The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University



Advanced Search 


Individual Series View, Merton's Correspondence with:

Holloway, James Young, 1927-2002


Series 1, Correspondence between James Holloway and Thomas Merton


Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence
Dates of materials: 1965-1968
Volume: 91 item(s); 101 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Merton and Holloway discussed the Civil Rights Movement in the South and Merton's contributions to Katallagete.

Biography

Jim Holloway came to Berea College in 1965 where he would remain as a professor before retiring in 1992. He was co-founder with Will Campbell of Katallagete (Greek for "be reconciled!"), a magazine sponsored by the Committee of Southern Churchmen

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

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

Related Information and Links

See also the "Campbell, William Davis" and "Stone, Naomi Burton" files; and the Katallagete / James Y. Holloway Colle

Series List

Series NumberSeries NameTotal Records
1 Correspondence between James Holloway and Thomas Merton 89
2 Correspondence between James Holloway and Contributors to Katallagete regarding Merton 1
3 Correspondence between James Holloway and The Merton Legacy Trust and the Merton Center 1

Container List

Series#DateFrom/ToFirst LinesPub ✓Notes
 y/m/dMerton Scan ✉ 
Series 1 #1.
«All Series«
1965/10/03 TLS[x] from Merton You would probably do better not to wait for me. I will certainly get around to that piece before «detailed view»
Series 1 #2.
«All Series«
1965/10/13 (#01) TLS to Merton Thanks so very much for your note of the 4th. Believe me, I appreciate the demands on your time, «detailed view»
Series 1 #3.
«All Series«
1965/10/13 (#02) other   DIRECTORS REPORT [-] COMMITTEE OF SOUTHERN CHURCHMEN [-] AUGUST 30, 1965 [sent to Merton in 1965/10/13 letter] «detailed view»
Series 1 #4.
«All Series«
1965/12/27 HLS[x] from Merton Thanks for your warm note - I reciprocate all along and wish you joy in a blessed New Year. piece Merton was writing regarding Second Vatican Council constitution on "The Church in the Modern World" - possible piece for Katallagete «detailed view»
Series 1 #5.
«All Series«
1966/02/03 TLS to Merton Will Campbell just called to say that this issue of Katallagete is in the mail (they are «detailed view»
Series 1 #6.
«All Series«
1966/02/10 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Thanks for your notes and for the new issue of Katallagete which I have been reading. Walker Percy / Markus Barth «detailed view»
Series 1 #7.
«All Series«
1966/02/10 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Thanks for your notes and for the new issue of Katallagete which I have been reading. Walker Percy / Markus Barth «detailed view»
Series 1 #8.
«All Series«
1966/02/24 TALS to Merton I do not mean to embarrass you by quoting your own writings to you, but I don't know of any other «detailed view»
Series 1 #9.
«All Series«
1966/04/26 HLS[x] from Merton Terribly sorry I forgot to send you this - here is the part of the ms you can draw on if you want «detailed view»
Series 1 #10.
«All Series«
1966/05/09 TL[c] from Merton Thanks for your letter and for the copies of the magazine which reached me safely. As a matter «detailed view»
Series 1 #11.
«All Series«
1966/05/12 TLS to Merton Forgive me for keeping the mss. of your commentary so long, but I now have copied off what we would «detailed view»
Series 1 #12.
«All Series«
1966/05/16 HNS[x] from Merton I finally decided that the only thing to do with my Church and World commentary was show it «detailed view»
Series 1 #13.
«All Series«
1966/06/27 TLS to Merton The mail just brought some material from FOR, including your moving statement "Nhat Hahn [sic] is my «detailed view»
Series 1 #14.
«All Series«
1966/06/29? HLS[x] from Merton There is no problem at all about your using the Nhat Hanh statement as far as I am concerned. [undated - likely 1966] Thich Nhât Hanh - "Nhât Hanh Is My Brother" / "Godless Christianity" article «detailed view»
Series 1 #15.
«All Series«
1966/07/06 HLS[x] from Merton By all means write to Continuum if they don't act soon. Justus G. Lawler, 15 «detailed view»
Series 1 #16.
«All Series«
1966/07/22 (#01) TLS from Merton I have an important favor to put before you, and while I am eager to do so, I am uneasy lest I botch «detailed view»
Series 1 #17.
«All Series«
