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Individual Series View, Merton's Correspondence with:

Fox, James, Dom, O.C.S.O., 1896-1987


Series 9, Special Merton File: Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Abbot General Gabriel Sortais


Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence
Dates of materials: 1948-1969
Volume: 949 item(s); 1432 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Herein is a large collection of letters spanning most of Merton's time at Gethsemani. Letters between Fox and Merton concern Merton's vocation to the monastery, his constant desires for greater solitude, thoughts about leaving Gethsemani and joining the

Biography

Dom James Fox came to Gethsemani in 1927. He was serving as guestmaster when Merton's younger brother, John Paul, visited the monastery, and Fox made arrangements for John Paul's baptism. In 1948, Fox was elected abbot after the death of Dom Frederic Du

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

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

Related Information and Links

See also published letters from Merton to Fox in The School of Charity and

Series List

Series NumberSeries NameTotal Records
1 Correspondence from original Merton papers (some later additions): Dom James Fox with Merton, Fr. Charles Dumont, Edward Glenn Hinson, Msgr. Alfred Frederick Horrigan, Fr. Giovanni Montini, James Morrissey, Naomi Burton Stone, etc. 93
2 Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with the Abbot of Melleray, Dom Louis de Gonzague Le Pennuen. 21
3 Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with the Abbot of Melleray, Dom Colomban Bissey. 6
4 Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with Abbot General Dominique Noques. 4
5 Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with Abbot General Gabriel Sortais. 202
6 Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with Abbot General Ignace Gillet. 38
7 Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Merton: Special Binding (Archive - Stack 5). 101
8 Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Marie Tadié: (see "Tadié, Marie" file for all physical holdings). 153
9 Special Merton File: Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Abbot General Gabriel Sortais 30
10 Special Merton File: Notes concerning Merton's relationship with "M," from folder labeled "Clyde" 1
11 Special Merton File: Correspondence between Fox and Fr. John Eudes Bamberger concerning a biography of Merton, from folder labeled "Clyde" 2
12 Special Merton File: Correspondence concerning French translator Marie Tadié's grievance with Gethsemani after Merton's death, from folder labeled "Clyde" 6
13 Special Merton File: Correspondence between Dom James Fox and the Sacred Congregation for Religious at the Vatican, earlier with Arcadio Cardinal Larraona and then with Archbishop Paul (later Cardinal) Philippe 6
14 Special Merton File: Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Monsignor Loris Francesco Capovilla, Secretary to Pope John XXIII 5
15 Special Merton File: Correspondence with Fr. Heinrich Dumoulin, S.J., Sophia University in Japan, regarding Merton studying Zen and proposed trip to Japan 4
16 Special Merton File: Correspondence with Archbishop Giovanni Montini (later Pope Paul VI) 7
17 Special Merton File: Correspondence with Fr. Riccardo Lombardi, S.J. 18
18 Special Merton File: Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Abbot General Ignace Gillet, regarding Merton as novice master, studying Zen and proposed trip to Japan 4
19 Naomi Burton Stone, Doubleday, Inc. (earlier correspondence with Fox can be found in the "Curtis Brown, Ltd." file and in Series 1 of this file) 102
20 Publishers' Correspondence: Herder and Herder, Inc. 18
21 Publishers' Correspondence: Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, Inc.; and Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Inc. 34
22 Publishers' Correspondence: New Directions 38
23 Publishers' Correspondence: Foreign Rights 2
24 Merton Publicity File: Correspondence with film makers, book clubs, radio stations, etc. 21
25 Curtis Brown, Ltd. [See "Curtis Brown" file in Section A, correspondence from 1963 continues with Series 19 in this file] 1
26 Correspondence between Gregory Zilboorg and James Fox from Gethsemani Archives 22
27 Correspondence with Bishop Matthew A. Niedhammer, OFM Cap., Apostolic Vicar of Bluefields, Nicaragua, regarding Merton's character 3
28 Correspondence with Bishop James Peter Davis of San Juan, Puerto Rico, regarding Merton's character 3
29 Special File of Dom James on Thomas Merton, 70 Numbered Entries (click here) 1
30 Correspondence with Dom Baldwin Dworschak, O.S.B., Abbot of Saint John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota 3

