Thomas Merton Center - Classification and Finding Aids

B.1: Books and Pamphlets by Thomas Merton

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

Arrangement of books by Merton is by title.

Locations

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

Volume

104.5 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

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

Arrangement of books with contributions by Merton is by author.

Locations

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

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

17.5 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

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., it does not include autobiographical materials but certainly includes 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

Arrangement of books about Merton is by author.

Locations

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

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

36.5 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

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

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

Locations

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

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

8 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

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

Arrangement of ancillary books is by author.

Locations

Archive - Stack 2

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

15 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

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

Arrangement of the marginalia section is by author.

Locations

Family Room - Case 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

25 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

SECTION C: Books and Pamphlets - Manuscript Material (click to expand)

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

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.

Finding Aids

Index to Notebooks: Sorted by Names and Subjects

Index to Notebooks: Sorted by Date

Index to Notebooks: Sorted by Journal Number

Locations

Archive - File Cabinet 5

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

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.

Finding Aids

Listing of manuscripts by Thomas Merton at the Merton Center

Locations

Archive - Stack 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

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.

Finding Aids

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

Locations

Archive - Stack 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

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

Arrangement of dissertations is by author.

Finding Aids

Indexes to theses and dissertations about or with substantial reference to Merton

Locations

Reading Room - Bays 5-6

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

19 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

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.

Finding Aids

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

Locations

Archive - Stack 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

17 cubic feet; 17 boxes

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

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes publishing contracts for 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.

Arrangement

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.

Finding Aids

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

Locations

Archive - Stack 2

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

1.5 cubic feet; 3 boxes

SECTION D: Opuscula - Published Material (click to expand)

D.1: Articles and Essays by Thomas Merton

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes published articles and essays 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

Arrangement of published articles and essays is by title.

Locations

Archive - File Cabinets 7-8

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

17.5 linear feet; 7 drawers

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

Scope and Content

No description available at this time.

Arrangement

No description available at this time.

Locations

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.

Volume

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.

Arrangement

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

Locations

Archive - File Cabinet 8

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

1.25 linear feet; 1/2 drawer

Cataloged Holdings

All published works of poetry by Merton

Collected Poems
(one volume with all included in prior link except those in Eighteen Poems)

Eighteen Poems

D.4: Articles and Essays 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

Arrangement of essays about Merton is by author.

Locations

Archive - Stack 5

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

59.25 cubic feet; 79 boxes

Cataloged Holdings (new page): listed under the call number Merton Collection (Archive - D4a-z) and filed by author's last name. So for an essay by Paul Bernadicou, look under "Archive - D4b".

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.

Arrangement

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.

Locations

Reading Room - Bay 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

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

Arrangement of Nelson's compilation of essays is chronological.

Locations

Reading Room - Bay 1

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

2.5 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

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

Scope and Content

No description available at this time.

Arrangement

No description available at this time.

Locations

Archive - Stack 3

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

4 boxes

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

D.8: Newspaper Clippings File

Scope and Content

No description available at this time.

Arrangement

No description available at this time.

Locations

Archive - Stack 3-4

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

5 boxes

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

SECTION E: Opuscula - Manuscript Material (click to expand)

SECTION F: Art Works and Audio-Visual Material (click to expand)

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".

Arrangement

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

Locations

Archive - File Cabinet 14
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.

Volume

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.

Arrangement

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

Finding Aids

No description available at this time.

Locations

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.

Volume

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.

Arrangement

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

Locations

Archive - File Cabinet 5

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

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

Volume

.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.

Locations

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.

Volume

.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.

Locations

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.

Volume

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".

Arrangement

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.

Finding Aids

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

Locations

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.

Volume

18 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

Holdings listed as Archive - Audio (all formats)
Holdings listed as cataloged as sound recordings related to Merton (all formats)
Holdings cataloged as "Spoken Record" sound recordings related to Merton (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".

Arrangement

Most of the cassette tapes are arranged in a sequential numbering scheme that is described in the finding aid listed below. Titles published by Credence Cassettes have their own sequence.

Finding Aids

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

Locations

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.

Volume

53.5 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

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".

Arrangement

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 alphabetically.

