The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Smith, Carleton, 1910-1984

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1967, 1983

Volume: 23 item(s); 26 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Merton discusses the issue of Catholic dialogue with those outside of the Church.

Biography

Carleton Smith was a close friend of Cardinal Koenig, Archbishop of Vienna and head of the Secretariat for Non-Believers. The cardinal made a delegation to the United States in 1967 for the secretariat, which occasioned Smith to visit Gethsemani twice to dialogue about this dialogue with non-believers and other issues. Merton became godfather to Smith's son, Raphael, and corresponded with his wife, Anne. An authority on art, he founded as served as chairman of both the National Arts Foundation of New York and the International Awards Foundation. In his varied career, he served as music editor for Esquire and recorded folk songs from around the world. (Source: The Hidden Ground of Love, p. 556.)

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See published letters from Merton to Carleton Smith in The Hidden Ground of Love, pp. 556-559; and see also the "Smith, Anne" file.

Other Finding Aids

If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
   

Series List

This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.

Container List

SeriesDateTypeTo/FromFirst LinesPubFull TextNotes
 1967/03/29 (#01)TALSto MertonOur friend, Caroline Hammer, has forwarded to me your letter to her dated March 23rd and has  [see 1967/03/29[2] for Merton's reply on the same page of letter]
 1967/03/29 (#02)telegramfrom MertonGLAD TO SEE YOU MORNING OF APRIL 4th IF YOU RENT CAR COME TO ABBEY ABOUT 9:30  [handwritten reply note to be sent via telegram on Smith's letter]
 1967/04/05 HLSto MertonIt was a lasting pleasure to talk with you yesterday - and I look forward to your thoughts   
 1967/04/09 TL[c]from MertonIn regard to the visit of Cardinal Koenig to this country as head of the SecretariateYes  
 1967/04/28 TL[c]from MertonMany thanks for your notes and clippings. I appreciate the latter and was especially interestedYes  
 1967/05/08 TALSto MertonThanks for the essay on "Christian Humanism" which says so much that needs saying. Do you have   
 1967/05/14 TL[c]from MertonThanks for your kind letter of the 8th. As a matter of fact I have not yet got around to doing   
 1967/05/14 (#01)HLSto MertonIf you do not receive book about Niels Bohr from Knopf please tell me (next time we are together   
 1967/05/14 (#02)otherto MertonPRIESTS POLLED ON CELIBACY VOW [-] Catholic Group Asks Views of 7,000 in This Area  [newspaper clipping about priestly celibacy, which quotes priest from the New York City area, and mentions Merton as a member of the National Association for Pastoral Renewal and lists Merton as part of the advisory board - article dated 1967/05/16, so it may not be the clipping sent, which seems to have been on Vietnam]
 1967/05/29 TL[c]from MertonHave I yet thanked you for the book on Niels Bohr? It has arrived and I am enjoying it immensely.   
 1967/07/20 HPCSto MertonI read of Victor's death in Vienna papers. Had a long talk yesterday with Cardian König who hopes  [verso: postcard of statues above an altar in Vienna, Austria]
 1967/08/15 HNSto MertonCardinal König will come by ship - go to Toronto to give a talk on the Theology of Communications   
 1967/08/20 TL[c]from MertonI have your note from Paris. I suppose you know of the refusal of permission for me to come eastYes  
 1967/08/31 TL[c]from MertonI am deeply distressed for you. Life can certainly be very cruel indeed sometimes. The story you   
 1967/11/06 TL[c]from MertonI have your letter of October 30th and want to tell you I have also been in touch with Anne   
 1967/11/24 TL[c]from MertonI am sorry I did not answer your letter earlier, but things have been very crowded here, and though  [conscience matter]
 1967/12/12 TL[c]from MertonThanks for your recent letter and for the photograph of little Raphael. It is really touching,   
 1983/01/24 TLS[x] from Shannon, William / to Francis Cardinal KoenigI am a priest of the diocese of Rochester, New York and a professor at Nazareth College.  seeking the address of Mr. Smith
 1983/02/07 TLS from Grabenwoger, Franz / to William ShannonOn behalf of His Eminence I thank you for your letter of January 24.  address of Mr. Smith
 1983/02/16 TLS[x] from Shannon, William / to Carleton SmithI have recently been appointed as the general editor of the Thomas Merton letters - which, hopefully  seeking approval to include letters, brief biographical information
 1983/03/14 TLS from Smith, Carleton / to William ShannonThank you for your letter of February 16, Of course, you have my approval to include all letters  encloses two photographs to be returned, also a biographical sketch from Who's Who in America and a clipping from a local newspaper
 1983/03/22 TLS[x] from Shannon, William / to Carleton SmithThank you for your kind letter of March 14 and for your approval of my including the Merton letters  information for making contact / thanks for pictures
 1983/04/23 TLS[x] from Shannon, William / to Carleton SmithUnder separate cover I am returning the two photographs of Merton you sent to me. I especially  also sending copies of letters with places indicated where he has questions
        

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