The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University



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Individual Series View, Merton's Correspondence with:

Van Doren, Mark, 1894-1972


Series 2, Correspondence between Van Doren and Others


Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence
Dates of materials: 1939-1973
Volume: 208 item(s); 316 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Biography

Mark Van Doren won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1940 for his 1939 volume of collected poems and was a literary critic and professor. He had a profound effect on Merton as a professor of English at Columbia University in New York. Van Doren was at Co

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.

Related Information and Links

See also Cold War Letters #99 and other published letters from Merton to Van Doren in The Road to Joy, pp. 3-55;

Series List

Series NumberSeries NameTotal Records
1 Correspondence between Merton and Van Doren 151
2 Correspondence between Van Doren and Others 57

Container List

Series#DateFrom/ToFirst LinesPub ✓Notes
 y/m/dMerton Scan ✉ 
Series 2 #1.
«All Series«
1941/12/16 TLS[x] from Stone, Naomi Burton Mr. Merton has told me that he has given all rights in his JOURNAL OF MY ESCAPE to you and this is [from Naomi Burton Stone, Merton's friend and literary agent from New York City, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #2.
«All Series«
1944/01/06 TLS[x] from Plassmann, Thomas Many thanks for your kind favor of December 26. I feel that we can accept the revelations that Tom [from Fr. Thomas Plassmann, Franciscan priest and President of St. Bonaventure College in New York, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #3.
«All Series«
1944/01/20 TLS[x] from Herscher, Irenaeus At the request of Father Thomas Plassmann, President of St. Bonaventure College, may I kindly [from Fr. Irenaeus Herscher, Franciscan priest and librarian of Friedsam Memorial Library at St. Bonaventure College in New York, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #4.
«All Series«
1944/02/07 HLS[x] from Laughlin, James I'd be delighted to give Merton's ms. serious consideration. Would you be kind enough to send me [from James Laughlin, head of New Directions publishing in Norfolk, Connecticut, to Mark Van Doren - he writes from Alta, Utah] «detailed view»
Series 2 #5.
«All Series«
1944/03/06 HLS[x] from Laughlin, James I like the Merton poems quite a lot and would like to include him in the "Poets" series for 1944. [from James Laughlin, head of New Directions publishing in Norfolk, Connecticut, to Mark Van Doren - he writes from Alta, Utah] «detailed view»
Series 2 #6.
«All Series«
1944/03/28 (#01) TL[x] from Laughlin, James Here is a brief contract which I hope you will find OK. If you will sign and send me one copy, [from James Laughlin, head of New Directions publishing in Norfolk, Connecticut, to Mark Van Doren - he writes from Holladay, Utah] «detailed view»
Series 2 #7.
«All Series«
1944/03/28 (#02) other[x] from Laughlin, James MEMORANDUM OF AN AGREEMENT entered into this 28th day of March, 1944, by & between [signed by Van Doren and James Laughlin, head of New Directions publishing in Norfolk, Connecticut] «detailed view»
Series 2 #8.
«All Series«
1944/06/27 TLS[x] from Laughlin, James I hope you are well and thriving. I am sending you a set of pages of the new book of poems by Jean [from James Laughlin, head of New Directions publishing in Norfolk, Connecticut, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #9.
«All Series«
1944/07/07 TLS[x] from Laughlin, James There is every indication that the little Merton book will be sold out before the end of the year. [from James Laughlin, head of New Directions publishing in Norfolk, Connecticut, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #10.
«All Series«
1946/07/31 TLS[x] from Laughlin, James That is good news that Merton is interested in another book. From my business point of view, since [from James Laughlin, head of New Directions publishing in Norfolk, Connecticut, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #11.
«All Series«
1946/09/12 TLS[x] from Rago, Henry Thomas Merton has asked me to send you his manuscript, JOURNAL OF MY ESCAPE FROM THE NAZIS [from Henry Rago, Associate Editor of Pellegrini & Cudahy publishers in Chicago, Illinois, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #12.
«All Series«
1948/07/21 TLS[x] from Giroux, Robert Thomas Merton's THE SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN was earmarked for you long ago, and an advance [from Robert Giroux, an editor at Harcourt, Brace publishers and friend of Merton, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #13.
«All Series«
1948/10/04 HLS[x]  from Shuster, George / to Irita Van Doren Here is a piece about Thomas Merton's book - and I hope not too unctuous a one. Certainly it ought [from George N. Schuster, President of Hunter College in New York City, to Irita Van Doren, who was an editor at The Nation and the New York Herald Tribune, and was married to Mark Van Doren's brother, Carl] recommends The Seven Storey Mountain - references to Mark Van Doren «detailed view»
