The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Hocks, Paula, 1916-2003

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1962-1968, 1992

Volume: 50 item(s); 61 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Biography

Paula Hocks was later known as a photographer and book artist. At the time of correspondence with Merton, she had spent time interacting with the Trappist nuns at Redwoods Monastery and was on faculty at University of California at San Diego in La Jolla. Merton was encouraging her interest in sacred art. Before she had established herself as an artist, she had offered to do typing for Merton. She became Editor of a small poetry magazine at UCSD while teaching in the Philosophy Department. She would later move to Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See also the Paula Hocks Papers at University of New Mexico.

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
 1962/10/23 TLS[x]from MertonPlease forgive me for not answering your letter. Your postcard reminded me of it today, I mean   
 1963/05/16 TLS[x]from MertonThe Lord alone knows how badly I need secretarial help. But I just don't see how the correspondence   
 1963/11/22 (#01)TL[c]from MertonFirst of all, here is the manuscript that I said I would send for you to type. Most of it is fairly   
 1963/11/22 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonFirst of all, here is the manuscript that I said I would send for you to type. Most of it is fairly   
 1964/01/16 HLSto MertonYour last letter gave me great consolation during my illness. I have been shut in for a month -   
 1964/03/14 (#01)TAL[c]from MertonThanks for the wonderful news. I rejoice with you and congratulate you. Lent is the right time for   
 1964/03/14 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonThanks for the wonderful news. I rejoice with you and congratulate you. Lent is the right time for   
 1964/04/08 TLS[x]from MertonI have still not been able to get to work on the ms of that book but here is a small job, which   
 1964/07/20 HNS[x]from MertonThanks for your notes and news. I think of you often but don't have time to write a decent letter.   
 1965/02/01 (#01)TL[c]from MertonThanks for your note. Here is the ms for typing. It is not much, but there will be something else   
 1965/02/01 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonThanks for your note. Here is the ms for typing. It is not much, but there will be something else   
 1966/08/17 TANS[x]from MertonI am always glad to hear from you. If I don't always answer it is because I can't keep up.   
 1966/09/04 (#01)HLSto Merton"After the days and the seasons..." once more she presents herself at your door - the peculiar   
 1966/09/04 (#02)otherto MertonA boy [-] A thief [-] An urchin [-] the bitter bells [-] hold harbor here. No heart  [poem by Hocks]
 1966/12/25 TALS[x]from MertonSorry, I have just had to give up any hope of answering most of my Christmas mail personally.  [labeled "Christmas Morning"]
 1967/01/17 TLS[x]from MertonHere is a ms to be typed. The usual, for publication, and with four carbons if possible.   
 1967/01/31 other Abbey of Gethsemani [-] Typing of manuscript - 26 pages @ .30 ea. [-] <u>$ 7.80</u> [-] thank you.   
 1967/02/14 TLS[x]from MertonThe ms arrived yesterday. Many thanks. You did a very good job, much better than anything I could   
 1967/04/17 (#01)TL[c]from MertonI would have got this to you before but it is rather a major and delicate operation to scrounge   
 1967/04/17 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonI would have got this to you before but it is rather a major and delicate operation to scrounge   
 1967/08/15 TNS[x]from MertonGood to get your note. I think your decision to go on working for the University is very wise.   
 1967/09/07 (#01)TL[c]from MertonYour letter arrived today, and yesterday came the indocin at which I am touched and for which I am   
 1967/09/07 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonYour letter arrived today, and yesterday came the indocin at which I am touched and for which I am   
 1968/01/no? other Is it [-] your memoir [-] haunting me this summer [-] whispering lines from letters to the world,  [poem by Hocks for Merton]
 1968/03/16 (#01)TL[c]from MertonGood to get your note. I need help with typing, very much so, and am delighted that you want to do   
