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Individual Series View, Merton's Correspondence with:

Collins, Angela of the Eucharist, Mother, O.C.D., 1917-2003


Series 1, Correspondence between Sr. Angela and Thomas Merton.


Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence
Dates of materials: 1960-1968, 1970-1974
Volume: 114 item(s); 224 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Herein is a highly personal and lively correspondence between good friends and fellow religious. The extant file does not seem to be a complete set of their correspondence. Early letters, such as an original of what became the Cold War Letter, are not i

Biography

Early in their correspondence, Sr. Angela of the Eucharist (née Viola M. Collins) was a Carmelite Prioress in Louisville, Kentucky. Between 1965 and 1966, she would became Mother Angela of the Eucharist, appointed superior of the Carmelite monastery in S

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

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

Related Information and Links

See also: Cold War Letter #42, published in Witness to Freedom; letters from Merton to Mother Angela in <

Series List

Series NumberSeries NameTotal Records
1 Correspondence between Sr. Angela and Thomas Merton. 64
2 Correspondence between Sr. Angela and John Howard Griffin. 29
3 Notes kept by Mother Angela during Meeting with Thomas Merton on the Future of Contemplative Life, May 1968. 2
4 Materials Related to Merton's Death and Funeral. 9
5 Other Materials Related to Published Correspondence and Conference on Contemplative Life. 10

