The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University



Advanced Search 


Individual Series View, Merton's Correspondence with:

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


Series 21, Publishers' Correspondence: Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, Inc.; and Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Inc.


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 21 #1.
«All Series«		 1959/04/10 TLS from Giroux, Robert First of all, I want to apologize on behalf of this publishing house for the use of the youthful apologizing for using young photographs of Merton in The Secular Journal - Naomi Burton Stone's help in getting photographs «detailed view»
Series 21 #2.
«All Series«		 1960/10/10 TLS from Giroux, Robert As you know Father Louis's new book DISPUTED QUESTIONS was published on September 26th, asking how to distribute advance payment of $5,000 on book «detailed view»
Series 21 #3.
«All Series«		 1960/10/13 TALS[x] to Giroux, Robert We received your letter of October 10 in regard to good Father Louis' new book, DISPUTED QUESTIONS. perferred distribution of book advance payment / Merton and his delight in having Dan Walsh at Gethsemani teaching classes to young monks «detailed view»
Series 21 #4.
«All Series«		 1960/10/17 TLS from Giroux, Robert Thank you for your very good letter of October 13th, which arrived this morning. I am happy 50% advance on Disputed Questions «detailed view»
Series 21 #5.
«All Series«		 1960/10/20 TL[c] to Giroux, Robert We received your good letter of October 17 with its equally good enclosure. We are very happy Dan Walsh «detailed view»
Series 21 #6.
«All Series«		 1961/01/26 TALS from Giroux, Robert It is good to hear from you, and I was surprised and pleased to find as enclosures the letter Dan Walsh and Mrs. Hoguet's death / Dr. Tom Dooley's death, a Navy officer and medical doctor in Laos «detailed view»
Series 21 #7.
«All Series«		 1961/01/30 TALS[c] to Giroux, Robert We received your letter of January 26 in regard to Sister Teresita and Dom Benedict's novel. [verso of letter contains schedule for 1961 annual monastic retreat with Very Rev. Roger Mercurio, C.P., Rector of Louisville Passionist Monastery] Dan Walsh's lectures to Gethsemani community and to the Jesuits at West Baden, Indiana / end of the annual retreat - many of the monks ill with a dystentery amoeba, including Merton «detailed view»
Series 21 #8.
«All Series«		 1961/02/15 TALS[x] to Giroux, Robert The question of signing contracts has come up. Father Louis spoke to me about it. We talked it over, [verso of letter- spirit duplicator ditto of tasks assigned to novices by monstic name and duty] «detailed view»
Series 21 #9.
«All Series«		 1961/02/17 TLS from Giroux, Robert I'm sorry that there has been some misunderstanding on the handling of foreign rights. foreign rights - Curtis Brown, Ltd.; Burns and Oates in London; Albin Michel in Paris; Laurence Pollinger in London; Marie Tadié in Paris; Robert MacGregor and New Directions publishing / novel by Dom Benedict «detailed view»
Series 21 #10.
«All Series«		 1961/03/02 (#01) TALS[x] to Giroux, Robert We have your letter here of February 17 as yet unanswered. We looked up our files, and we notice foreign rights / novel by Dom Benedict «detailed view»
Series 21 #11.
«All Series«		 1961/03/02 (#02) TLS[x] from Bettencourt, Yolanda We have your letter here of February 17 as yet unanswered. We looked up our files, and we notice [from Yolanda Bettencourt, Editorial Department, Livraria AGIR Editora, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil] foreign rights and translation rights regarding Disputed Questions «detailed view»
Series 21 #12.
«All Series«		 1961/03/27 TALS[x] to Giroux, Robert We have received a letter, March 2, from Rio de Janeiro, from the publishing house of AGIR. regarding Livraria AGIR Editora, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - foreign rights and translation rights regarding Disputed Questions / Marie Tadié and French rights «detailed view»
Series 21 #13.
«All Series«		 1961/04/14 (#01) TLS from Giroux, Robert The situation on the foreign rights for the books we have under contract (DISPUTED QUESTIONS, [see item #2 of this date for a note by Merton on envelope of letter] regarding Livraria AGIR Editora, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - foreign rights and translation rights regarding Disputed Questions / Marie Tadié and French rights - Burns and Oates in England - Garzanti in Italy «detailed view»
Series 21 #14.
«All Series«		 1961/04/14 (#02) HLS from Merton It looks ok.- if you countersign there is no problem is there? Agir did one book of mine, I forget [note by Merton on envelope of letter (item #1 of the same date)] «detailed view»
Series 21 #15.
«All Series«		 1961/05/01 TALS[x] from Merton We received your letter of April 14. Please pardon the delay in answering it. Yes, we feel that we regarding Livraria AGIR Editora, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - foreign rights and translation rights regarding Disputed Questions / Marie Tadié and French rights / Dan Walsh «detailed view»
Series 21 #16.
«All Series«		 1961/05/19 TALS[x] from Merton Several months we had written you in regard to the novel of the Carthusian Monk, Don Benedict M. novel by Carthusian monk, ["The Search for Happiness"], Dom Benedict M. Lambres of Chartreuse de la Valsainte in Switzerland, translated by Sr. Teresita «detailed view»
Series 21 #17.
«All Series«		 1961/09/01 TLS from Giroux, Robert First of all, a point of business: under our contract for THE NEW MAN, Father Louis' book which is advance payment on The New Man - royalties for Disputed Questions, The Living Bread, Thoughts in Solitude, and The Silent Life / novel by Carthusian monk, ["The Search for Happiness"], Dom Benedict M. Lambres of Chartreuse de la Valsainte in Switzerland «detailed view»