1966/07/22 (#02) TLS[x] to Stone, Naomi Burton During the past several weeks, I have been in correspondence with Father Thomas Merton about [copy of letter to Naomi Burton of Doubleday, Merton's literary agent, enclosed with July 22 letter to Merton - dated 1966/07/08] «detailed view»
Series 1 #18.
«All Series«
1966/07/22 (#03) TAL[c]  from Levant, Dan / to Naomi Burton Stone I'm attaching a letter from James Holloway and my reply to him. This is about a book of Merton's [copy enclosed with July 22 letter to Merton (carbon copy to John Delaney) - dated 1966/07/12] «detailed view»
Series 1 #19.
«All Series«
1966/07/26 TL[c] from Merton Thanks for your letter and for the eloquent enclosed statement by Will. I have read them both «detailed view»
Series 1 #20.
«All Series«
1966/08/25 TL[x] from Stone, Naomi Burton Father Merton has decided now that he is not going to make a full length book from the material "Church in the World" material - will not become a book, so Katallagete can make two articles from it «detailed view»
Series 1 #21.
«All Series«
1966/09/24 TLS to Merton Received this a.m. sheets of the finished product of the journal, summer issue, the second day «detailed view»
Series 1 #22.
«All Series«
1966/09/28 (#01) TL[c] from Merton I am glad to hear that this issue of Katallagete is on its way and I shall look forward to seeing it Merton's feelings that "Death of God" material is inadequate and his reservations about Holloway publishing it «detailed view»
Series 1 #23.
«All Series«
1966/09/28 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton I am glad to hear that this issue of Katallagete is on its way and I shall look forward to seeing it Merton's feelings that "Death of God" material is inadequate and his reservations about Holloway publishing it «detailed view»
Series 1 #24.
«All Series«
1966/09/30 TLS to Merton Thanks for your note of the 28th. I am returning the mss on Godless Christianity as you requested. «detailed view»
Series 1 #25.
«All Series«
1966/10/15 TALS to Merton I sent a couple of copies first-class, and a few more book-rate, and I hope by now they have arrived «detailed view»
Series 1 #26.
«All Series«
1966/10/25 TL[x] to New York Review, to the editors I am enclosing a check for fourteen dollars ($14.00) to cover the cost of a three-year subscription [Holloway sending a check to pay for a 3-year subscription to the New York Review for Merton] «detailed view»
Series 1 #27.
«All Series«
1966/11/14 TLS to Merton As work goes along on the politics-as-messiah theme we seem to be accumulating enough first-rate «detailed view»
Series 1 #28.
«All Series«
1966/12/14 (#01) TL[c] from Merton This is a very delayed acknowledgement of all the copies of the summer issue, and a comment on same. thoughts on article from last issue of Katallagete / "Godless Christianity" article / thanks for New York Review / reading and a possible study of William Faulkner / possibility of seeing Holloway and Will Campbell later in January of 1967 «detailed view»
Series 1 #29.
«All Series«
1966/12/14 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton This is a very delayed acknowledgement of all the copies of the summer issue, and a comment on same. thoughts on article from last issue of Katallagete / "Godless Christianity" article / thanks for New York Review / reading and a possible study of William Faulkner / possibility of seeing Holloway and Will Campbell later in January of 1967 «detailed view»
Series 1 #30.
«All Series«
1967/01/17 TLS[x] from Merton I really enjoyed having you and Will here the other day. By the way I could not find in my pocket «detailed view»
Series 1 #31.
«All Series«
1967/01/18 TALS to Merton I'm sending with this today the Johnny Cash record, so please be on the lookout. Parcel post inside «detailed view»
Series 1 #32.
«All Series«
1967/02/01 TLS to Merton This is an awkward sort of letter, but not so much as it might have been had we not had the chance «detailed view»
Series 1 #33.
«All Series«
1967/02/10 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Sorry I was not prompt in answering your last two letters: we have been on retreat. As to dividing Flannery O'Connor's Wise Blood - "best summary of God is Dead Theology" / thoughts on Johnny Cash and comparisons with Bob Dylan / working more on William Faulkner «detailed view»
Series 1 #34.
«All Series«