Container List

Series#DateFrom/ToFirst LinesPub ✓Notes
 y/m/dMerton Scan ✉ 
Series 1 #1.
«All Series«		 1960/09/16 TLS[x] from Merton It is about time I wrote you a few lines to congratulate you on your new solitude and leisure. ✓ [photocopy of full letter added July 2016 from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files - earlier copy in files was missing final page] «detailed view»
Series 1 #2.
«All Series«		 1962/02/no transcript from Merton The issue about Civil Defense concerns not only you but the whole community and since my opinion has ✓ Cold War Letters #42 «detailed view»
Series 1 #3.
«All Series«		 1964/12/26 (#01) TL[c] from Merton You can guess why I have been so long answering your letter and commenting on the "documents". ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #4.
«All Series«		 1964/12/26 (#02) TLS from Merton You can guess why I have been so long answering your letter and commenting on the "documents". I ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #5.
«All Series«		 1965/04/01 TALS to Merton In spite of the above date, this is no "April Fool's" joke! … The past several weeks have been very «detailed view»
Series 1 #6.
«All Series«		 1965/04/03 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Well, anyway, congratulations on the new post! I am sure it is in some way or other providential. ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #7.
«All Series«		 1965/04/03 (#02) TALS from Merton Well, anyway, congratulations on the new post! I am sure it is in some way or other providential. ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #8.
«All Series«		 1965/06/24 TLS to Merton Where have you been? …. Thought you were coming to Louisville the middle of May???? … Did you «detailed view»
Series 1 #9.
«All Series«		 1965/06/27 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Thanks for your good letter. I was really wondering what was going to become of you. I am so glad «detailed view»
Series 1 #10.
«All Series«		 1965/06/27 (#02) TLS from Merton Thanks for your good letter. I was really wondering what was going to become of you. I am so glad «detailed view»
Series 1 #11.
«All Series«		 1966/03/16 TL[c] from Merton As you supposed, your first letter never reached me. the second onl[y] got to me after considerable «detailed view»
Series 1 #12.
«All Series«		 1966/04/03 HLS from Merton I am writing this in the hospital where I have had an operation on my back. It was quite [dated "Palm Sunday 1966" (which was April 3) and postmarked April 4, 1966] «detailed view»
Series 1 #13.
«All Series«		 1966/11/14 TALS to Merton How wonderful it was to have your good letter! …. the letter of last "Palm Sunday!" … really, I «detailed view»
Series 1 #14.
«All Series«		 1966/12/01 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Thanks for your good letter: it is indeed ages since I have heard from you. But I know how ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #15.
«All Series«		 1966/12/01 (#02) TLS from Merton Thanks for your good letter: it is indeed ages since I have heard from you. But I know how ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #16.
«All Series«		 1966/12/15 TLS to Merton This is in haste … but when in Baltimore, I met a darling little ole Nun … Sister Genevieve … up in «detailed view»
Series 1 #17.
«All Series«		 1967/06/14 (#01) TL[c] from Merton I hope by now you have the tape I made, I asked the nuns of Loretto to make a copy and send it on to ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #18.
«All Series«		 1967/06/14 (#02) TLS from Merton I hope by now you have the tape I made, I asked the nuns of Loretto to make a copy and send it on to ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #19.
«All Series«		 1967/09/04 TALS to Merton Gosh! I never knew you would be so mean …. so terribly mean as to do what you did! I don't «detailed view»
Series 1 #20.
«All Series«		 1967/09/18 (#01) TL[c] from Merton I have at least a partial alibi about that tape. When you sent me the tape to fill I did not have a «detailed view»
Series 1 #21.
«All Series«		 1967/09/18 (#02) TALS from Merton I have at least a partial alibi about that tape. When you sent me the tape to fill I did not have a «detailed view»
Series 1 #22.
«All Series«		 1967/09/21 TALS to Merton …. and thank you SO much for everything! You are "an angel" really …. it was «detailed view»
Series 1 #23.
«All Series«		 1967/10/06 TALS to Merton I am sending this Special Delivery because it is important and I do hope you will be able to respond «detailed view»
Series 1 #24.
«All Series«		 1967/10/09 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Here is a quick reply to your question about the Little Hours. Certainly you are right about the «detailed view»
Series 1 #25.
«All Series«		 1967/10/09 (#02) TLS from Merton Here is a quick reply to your question about the Little Hours. Certainly you are right about the «detailed view»
Series 1 #26.
«All Series«		 1967/10/18 TALS to Merton I owe you many thanks for many things … most of all, for your letter which came last week regarding two envelopes marked "Personal" and "Strictly Conscience Matter" «detailed view»
Series 1 #27.
«All Series«		 1967/11/17 TALS to Merton This won't be "long" … but I do want to let you know that Sister Joseph has decided to ask «detailed view»
Series 1 #28.
«All Series«		 1967/12/02 (#01) TL[c] from Merton This morning I said Mass for you and the Savannah Carmel in the hermitage. I wanted to write before ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #29.
«All Series«		 1967/12/02 (#02) TALS from Merton This morning I said Mass for you and the Savannah Carmel in the hermitage. I wanted to write before ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #30.
«All Series«		 1967/12/05 (#01) TL[c] from Merton I was just about to mail the enclosed when I got your special delivery letter. What a shame there «detailed view»
Series 1 #31.
«All Series«		 1967/12/05 (#02) TLS from Merton I was just about to mail the enclosed when I got your special delivery letter. What a shame there «detailed view»
Series 1 #32.
«All Series«		 1967/12/10 TALS to Merton Yesterday turned out to be "Gaudete Saturday!" …. thank you ever, ever so much for the exquisite joy «detailed view»
Series 1 #33.
«All Series«		 1967/12/26 (#01) TL[c] from Merton This is not an adequate answer, just the essentials. What I have been thinking of planning is a ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #34.
«All Series«		 1967/12/26 (#02) TLS from Merton This is not an adequate answer, just the essentials. What I have been thinking of planning is a ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #35.
«All Series«		 1967/12/26? (#03) other by Merton MY CAMPAIGN PLATFORM for non-Abbot and permanent keeper of present doghouse. ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #36.