Container List

Series#DateFrom/ToFirst LinesPub ✓Notes
 y/m/dMerton Scan ✉ 
Series 9 #1.
«All Series«		 1953/01/29 TL[c]  from Merton to Barnabas Ahern Thank you for your letter of clarification; for, yes, I was concerned. Your confidence is [transcript copy of a letter from Fr. Barnabas Ahern to Merton (see Ahern correspondence file for original), copy likely sent from Fox to Sortais] criticizes Merton's idea of becoming a hermit / suggests a year-long sabbatical doing the work of a Trappist / recommends Dialogues of St. Catherine of Siena «detailed view»
Series 9 #2.
«All Series«		 1955/03/06 TLS from Sortais, Gabriel Vos lettres du 21 et du 28 me sont bien arrivées, et je vous remercie du soin que vous prenez «detailed view»
Series 9 #3.
«All Series«		 1955/03/16 (#03) TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel We are writing this separately, in regard to good Father Louis. He is not as cheerful [see also letter of the same date in Series 3 to Sortais] «detailed view»
Series 9 #4.
«All Series«		 1955/03/28 (#02) TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel Good Father Louis was in to speak with us. He always is quite open. At the present moment now «detailed view»
Series 9 #5.
«All Series«		 1955/04/02 TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel We are writing in regard to the book "Silence in Heaven," for which Father Louis has written «detailed view»
Series 9 #6.
«All Series«		 1955/05/17 TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel We are writing to you in regard to Father Louis. As you know, we had the visitation, which ended «detailed view»
Series 9 #7.
«All Series«		 1955/05/25 TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel We are trying to keep you informed about good Father Louis and his difficulties, so you can have «detailed view»
Series 9 #8.
«All Series«		 1955/06/30 (#02) TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel We intended to write a longer letter, but the preparations for establishing the foundation in [see similar letter (Xerox) from Series 2 in this file to Dom Louis de Gonzague Le Pennuen, Abbot of Melleray] «detailed view»
Series 9 #9.
«All Series«		 1955/10/18 TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel As we mentioned in our previous letter, we are writing in regard to our good Father Louis, in whom ✓ «detailed view»
Series 9 #10.
«All Series«		 1956/09/04 TL to Sortais, Gabriel We thought it well to write somewhat at length about good Father Louis in this way--separately. «detailed view»
Series 9 #11.
«All Series«		 1956/11/07 (#01) TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel Good Father Paulinus, who had the dreams of India and used to write to you and Dom Louis typing [encloses eight copied letters (the following # 2-9) concerning Merton - most are quite faded, and some have been transcribed] «detailed view»
Series 9 #12.
«All Series«		 1956/11/07 (#02) TLS[x] from Zilboorg, Gregory Your letter is more deeply appreciated than you will ever know. Your directness, and simplicity [enclosed with 1956/November/07 letter from Fox to Sortais - letter originally dated 1956/September/10 to Merton from psychiatrist Dr. Gregory Zilboorg (see original in Series 26 - and see also Zilboorg correspondence file)] «detailed view»
Series 9 #13.
«All Series«		 1956/11/07 (#03) TL[x]  from Merton to Gregory Zilboorg Your letter was less of a surprise to me than it was to Father Abbot. I rather sensed this would be [enclosed with 1956/November/07 letter from Fox to Sortais - letter originally dated 1956/September/14 from Merton to psychiatrist Dr. Gregory Zilboorg (see also his correspondence file)] «detailed view»
Series 9 #14.
«All Series«		 1956/11/07 (#04) TLS[x]  from Merton to Gregory Zilboorg Your letter was less of a surprise to me than it was to Father Abbot. I rather sensed this would be [enclosed with 1956/November/07 letter from Fox to Sortais - letter originally dated 1956/September/20 from Merton to psychiatrist Dr. Gregory Zilboorg (see original in Series 26 - and see also Zilboorg correspondence file)] «detailed view»
Series 9 #15.