1967/02/10 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Sorry I was not prompt in answering your last two letters: we have been on retreat. As to dividing Flannery O'Connor's Wise Blood - "best summary of God is Dead Theology" / thoughts on Johnny Cash and comparisons with Bob Dylan / working more on William Faulkner «detailed view»
Series 1 #35.
«All Series«
1967/02/28 HNS[x] from Merton Just got back from the hospital today. Here is the article. Feel free to edit it as you please. «detailed view»
Series 1 #36.
«All Series«
1967/03/04 TLS to Merton A quick note to let you know that the "Godless Christianity"? mss. arrived o.k. Many, many thanks «detailed view»
Series 1 #37.
«All Series«
1967/04/04 TLS to Merton For some time we have wanted to arrange a meeting for the working segment of the editorial board «detailed view»
Series 1 #38.
«All Series«
1967/04/13 TL[c] from Merton Sorry for the delay in answering yours of the 4th. I have had a lot of people to see lately «detailed view»
Series 1 #39.
«All Series«
1967/04/22 TNS[x] from Merton Thanks for the letter. I am clarified. I'll expect news of the editorial board meeting around end «detailed view»
Series 1 #40.
«All Series«
1967/06/27 TLS[x] from Merton Thanks, belatedly for the card. I also enjoy Johnny Cash, especially in his references to the hermit Johnny Cash and the hermit life «detailed view»
Series 1 #41.
«All Series«
1967/07/03 TLS to Merton Not trying to add to what I know is your backlog of reading. But I had an extra set of galleys «detailed view»
Series 1 #42.
«All Series«
1967/07/21 TLS to Merton Strange as it seems, we've been unable to locate either the complete text of the resolutions of the «detailed view»
Series 1 #43.
«All Series«
1967/08/20 TL[c] from Merton Thanks for the copies of Kat which came in safely. I think the cover is very effective and in fact «detailed view»
Series 1 #44.
«All Series«
1967/08/22 (#01) TALS to Merton Many thanks for your note of the 20th, and esp. for the enclosures. And for the kind words about «detailed view»
Series 1 #45.
«All Series«
1967/08/22 (#02) other   Facing the Future [-] By Walter Lippmann [-] The Negro Insurrection: An Ominous Gap Triggers Rioting [newspaper clipping from the 1967/08/20 Louisville Courier-Journal] «detailed view»
Series 1 #46.
«All Series«
1967/08/31 (#01) TL[c] from Merton A very persuasive letter came in from Will yesterday. He inveigled me with the summary of new letter from Will Campbell summarizing new country songs / Merton's article "The Hot Summer of 1967" for Katallagete / William Faulkner / Cornell [Tom Cornell?] - Alabama / Catholic Church - "St Vitus dance plus logorrhea" «detailed view»
Series 1 #47.
«All Series«
1967/08/31 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton A very persuasive letter came in from Will yesterday. He inveigled me with the summary of new letter from Will Campbell summarizing new country songs / Merton's article "The Hot Summer of 1967" for Katallagete / William Faulkner / Cornell [Tom Cornell?] - Alabama / Catholic Church - "St Vitus dance plus logorrhea" «detailed view»
Series 1 #48.
«All Series«
1967/09/02 TLS to Merton Thanks so much for your letter of the 31st. You're not the first one to fall before a Campbell «detailed view»
Series 1 #49.
«All Series«
1967/09/06 TLS[x] from Merton Here, hastily, is the copy of Hot Summer. I leave you to judge whether it would be improved without «detailed view»
Series 1 #50.
«All Series«
1967/09/11 TALS to Merton Thanks for the Hot Summer which arrived o.k. Just had time to read it before going to N'ville this «detailed view»
Series 1 #51.
«All Series«
1967/09/21 (#01) TALS to Merton Faulkner at Oxford arrived o.k. Let me know if you find others you can use. Not sure if I sent you [encloses two black and white photographs - there are two men pictured: Jim Holloway, editor, is in the "Katallagete 2" shirt and the other, the publisher and co-founder with Holloway, is Will Campbell, "Katallagete 1" - also encloses a newspaper clipping (see next record)] «detailed view»
Series 1 #52.
«All Series«
1967/09/21 (#02) other   Faulkner, in Letter to Ex-Butler, Said Negro Must Earn Equality [-] By M. S. Handler [-] In a letter [newspaper clipping sent by Holloway describing a letter author William Faulkner sent to his ex-butler concerning racial issues] «detailed view»
Series 1 #53.
«All Series«
1967/09/22 TL[c] from Merton When I see you fellows all decked out in your athletic finery, it makes me wonder when I am going to «detailed view»
Series 1 #54.