Finding Aids

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

Locations

Archive - Cassette 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.

Volume

10.5 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

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.

Locations

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.

Volume

.3 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings

Laudate Dominum: Gregorian Chant by Gethsemani with program notes by Merton

Psalmus Humanus and Six Prayers: text written and spoken by Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, music for piano performed by Agi Jambor

The Harvard Vocarum Records: Merton's poems read by Robert Speaight

The poems of Thomas Merton read by Richard Gray (copy transferred to Compact Disk)

The Listeners: selections from the Nile-Merton Cycle

F.6: Videotapes

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section includes videotapes about Merton, quoting or mentioning Merton, about Gethsemani Abbey, and concerning other topics related to Merton. Most are VHS tapes, 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

Arrangement of videotapes is by title.

Locations

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.

Volume

6 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

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.

Locations

Archive - Stack 4

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

.33 cubic foot; 1 box

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

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.

Locations

Archive - Stack 1

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

.1 linear feet

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

SECTION G: Miscellaneous Material (click to expand)

G.1: Miscellaneous Printed Material

Scope and Content

No description available at this time.

Arrangement

No description available at this time.

Locations

Archive - File Cabinets 7-8

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

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.

Locations

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.

Arrangement

No description available at this time.

Locations

Archive - Stack 5

Volume

7 cubic feet; 14 boxes

G.4: Merton Seasonal

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

Arrangement of The Merton Seasonal is chronological.

Finding Aids

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

Locations

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

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

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

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

The Merton Seasonal
The Merton Annual
The Merton Journal

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.

Locations

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.

Locations

Archive - Stack 3
Family Room

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

2 cubic feet

Cataloged Holdings (new page)

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.

Locations

Archive - Stack 1

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

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

Volume

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 (new page)

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.

Locations

Archive - Stack 2

H.6: Daggy Personal Papers

Scope and Content

No description available at this time.

Locations

Archive - Stack 4

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Volume

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).

Locations

Archive - Stack 4

Volume

2.5 cubic feet; 3 boxes

H.8: Shannon Correspondence Files

Scope and Content

This Sub-Section contains working notes and pieces of correspondence compiled by William H. Shannon in the publication of some of Merton's correspondence. The correspondence is mostly duplicates of pieces from the Merton Center's collection (Section A); however, some are copies obtained from other collections or from correspondents themselves. Shannon's files are in process of being compared to and integrated with the main section of correspondence in the collection. Duplicate copies existing in the Merton collection will be purged, and items not in the collection will be added to the correspondents file.

Arrangement

This Section is arranged primarily by the name (last, first) of the person corresponding with Merton. Within each correspondent'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.

Finding Aids

List of Correspondents (new page)
As Shannon's files are integrated, they will be added to this list.

Locations

Archive - File Cabinet 11

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 correspondent has expressly restricted such access in writing. They must not however be copied, quoted, published, or reprinted without the written permission of the correspondent or the correspondent's heir (Form C).

Volume

10 cubic feet; 4 drawers

H.9: James Laughlin Trust Papers

Scope and Content

No description available at this time.

Locations

Archive - File Cabinet 9

Volume

10 cubic feet; 4 drawers

H.10: Dan Walsh Papers

Scope and Content

No description available at this time.

Arrangement

No description available at this time.

Locations

Archive - File Cabinet 10

Volume

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 Merton correspondents; 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.

Arrangement

Files are loosely arranged by subject of file folder.

Finding Aids

Click here for a finding aid for this collection.

Classification and Links to Finding Aids

Merton Corpus and Bellarmine Merton Collection

BELLARMINE LIBRARY CATALOG (click to expand)

SECTION A: Correspondence (click to expand)

SECTION B: Books and Pamphlets - Published Materials (click to expand)

SECTION C: Books and Pamphlets - Manuscript Material (click to expand)

SECTION D: Opuscula - Published Material (click to expand)

SECTION E: Opuscula - Manuscript Material (click to expand)

SECTION F: Art Works and Audio-Visual Material (click to expand)

SECTION G: Miscellaneous Material (click to expand)

SECTION H: Related Merton Collections (click to expand)