MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Ellis, John Tracy, Msgr., 1905-1992
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Descriptive Summary
Record Group: Section A - Correspondence
Dates of materials: 1947-1984
Volume: 23 item(s); 39 pg(s)
Scope and Content
In this exchange of letters with a noted Catholic historian, Merton discusses the state of the pre-conciliar Church and his hopes for what may lie ahead. There is also a discussion of Merton's essays against war and nuclear proliferation. Ellis states he is not qualified to handle all of the theological ramifications, but provides some feedback.
Biography
In Monsignor John Tracy Ellis' biographical note in The Hidden Ground of Love, William H. Shannon states that "Ellis may well be called the dean of American Catholic historians (The Hidden Ground of Love, p. 174). He was professor at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., while in correspondence with Merton.
Usage Guidelines and Restrictions
Related Information and Links
See also Cold War Letters #6, #29, #53, #55, and other letters published in The Hidden Ground of Love, pp. 174-180.
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
| Series | Date | Type | To/From | First Lines | Pub | Full Text | Notes |
| | 1947/12/18 | TLS[x] | from Merton | Thank you for your kind and appreciative letter. The reference you want is: A.A.S. vol.xvi, n.10 | |
| |
| | 1961/10/10 | HLS[x] | from Merton | Dan Walsh passed on to me your articles, including the very kind review of the Seven Storey Mountain | Yes |
| |
| | 1961/12/07 (#01) | TLS[x] | from Merton | A quiet morning on the Vigil of Our Lady's Immaculate Conception gives me a few moments to answer | Yes |
| |
| | 1961/12/07 (#02) | transcript | from Merton | The thing that strikes me is that at a time where there are formidable and very basic issues | Yes |
| [Cold War Letters #6 - copy from bound set] |
| | 1961/12/20 | TLS | to Merton | Your interesting letter of December 7 with the enclosures came several days ago. I read both | |
| |
| | 1962/02/04 (#01) | TLS[x] | from Merton | One reason for my delay in replying to your very fine letter of Dec. 20th was that I passed it | Yes |
| |
| | 1962/02/04 (#02) | transcript | from Merton | One reason for my delay in replying to your very fine letter of Dec. 20th was that I passed it | Yes |
| [Cold War Letters #29 - copy from bound set] |
| | 1962/02/27 (#01) | TLS | to Merton | Your letter of February 4 was appreciated even if the long silence might indicate otherwise. I can | |
| [enclosed are reactions to Merton's articles on nuclear war] |
| | 1962/02/27 (#02) | other | to Merton | Here are merely some reflections from one who claims no special competence in the field of Father | |
| [reactions to Merton's articles on nuclear war - enclosed with 1962/02/27 letter] |
| | 1962/03/10 (#01) | TL[c] | from Merton | Thank you for your letter of the 27th of February and for the enclosed notes from your two | Yes |
| |
| | 1962/03/10 (#02) | transcript | from Merton | Thank you for your letter of the 27th of February and for the enclosed notes from your two | Yes |
| [Cold War Letters #53 - copy from bound set] |
| | 1962/03/19 (#01) | TLS[x] | from Merton | Many thanks for your kindness in sending me the editorial from the Washington Standard. | Yes |
| |
| | 1962/03/19 (#02) | transcript | from Merton | Many thanks for your kindness in sending me the editorial from the Washington Standard. | Yes |
| [Cold War Letters #55 - copy from bound set] |
| | 1971/02/08 | TLS[x] | to Center from Ellis, John Tracy | I am enclosing xerox copies of six letters of Father Louis which were written to me between December | |
| |
| | 1971/03/10 | TL[c] | from Center to Ellis, John Tracy | Thank you for sending the Merton letters to us. I read them with great interest, and I know they | |
| |
| | 1973/11/30 | TALS[x] | from Center to Ellis, John Tracy | Mr. Victor Kramer at Georgia State University has requested permission to look at your | |
| |
| | 1973/12/04 | TLS | to Center from Ellis, John Tracy | Mr. Kramer is quite at liberty to examine my correspondence with the late Father Merton. | |
| |
| | 1973/12/12 | TL[c] | from Treece, Raymond J. / to John Tracy Ellis | After my year's stint as acting president of Bellarmine College I have retired to half dozen jobs | |
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| | 1973/12/18 | TLS | to Center from Ellis, John Tracy | Only about three months ago I promised to leave my papers to the archives of the Catholic University | |
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| | 1984/04/06 | TLS[x] | from Shannon, William / to Anthony Zito | This is a follow-up of our conversation of this morning regarding the letters that Thomas Merton | |
| seeking copies of other letters written to Msgr Ellis by Merton |
| | 1984/04/13 | TLS | from Zito, Anthony / to William Shannon | In response to your letter of April 6, 1984, I must tell you that both the card index to the John | |
| no letters found and Msgr's memory is vague as to correspondence |
| | undated/no/no (#01) | other | | Ellis, John Tracy, b. Seneca, ILL, July 30, 1905. | |
| biographical information / source ? |
| | undated/no/no (#02) | other | | JOHN TRACY ELLIS | |
| biographical notes by x Wm. Shannon |
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