«All Series«
1967/09/27 TL[x] to Merton I was very sorry to hear about Dr. Allport, and can understand how this bears on you at this time. «detailed view»
Series 1 #55.
«All Series«
1967/09/28 TLS to Merton Thanks for your note of the 23rd. Will is free Tuesday, Oct. 3, which is also the best day for me «detailed view»
Series 1 #56.
«All Series«
1967/09/no? HLS[x] from Merton Jim, I should have enclosed this with the note - If you want it for a Spring issue ok. [handwritten note to "Jim" on copy of "Easter Homily for Argus Communications" - date unknown but essay dated September 1967 - possibly a note to Jim Douglass, October 17, 1967 letter from Holloway to Merton mentions a Merton essay sent by Jim Douglass] «detailed view»
Series 1 #57.
«All Series«
1967/10/17 TALS to Merton The mss is finally in the hands of the printer, who starts on it tomorrow. The special supplement «detailed view»
Series 1 #58.
«All Series«
1967/10/20 TL[c] from Merton A fellow who knows Groppi and has worked with him just went through on his way to Alabama «detailed view»
Series 1 #59.
«All Series«
1967/11/03 TALS to Merton Here are proofs for both articles for Fall Kat. I haven't read either (in proof). You might check «detailed view»
Series 1 #60.
«All Series«
1967/11/06 TNS[x] from Merton Here are the proofs in haste. This is my afternoon to try to catch up with the mail. Doris [Doris Dana?] - visit to Lexington with John Jacob Niles / early December meeting with nuns «detailed view»
Series 1 #61.
«All Series«
1967/11/25 (#01) TAL[c] from Merton Thanks the buttons. I got an idea. For a change. What do you think about Kat getting into the possibility of Katallagete producing cryptic buttons - "Combat the Bloat" and "Read Kat", etc. «detailed view»
Series 1 #62.
«All Series«
1967/11/25 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Thanks the buttons. I got an idea. For a change. What do you think about Kat getting into the possibility of Katallagete producing cryptic buttons - "Combat the Bloat" and "Read Kat", etc. «detailed view»
Series 1 #63.
«All Series«
1967/11/28 HNS[x] from Merton The Styron book got here from Nashville today. Many thanks. Will get review to you early January «detailed view»
Series 1 #64.
«All Series«
1967/12/02 (#01) HNS[x] from Merton Here's a [indecipherable word] worked with Groppi and will do an article for Kat. Doris Dana to translate more of Mistral [Gabriela Mistral] / Ping Ferry article for Katallagete «detailed view»
Series 1 #65.
«All Series«
1967/12/02? (#02) TLS[x]  from Lyons, John, Br. / to Merton Greetings and all that! Well, I finally arrived back at Salvatorian Center after running around Will Campbell / article on Father Groppi for Katallagete / Sr. Therese [Sr. Thérèse Lentfoehr] «detailed view»
Series 1 #66.
«All Series«
1967/12/08 other[x]   Gethsemani's Abbot Fox Is Retiring [-] Abbot M. James Fox of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani [newspaper clipping] «detailed view»
Series 1 #67.
«All Series«
1968/01/10 TLS[x] from Merton I have finished my draft of the Nat Turner review and after it has been typed it will be on its way. article "Who Is Nat Turner?" / abbatial election (to replace Dom James Fox) «detailed view»
Series 1 #68.
«All Series«
1968/01/15 HNS[x] from Merton Here is Nat Turner. Hope it's ok. Snowed in for fair here! Still pretty tied up in January but [sent with "New Year's Letter 1968" mimeographed circular letter] «detailed view»
Series 1 #69.
«All Series«
1968/01/18 TL[x] to Merton The Styron piece is splendid: you've put the crux of the matter extremely well, and in short compass publishing Merton's piece "Who Is Nat Turner?" with article on the Black Power Movement in California by John Howard Griffin and an article by Ping Ferry / Leslie Dunbar of the Field Foundation wants to use Merton's "The Hot Summer of 1967" in annual report / Philip Berrigan to come to Cincinnati and Louisville «detailed view»
Series 1 #70.
«All Series«
1968/01/26 HNS[x] from Merton Best time to see you (and/or Will) would be for me sometime between Feb 12 and 25 (Sundays excluded) arranging a meeting regarding Phil [Philip Berrigan?] «detailed view»
Series 1 #71.
«All Series«
1968/02/12 TL[x] to Merton Sorry for the delay in responding to your note of the 26th. Will and I have been tied up in arrranging time to meet Merton February 17 «detailed view»
Series 1 #72.
«All Series«