 1968/03/16 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonGood to get your note. I need help with typing, very much so, and am delighted that you want to do   
 1968/04/08 other STATEMENT [-] paula hocks [-] To: Abbey of Gethsemani [-] Trappist, Kentucky [-] MANUSCRIPT  [handwritten annotation by Merton - "pd. April 8."]
 1968/04/18 other Statement [-] ABBEY OF GETHSEMANI [-] TRAPPIST, KENTUCKY [-] To type manuscript for F. Louis  [handwritten annotations by Merton, including "Sent April 23."]
 1968/04/23 (#01)TL[c]from MertonThanks again, so much. I am sending the check, with a little extra for postage, all in round   
 1968/04/23 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonThanks again, so much. I am sending the check, with a little extra for postage, all in round   
 1968/04/no? (#01)TL[x] from Merton to FriendsAs I write this there is snow on the ground from a blizzard we had the other day, but the sun is  [labeled "EASTER LETTER 1968" - see also "Circular Letters to Friends" file]
 1968/04/no? (#02)other FOUND MACARONIC ANTIPOEM [-] Amicorum communia funt omnia [-] Mein  [photocopy of things sent by Merton with circular letter of the same date - sending his poem from <u>Monks Pond</u>, a photograph of him and a photograph of the wooden cross in front of his hermitage]
 1968/05/21 TLS[x]from De Ganck, RogerDo not think that I have forgotten you. For so long I intended to write you, but the time has been  [from Fr. Roger De Ganck, O.C.S.O., priest in residence at Redwoods Monastery in California]
 1968/06/16 TLS[x]from MertonHere is the first half of the book I would like you to type. The rest will be along shortly.   
 1968/06/23 HLS[x]from MertonHere is the rest of it. Just a few more papers to come, however, in the last section.   
 1968/07/19 (#01)TNS[x]from MertonI'm sorry to hear you're having trouble. Of course I don't want you to injure yourself working more   
 1968/07/19 (#02)TANS[x]from MertonHere are the last two pages, the extra material on Ghost Dance that I spoke of. Hope you are   
 1968/07/no? TLS[x]from MertonFor various reasons I was quite busy during May and June, and so for July and part of August I am  [labeled "MIDSUMMER 1968"]
 1968/08/03 TLS[x]from MertonI was terribly sorry to hear your trouble had got so bad that you had to be hospitalized.   
 1968/09/18 HLS[x]from MertonRight now I am in the hospital but expect to be out shortly to work on the MS. I will send you.   
 1968/12/11 TL[x] from Trappists in Bangkok / to Flavian BurnsThe news of the sudden and unexpected death of your beloved son, Father Louis, has already been  [from six Trappist delegates at the conference in Bangkok to Dom Flavian Burns, Abbot of Gethsemani, in response to Merton's death - copies sent to Merton's friends]
 1968/12/19 TAL[x] from Monks of Gethsemani / to Friends of MertonWe are deeply moved by the countless expressions of sympathy which we have been receiving   
 1968/no/no? TLSto Mertonthink of you often. If you have any mss. for typing, I could do some if there was not too much rush   
 1992/12/15 TLS[x]to Robert Lax FoundationFor several years prior to his death, Tom Merton had been sending me -- at my desk in the Philosophy  [copies of Merton manuscripts to go to Robert Lax Foundation]
 undated/04/08 HLSto MertonMs. <u>nearly</u> done. Will mail in a couple of days. I'm fine. Filled w/ joy, bent w/ sorrow   
 undated/no/no HLS[x]from De Ganck, RogerAs you know (I assume) we do not intend to become a 'large' community, 15 (mature) persons at the   
 undated/no/no other CONTENTS [-] PART ONE- THE BLACK REVOLUTION [-] 1. Letters to a White Liberal [-] 2. The Legend  [table of contents, handwritten by Merton - possibly send with 1963/11/22 letter which has a reference to "The Black Revolution"]
 undated/no/no other DR. M. B. BRAHMACHARI: A PERSONAL TRIBUTE [-] It was my great good fortune to make  [tribute by Merton to Hindu monk and friend Brahmachari]
 undated/no/no TLSto MertonLong times, August days once more, the wheels turning. All you say, the emblems. Still, it will   
 undated/no/no TNS[x]from MertonThanks for your letter. If you have time for a little typing, I hope to send you a short and not   
        

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