Other Research Collections

W.L. Lyons Brown Library

Thomas Merton Center

Bellarmine University

Other Research Collections

The largest research collections relating to Thomas Merton, besides the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University, are to be found at Columbia University, Harvard University and St. Bonaventure University.

Columbia University: An extensive manuscript collection assembled primarily by Sister Therese Lentfoehr, Mark Van Doren, and Robert Shepherd.
Houghton Library, Harvard University: The personal papers of James Laughlin and the New Directions Publishing Corporation publishing and business papers are described in detail on the following pages:; The Papers of James Laughlin.; New Directions - Manuscripts and Proofs, 1937-1997.; New Directions - Records.
St. Bonaventure University The Merton archive at St. Bonaventure University include manuscripts and typescripts of his earliest journals, along with drafts of books and articles, letters, associated copies of printed materials and other special items. Boston College, Syracuse University, SUNY University at Buffalo and the University of Kentucky have substantial Thomas Merton collections. Boston College The John J. Burns Library at Boston College holds a collection of Merton materials including lecture and conference notes, correspondence, photographs, drawings, and proofs and original manuscripts of several books by Merton. The collection also holds materials donated by Jim Forest and Basil Pennington which relate to Merton. Syracuse University The department of Special Collections at Syracuse University Library houses a collection which includes ten of Merton's working notebooks, some correspondence, essays and other materials. Currently their web pages contain very little information about the collection, though a detailed inventory is available at the Merton Center. University at Buffalo The majority of the Merton material in the Poetry and Rare Book Collection of the University at Buffalo came as a gift from Merton between 1948-1952. There is also some Merton material in their Kayak Magazine Collection and in their Jargon Society Collection. Details of these collections are not currently available on their web pages, though an inventory is available at the Merton Center. University of Kentucky The Margaret I. King Library at the University of Kentucky holds correspondence between Merton and Erich Fromm, Boris Pasternak, Daisetz Suzuki, and Merton's friends Robert Lax and Carolyn and Victor Hammer along with holographs and typescripts, carbon copies and mimeographs of Merton's. The above link provides all results from the Kentuckiana Digital Library; this search displays holdings at the University of Kentucky on Merton, but also includes a collection at the Filson Historical Society in Louisville. A number of other Universities hold varying amounts of materials by Thomas Merton, frequently these Merton collections relate to other figures with whom Merton was in touch, such as Dorothy Day, Jacques Maritain, and Ed Rice, whose papers were subsequently donated to these institutions. Boston University The Special Collections department of Boston University Library holds 3 manuscript boxes of writing by Merton including over 100 different articles, essays and reviews written by him. Many of these are mimeographs of typed pieces, but also include a good many typescripts in various drafts, some with handwritten corrections and notes. Details of this collection are not currently available on their web pages. Christchurch City Libraries, Christchurch, New Zealand The Merton Collection held in the Central Library was founded with donations made by two of Merton's aunts, Agnes and Beatrice Merton. The collection has been developed by the Library in subsequent years. Georgetown University The Thomas Merton and Edward Rice Correspondence at Georgetown University. The Jacques Maritain Center at Notre Dame University The Jacques Maritain Center holds Merton's correspondence with Maritain. Marquette University The Dorothy Day - Catholic Worker Collection at Marquette University Library includes Merton's correspondence with Dorothy Day along with manuscripts Merton submitted for publication in the Catholic Worker. Northwestern University A significant portion of the Michael Mott Collection at Northwestern University Library consists of materials related to The Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton. A detailed inventory of this collection is available in PDF format.: The Merton archive at St. Bonaventure University include manuscripts and typescripts of his earliest journals, along with drafts of books and articles, letters, associated copies of printed materials and other special items.
Boston College: The John J. Burns Library at Boston College holds a collection of Merton materials including lecture and conference notes, correspondence, photographs, drawings, and proofs and original manuscripts of several books by Merton. The collection also holds materials donated by Jim Forest and Basil Pennington which relate to Merton.
Syracuse University: The department of Special Collections at Syracuse University Library houses a collection which includes ten of Merton's working notebooks, some correspondence, essays and other materials. Currently their web pages contain very little information about the collection, though a detailed inventory is available at the Merton Center.
University at Buffalo: The majority of the Merton material in the Poetry and Rare Book Collection of the University at Buffalo came as a gift from Merton between 1948-1952. There is also some Merton material in their Kayak Magazine Collection and in their Jargon Society Collection. Details of these collections are not currently available on their web pages, though an inventory is available at the Merton Center.
University of Kentucky: The Margaret I. King Library at the University of Kentucky holds correspondence between Merton and Erich Fromm, Boris Pasternak, Daisetz Suzuki, and Merton's friends Robert Lax and Carolyn and Victor Hammer along with holographs and typescripts, carbon copies and mimeographs of Merton's. The above link provides all results from the Kentuckiana Digital Library; this search displays holdings at the University of Kentucky on Merton, but also includes a collection at the Filson Historical Society in Louisville.
Boston University: The Special Collections department of Boston University Library holds 3 manuscript boxes of writing by Merton including over 100 different articles, essays and reviews written by him. Many of these are mimeographs of typed pieces, but also include a good many typescripts in various drafts, some with handwritten corrections and notes. Details of this collection are not currently available on their web pages.
Christchurch City Libraries, Christchurch, New Zealand: The Merton Collection held in the Central Library was founded with donations made by two of Merton's aunts, Agnes and Beatrice Merton. The collection has been developed by the Library in subsequent years.
Georgetown University: The Thomas Merton and Edward Rice Correspondence at Georgetown University.
The Jacques Maritain Center at Notre Dame University: The Jacques Maritain Center holds Merton's correspondence with Maritain.
Marquette University: The Dorothy Day - Catholic Worker Collection at Marquette University Library includes Merton's correspondence with Dorothy Day along with manuscripts Merton submitted for publication in the Catholic Worker.
Northwestern University: A significant portion of the Michael Mott Collection at Northwestern University Library consists of materials related to The Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton. A detailed inventory of this collection is available in PDF format.