«All Series«		 1968/01/02 (#01) TLS from Merton By now you probably have my answer to the practical details of your letter. I just sent off a «detailed view»
Series 1 #37.
«All Series«		 1968/01/02 (#02) TL[c] from Merton By now you probably have my answer to the practical details of your letter. I just sent off a «detailed view»
Series 1 #38.
«All Series«		 1968/01/02 (#03) TL[x] from Merton By now you probably have my answer to the practical details of your letter. I just sent off a [Collins comments on Merton's handwritten note "Confidential" - she writes "I personally don't know why this was marked 'confidential' except possibly for reference to Dom James!- I have no objection to its being published.."] «detailed view»
Series 1 #39.
«All Series«		 1968/01/02? (#04) other by Merton MY CAMPAIGN PLATFORM for non-Abbot and permanent keeper of present doghouse. ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #40.
«All Series«		 1968/01/03 (#01) TL[c] from Merton My letter went out just when yours came in. Making this one necessary-- and making me realize I ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #41.
«All Series«		 1968/01/03 (#02) TLS from Merton My letter went out just when yours came in. Making this one necessary-- and making me realize I ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #42.
«All Series«		 1968/01/22 (#01) TL[c] from Merton My Mass on Sunday the 14th was for your meeting. I hope it went well. I more than prayed for you ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #43.
«All Series«		 1968/01/22 (#02) TLS from Merton My Mass on Sunday the 14th was for your meeting. I hope it went well. I more than prayed for you ✓ «detailed view»
Series 1 #44.
«All Series«		 1968/02/06 HLS to Merton As you see I am still here in the hospital - I have really been quite sick - with pneumonia «detailed view»
Series 1 #45.
«All Series«		 1968/02/10 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Just a quick note. Glad you are getting better. I was worried about you. Take care of yourself. «detailed view»
Series 1 #46.
«All Series«		 1968/02/10 (#02) TLS from Merton Just a quick note. Glad you are getting better. I was worried about you. Take care of yourself. «detailed view»
Series 1 #47.
«All Series«		 1968/02/26 TL[c] from Breitenbeck, Joseph I wish to thank you for your letter of February 18, 1968 and the information you gave me relative to [enclosed with Collins letter to Merton of 1968-03-03 - from the Most Rev. Joseph M. Breitenbeck, Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit to Collins] «detailed view»
Series 1 #48.
«All Series«		 1968/03/03 TALS to Merton Today I am celebrating the anniversary (liturgically) of my Solemn Profession … it took place on «detailed view»
Series 1 #49.
«All Series«		 1968/03/10 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Thanks for your letter of last Sunday. I am willing to have Fr Kilduff come if you like. I met him «detailed view»
Series 1 #50.
«All Series«		 1968/03/10 (#02) TALS from Merton Thanks for your letter of last Sunday. I am willing to have Fr Kilduff come if you like. I met him «detailed view»
Series 1 #51.
«All Series«		 1968/04/09 (#01) TL[c] from Merton As soon as I got your telegram last week I offered Mass for you. I hope the operation went well «detailed view»
Series 1 #52.
«All Series«		 1968/04/09 (#02) TLS from Merton As soon as I got your telegram last week I offered Mass for you. I hope the operation went well «detailed view»
Series 1 #53.
«All Series«		 1968/05/22 HLS from Benedict, Fr., O.C.D. My sincere thanks for your letter, the valuable information it contained and your trust in me [to Collins from Fr. Benedict (last name Bishop?), who was, as a note by Collins states, former provincial of the Discalced Carmelite Fathers, Holy Hill, Hubertus, Wisconsin] upcoming retreat with Merton on the future of contemplative monasticism «detailed view»
Series 1 #54.
«All Series«		 1968/06/07 (#01) TLS from Merton It is hard to realize that a week has gone by since you were all here. Things continue quite busy [encloses letter to Pope Paul VI] «detailed view»
Series 1 #55.
«All Series«		 1968/06/07 (#02) TL[c]  from Merton to Pope Paul VI It is hard to realize that a week has gone by since you were all here. Things continue quite busy [letter to Pope Paul VI dated June 4, 1968 and enclosed with June 7 letter - marked "good copy" but text is the same as item 3, "rough copy," different paper] «detailed view»
Series 1 #56.
«All Series«		 1968/06/07 (#03) TL[c]  from Merton to Pope Paul VI It is hard to realize that a week has gone by since you were all here. Things continue quite busy [letter to Pope Paul VI dated June 4, 1968 and enclosed with June 7 letter - marked "rough copy" but text is the same as item 2, "good copy," different paper] «detailed view»
Series 1 #57.
«All Series«		 1968/06/29 TALS to Merton Guess what? I almost got arrested and put in jail and fined because of the little "gift" I told you «detailed view»
Series 1 #58.
«All Series«		 1968/07/02 HLS from Merton Thanks for your letter - I am afraid it would be useless to plan on my giving a talk «detailed view»
Series 1 #59.
«All Series«		 1968/09/24? HPCS from Merton Your letter reached me in Alaska. I won't be able to come to Savannah- I'm on my wat to India [no date, but postmarked September 24, 1968 - verso of postcard: "Winter in Alaska"] «detailed view»
Series 1 #60.
«All Series«		 1968/09/no? TLS[x]  from Merton to Friends As you know, I have been cutting down more and more on letters and now my contacts will be almost [a circular letter copied for friends, labeled "FALL 1968" - Merton's handwritten annotation on another copy, in "Circular Letters" states, "Please do not give this to printers before Sept 12th!!" (the day after his flight out of Kentucky for his travels to the American West and Asia)] «detailed view»
Series 1 #61.
«All Series«		 1968/11/09 other  from Merton to Friends This newsletter is not a reply to mail because I have not been getting mail on this Asian trip [mimeographed circular letter to friends, "Asian Letter 1"] «detailed view»
Series 1 #62.
«All Series«		 1968/12/19 (#01) TL[x] from Monks of Gethsemani We are deeply moved by the countless expressions of sympathy which we have been receiving «detailed view»
Series 1 #63.
«All Series«		 1968/12/19 (#02) TL[x]  from Trappists in Bangkok / to Flavian Burns The news of the sudden and unexpected death of your beloved son, Father Louis, has already been [from six Trappist delegates at the conference in Bangkok to Dom Flavian Burns, Abbot of Gethsemani, in response to Merton's death - copies sent to Merton's friends and enclosed with letter of December 19, 1968] «detailed view»
Series 1 #64.
«All Series«		 undated/no/no other by Merton FOUR FREEDOM SONGS Comissioned by Robert L. Williams (Words by T. Merton [-] Music by A. Peloquin) [typed text of the Merton's "Four Freedom Songs"] «detailed view»

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