Merton's Correspondence with:

Virginia Vigrass

Vigrass, Virginia

Descriptive Summary

Record Group:	Section A - Correspondence
Dates of materials:	1963, 1967
Volume:	6 item(s); 11 pg(s)

Virginia Vigrass describes the challenges of teaching in a foreign country and the difficulties faced by the Palestinians. Merton expresses his sympathies for Arab Christians and Muslims suffering humanitarian crises; however, he worries about statements of hatred made against Jews and threats of the destruction of Israel. At the same time, he claims not to believe in Zionism nor that the United States should use Israel as a way to exert its influence over the Arab world.

Biography

Virginia Vigrass was a volunteer teacher at the Quakers' Friends Girls School in Ramallah, Jordan (currently in the West Bank of the Palestinian Territories). She was originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and had been in Ramallah for a year.

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Series List

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Container List

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#	Date	From/To	First Lines	Pub ✓	Notes
	y/m/d	Merton		Scan ✉
1.	1963/03/05	TALS to Merton	This is our most recent addition to the Friends School, the building here being opened this fall '62		«detailed view»
2.	1967/02/07	TALS to Merton	My thoughts are still continuing to develop on the recent topic which the British Council		[conscience matter] «detailed view»
3.	1967/02/11	TL[c] from Merton	I am very sorry for not answering you sooner. As a matter of fact I glanced at your "New		[conscience matter] «detailed view»
4.	1967/03/21	TL[c] from Merton	Your letter was written on the day when I went to the hospital for a minor operation (bursitis).		[conscience matter] «detailed view»
5.	1967/06/15	TL[c] from Merton	Yes, I know how you feel about the terrible mess in the Middle East. I did not get much information		«detailed view»
6.	1967/06/30	TL[c] from Merton	Thanks for your letters and further information on the Arab refugee question. I have been thinking		«detailed view»

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