records series. It shares a box with Sub-Section I.2.

Click here for a finding aid for this collection.

Archive Stack 13

1/6 of a cubic foot; 1 box

I.2: Mother Teresa (1910-1997) and Bellarmine Collection

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes materials related to the filming of a documentary on the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta (now canonized Saint Teresa of Calcutta), a delegation from Bellarmine College that traveled to India for its filming and to present the Bellarmine Medal, the subsequent trip of Mother Teresa to the campus of Bellarmine as a speaker, and Mother Teresa's beatification in 2003.

The documentary "Work of Love" was filmed, recorded, and produced in 1981 by Michael Nabicht and Bob Sullivan, alumni of Bellarmine. The Bellarmine Medal was awarded to Mother Teresa on December 7, 1981 in India by then-President of Bellarmine, Dr. Eugene V. Petrik. Mother Teresa came to speak at Bellarmine in June of 1982. Mother Teresa wrote in 1990 to congratulate Dr. Petrik on his retirement as President of Bellarmine. She wrote again in 1991 while Dr. Petrik was ill.

Materials were collected by Bellarmine in 1981 and 1982. Subsequent additions were donated by Helen Petrik in 2004 and by Michael Nabicht in 2010. Arrangement and description by Paul Pearson and Mark Meade. Online finding aid created in 2017.

This Sub-Section is divided into records series. It shares a box with Sub-Section I.1.

Click here for a finding aid for this collection.

Archive Stack 13

1/2 of a cubic foot; 2 boxes