1968/02/23 TN[x] to Merton Thaks for the Styron changes; no problem to include. We may have another week (and of Feb) to wait changes to "Who Is Nat Turner?" article «detailed view»
Series 1 #73.
«All Series«
1968/02/no? (#01) TLS[x] from Merton Just ran across some info which calls for an important change in the Nat Turner [no date, likely between Holloway's letters of February 12 and February 23, 1968] «detailed view»
Series 1 #74.
«All Series«
1968/02/no? (#02) other[x] from Merton WHO IS NAT TURNER? by Thomas Merton for Katallagete [-] January 1968 «detailed view»
Series 1 #75.
«All Series«
1968/03/15 TLS[x] from Merton Ping Ferry wrote that he might come "Friday or Saturday April 22 or 23rd" but the calendar doesn't «detailed view»
Series 1 #76.
«All Series«
1968/03/29 TLS[x] from Merton No problem about Friday April 26. Saturday is better but it makes no real difference at all, Ping Ferry's trip to Gethsemani to meet with Merton / Monks Pond / idea of issue of Katallagete on Jacques Ellul - suggests one on Herbert Marcuse / William Faulkner «detailed view»
Series 1 #77.
«All Series«
1968/04/02 TL[x] to Merton Thanks for the note. I think now we're set. As it now develops, I think it is better arrangements for a meeting at Gethsemani including Holloway and Ping Ferry in late April 1968 / Monks Pond / Daniel Berrigan and the trial of Philip Berrigan - possible trip to Kentucky / possibility of Herbert Marcuse article for issue of Katallagete featuring Jacques Ellul «detailed view»
Series 1 #78.
«All Series«
1968/04/21 TNS[x] from Merton Thanks for your note. I'll expect Ping. I don't think he'd object if you came along, but perhaps «detailed view»
Series 1 #79.
«All Series«
1968/05/16? HPCS[x] from Merton Your letter followed me out here. Have been busy at a convent north of here. Will be tied up [postcard from San Francisco - postmarked Santa Fe, NM, May 16, 1968] «detailed view»
Series 1 #80.
«All Series«
1968/07/31 TLS[x] from Merton It seems I haven't written you for a long time. Can it be that I owe you a letter since May? declining Holloway's invitation to write about the Kennedy assassination - Merton explaining that he had, for the time being, disengaged from politics - announces his trip to Asia later in 1968 for dialogue with Catholic religious and interfaith groups - possibility of re-engaging politics in the following year «detailed view»
Series 1 #81.
«All Series«
1968/08/30 TLS[x] from Merton I've an idea for that second article-- something about Moltmann's Theology of Hope. Jürgen Moltmann - Jacques Ellul's exegesis of common places / places Merton can be reached in California - Ping Ferry, etc. / possibilities for interfaith dialogue / Liturgical Conference «detailed view»
Series 1 #82.
«All Series«
1968/08/31 TL[x] to Merton Thanks for the note. Hadn't realized tht [sic] you were leaving Ky. so soon. And therefore not sure «detailed view»
Series 1 #83.
«All Series«
1968/09/06? HNS[x] from Merton Ok about Moltmann. Maybe I could do something on the Structuralists. Levi-Strauss, Lacan, etc. [no year - seems to be 1968] «detailed view»
Series 1 #84.
«All Series«
1968/09/09 TLS[x] from Meatyard, Ralph Eugene I have showings of various types of Art on the walls of my business establishment from month Meatyard's display of Merton "drawings, photographs, manuscripts, books, etc." in his business, Eyeglasses of Kentucky (in Lexington) «detailed view»
Series 1 #85.
«All Series«
1968/12/14 telegram[x] from Hart, Patrick FUNERAL MASS FOR FATHER MERTON TUESDAY DECEMBER 17TH 10 AM THIS TELEGRAM WILL ADMIT «detailed view»
Series 1 #86.
«All Series«
undated/01/05 HNS[x] from Merton Your letter did not reach me until yesterday - next week would be fine for me - to give you time, «detailed view»
Series 1 #87.
«All Series«
undated/02/22 HLS[x] from Merton Here is that article, finally. I hope it will be of some use. I have a feeling it will not please «detailed view»
Series 1 #88.
«All Series«
undated/05/04 HNS[x] from Merton Dan says he hopes to be over here with you next Monday. Everything fine - I expect you both «detailed view»
Series 1 #89.
«All Series«
undated/09/01 HNS[x] from Merton Here's the old guy in his Katallagete sweatshirt, registering satisfaction. Best, Tom. [sending a photo of Merton by Ralph Eugene Meatyard with his Katallagete sweatshirt - Campbell and Holloway had numbers 1 and 2 on their sweatshirts, and they gave Merton one with the infinity symbol (∞) on it] «detailed view»

Return to the top of the page.