«All Series«		 1956/11/07 (#05) TAL[x]  from Merton to Angélico Surchamp Your letter was less of a surprise to me than it was to Father Abbot. I rather sensed this would be [enclosed with 1956/November/07 letter from Fox to Sortais - letter originally dated 1956/September/24 from Merton to Dom Angélico Surchamp (see also his correspondence file)] «detailed view»
Series 9 #16.
«All Series«		 1956/11/07 (#06) TLS[x]  from Merton to Claude Jean-Nesmy Il y a longtemps que je ne vous ai pas ecrit-- et que je n'ai rien entendu de vous, ce qui est [enclosed with 1956/November/07 letter from Fox to Sortais - letter originally dated 1956/September/24 from Merton to Dom Claude Jean-Nesmy (see also his correspondence file)] «detailed view»
Series 9 #17.
«All Series«		 1956/11/07 (#07) TLS[x]  from Merton to Therese Lentoehr Some time ago I obtained permission to write for your feast day, and have been waiting to do so ✓ [enclosed with 1956/November/07 letter from Fox to Sortais - letter originally dated 1956/September/25 from Merton to Sr. Therese Lentfoehr (see also her correspondence file)] «detailed view»
Series 9 #18.
«All Series«		 1956/11/07 (#08) TLS[x]  from Merton to Robert Giroux The pictures are very fine. I like the layouts very much and think the whole thing will be splendid [enclosed with 1956/November/07 letter from Fox to Sortais - letter originally dated 1956/October/04 (day could be 14 or 24 - quite faded) from Merton to Bob Giroux, his editor and publisher (see also his correspondence file)] «detailed view»
Series 9 #19.
«All Series«		 1956/11/07 (#09) TLS[x] from Merton Father Abbot returned from New York with the pleasant news that we might expect you down here [enclosed with 1956/November/07 letter from Fox to Sortais - letter originally dated 1956/October/09 from Merton to psychiatrist Dr. Gregory Zilboorg (see also Zilboorg correspondence file)] «detailed view»
Series 9 #20.
«All Series«		 1958/01/18 transcript  from Merton to Zilboorg, Gregory "For my own part, I think this year has been a very happy one, if by happiness one can understand [titled: "Extracts from a letter to Gregory Zilboorg Jan. 18, 1958"] «detailed view»
Series 9 #21.
«All Series«		 1958/08/05 TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel We know you are always interested in the affairs of Gethsemani. Knowing this, we are sending you «detailed view»
Series 9 #22.
«All Series«		 1958/08/12 TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel Re: The genesis of good Father Louis' latest "dream-project". We made our fifth foundation «detailed view»
Series 9 #23.
«All Series«		 1959/08/03 TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel I want to acknowledge your letter of July 18. It was in regard to the remarks of the censor «detailed view»
Series 9 #24.
«All Series«		 1959/08/31 (#02) TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel In regard to our good Father Louis, perhaps you may be wondering what has become of him-- «detailed view»
Series 9 #25.
«All Series«		 1959/08/no? TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel I am writing you on a separate sheet about another matter-- our good Father Louis. [no date but likely August or September of 1959 from context and sent with another letter to Sortais] «detailed view»
Series 9 #26.
«All Series«		 1959/11/08 TLS from Sortais, Gabriel Hier, le R.P. dom Déodat, qui fait fonction de Procureur Généal, m'a remis, en revenant de la S. «detailed view»
Series 9 #27.
«All Series«		 1959/12/09 (#01) TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel You probably have thought I must have fallen into the Atlantic Ocean and been eaten up «detailed view»
Series 9 #28.
«All Series«		 1959/12/09 (#02) TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel Father Louis has rewritten some of his former notes and brought together under the title «detailed view»
Series 9 #29.
«All Series«		 1959/12/09 (#03) TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel + MEMORANDUM RE: Fr. L. Good Father L. was utterly surprised by my sudden departure for Europe «detailed view»
Series 9 #30.
«All Series«		 1959/12/23 (#02) TL[c] to Sortais, Gabriel + RE: Fr. L. During my absence at the Abbatial Blessing at New Clairvaux, good Father Louis «detailed view»

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