Series 21 #18.
«All Series«		 1961/09/06 TL[c] to Giroux, Robert We received your gracious letter of September 1. In your second paragraph, dear Bob, you state there advance payment on The New Man / novel by Carthusian monk, ["The Search for Happiness"], Dom Benedict M. Lambres of Chartreuse de la Valsainte in Switzerland / Merton on the hermit life, teaching ascetical and mystical theology, and hosting a native of Tibet, Orthodox priest, Methodist and Baptist ministers / Dan Walsh «detailed view»
Series 21 #19.
«All Series«		 1961/09/29 TLS from Giroux, Robert In addition to the regular royalty check for DISPUTED QUESTIONS in the amount of $729.31, advance payment on The New Man and royalty payment for Disputed Questions «detailed view»
Series 21 #20.
«All Series«		 1961/11/20 TALS[x] to Giroux, Robert Did I ever acknowledge your gracious letter of September 29? If not, I want to do so now. advance payment on The New Man and royalty payment for Disputed Questions / thanks for Giroux having sent A Memoir of Mary Ann and Ed Rice's The Church / Dan Walsh «detailed view»
Series 21 #21.
«All Series«		 1963/09/06 TALS[x]  from Giroux, Robert / to Merton I always seem to be away when important letters come. This time I was brought low by a bad virus Macmillan, book rights, and conflict - Naomi Burton Stone «detailed view»
Series 21 #22.
«All Series«		 1964/03/21 TALS[x] to Giroux, Robert As you know from Father Louis, we are having difficulties in getting things straightened out difficulties in working out book and censorship relationship with Dom Ignace Gillet, who had recently become Abbot General of the Trappists / what to include or exclude from the book Seeds of Destruction «detailed view»
Series 21 #23.
«All Series«		 1964/08/24 TALS[c] to Giroux, Robert Congratulations and prayerful felicitations on the wonderful news! We are all delighted, indeed-- new title Seeds of Destruction - Imprimi Potest and plans to publish in January 1965 / New Directions and Clement of Alexandria - use Seeds of Destruction in a similar fashion as Christmas gifts to friends «detailed view»
Series 21 #24.
«All Series«		 1964/08/28 TLS from Giroux, Robert Many, many thanks for your kind and thoughtful letter of congratulations. I am all the more pleased Flannery O'Connor's death - friend of Giroux - once visited the Trappists at Conyers, Georgia / new title Seeds of Destruction - Imprimi Potest and plans to publish in January 1965 / New Directions and Clement of Alexandria - use Seeds of Destruction in a similar fashion as Christmas gifts to friends «detailed view»
Series 21 #25.
«All Series«		 1964/11/10 TLS from Giroux, Robert It was good to have your letter of November fifth. I have just been told that copies of SEEDS OF Flannery O'Connor's death and Merton's tribute to her in Jubilee - release posthumously of Everything that Rises Must Converge (connection to Pierre Teilhard de Chardin) - visit to Trappists at Conyers, Georgia - Fr. Paul Bourne / Seeds of Destruction release dates «detailed view»
Series 21 #26.
«All Series«		 1965/01/15 TLS from Giroux, Robert As you know, our contract stipulates that we pay the advance on the new book by Father Louis, SEEDS death of T.S. Eliot on January 4 / Seeds of Destruction royalties released "on demand" as copies sell - selected by Catholic Book Club of New York and Catholic Literary Foundation of Milwaukee «detailed view»
Series 21 #27.
«All Series«		 1965/01/19 TALS[x] to Giroux, Robert I just received your letter of January 15 with the enclosed check for the advance on the new book by death of T.S. Eliot on January 4 / Seeds of Destruction release - selected by Catholic Book Club of New York and Catholic Literary Foundation of Milwaukee «detailed view»
Series 21 #28.
«All Series«		 1965/08/18 TALS[x] to Giroux, Robert Good Father Louis passed on to me the enclosed letter in regard to the five-book contract signed five-book contract for Merton's books signed in 1960 - Mystics and Zen Masters to replace Art and Worship «detailed view»
Series 21 #29.
«All Series«		 1965/08/19 TALS[x] to Giroux, Robert I should have enclosed this letter from the Diocese of Tucson Register, in regard to review Seasons of Celebration as Christmas gift «detailed view»
Series 21 #30.
«All Series«		 1965/10/25 TLS from Giroux, Robert I have just sent you a copy of SEASONS OF CELEBRATION, Father Louis's new book, by separate cover. «detailed view»
Series 21 #31.
«All Series«		 1965/10/30 TALS[x] to Giroux, Robert Many thanks for your gracious note of October 25 with the enclosed copies of the leaflet from Seasons of Celebration for the Christmas gift copies «detailed view»
Series 21 #32.
«All Series«		 1967/01/27 TLS from Giroux, Robert I told you I would let you know when the imprimatur came in for MYSTICS AND ZEN MASTERS, Imprimatur received for Mystics and Zen Masters «detailed view»
Series 21 #33.
«All Series«		 1967/02/03 TALS[x] to Giroux, Robert I received your charming note of January 27. We are so happy to know that the imprimatur has been Imprimatur for Mystics and Zen Masters «detailed view»
Series 21 #34.
«All Series«		 1967/04/07 TALS[x] to Giroux, Robert We received your charming copy of Father Louis' new book "Mystics and Zen Masters". Fox relating that Merton had complained about his photo being used on the dust jacket of Mystics and Zen Masters - Fox asks that Giroux check with him in the future «detailed view»

Return to the top of the page.

The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University | 2001 Newburg Rd, Louisville KY, 40205 | 502-272-8177 or 8187

Copyright © The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University. All rights reserved.
Photographs copyright of the Merton Legacy Trust. Not to be used without written permission.