Series 2 #14.
«All Series«
1948/11/29 HLS[x] from Albert, Brenda Over this week end I had the rare privilege of reading your former pupil, Thomas Merton's book, [from Brenda Albert of the Mechanical Engineering Department of John Hopkins University to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #15.
«All Series«
1949/01/05 TLS[x] from Giroux, Robert I think the enclosed novel, by Elizabeth Charlotte Webster, will interest you. It's a posthumous [from Robert Giroux, an editor at Harcourt, Brace publisher and friend of Merton, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #16.
«All Series«
1950/10/15 HLS[x]  from Paganuzzi, Adolph / to Merton (after having read 'The Seven Storey Mountain' [-] "Die nobis Thoma, quid vidiate in via?" [from Adolph Paganuzzi of New York City to Merton] «detailed view»
Series 2 #17.
«All Series«
1950/11/07 HLS[x] from Paganuzzi, Adolph It is with hesitation that I begin this letter because I am afraid that I shall never be able [from Adolph Paganuzzi of New York City to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #18.
«All Series«
1955/05/10 HLS[x] from Keenan, Thomas, Mrs. I was just taking a few minutes to read Bite the Bullet by Dorothy [from Mrs. Thomas F. Keenan of Dorchester, Massachusetts, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #19.
«All Series«
1958/04/25 HLS[x] from Hornby, John On behalf of our Columbia Undergraduate Newman Club may I again express our appreciation [from John Hornby, Social Chairman of the Newman Club at Columbia University, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #20.
«All Series«
1958/05/16 HLS[x] from Rea, James Edward I find myself at a loss for words to describe the experience of having you talk of your friend, [from James Edward Rea, Counselor to Catholic Students at Columbia University, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #21.
«All Series«
1959/08/04 TLS[x] from Laughlin, James Many thanks for your card of the 31st, about the manuscript of Tom's "Selected Poems." I think this [from James Laughlin, head of New Directions publishing in Norfolk, Connecticut, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #22.
«All Series«
1959/08/10 TLS[x] from MacGregor, Robert I have your postcard to J. Laughlin, and was going to write you anyway. J. is on his way to Europe [from Robert M. MacGregor, Vice President of New Directions publishing from Norfolk Connecticut, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #23.
«All Series«
1959/10/07 TLS[x] from MacGregor, Robert Griselda Channessian gave me your "preface" for Thomas Merton's SELECTED POEMS late yesterday, [from Robert M. MacGregor, Vice President of New Directions publishing from Norfolk Connecticut, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #24.
«All Series«
1959/10/27 TLS[x] from Laughlin, James I am just back from a very pleasant visit in Europe, where I put my boy in a school in Bavaria, [from James Laughlin, head of New Directions publishing in Norfolk, Connecticut, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #25.
«All Series«
1960/08/19 TLS[x] from Thompson, Lawrence I am working on a little project to have an exhibition on modern American poets some time [from Lawrence S. Thompson, Director of Libraries at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #26.
«All Series«
1960/12/11 TLS[x] from Markert, Louise I was one of the privileged persons to hear you speak at the recent Conference of the National [from Louise Markert, an English teacher from Seattle, Washington, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #27.
«All Series«
1961/03/15 TLS[x] from Kirk, Grayson The Trustees have chosen Thomas Merton to be a recipient of the University Medal for Excellence this [from Grayson Kirk, President of Columbia University, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #28.
«All Series«
1961/08/02 TLS[x] from Senatore, John While reading your Autobiography with great interest, I discovered on page 269, in your [from John Senator, writing from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #29.
«All Series«
1961/12/15 TLS[x] from Dougherty, Jude On behalf of Louisville's Book-A-Semester Program may I thank you for your appearance in Louisville. [from Jude P. Dougherty, writing from Bellarmine College in Louisville, Kentucky, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #30.
«All Series«
1963/05/21 HLS[x] from Martin, Esther At Bethany College ten days ago I had the treat of hearing you speak. I know you will recall where [from Esther Martin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #31.
«All Series«
1966/no/no? TLS[x] from ? Thanks for your card. This issue of LATITUDES proved one thing to me: people are reading it! [from an unknown correspondent to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #32.
«All Series«
1968/12/10 HLS[x] to Burns, Flavian Terrible as it is, thank you for sending me tonight the news of Thomas Merton's death. He was one [from Mark Van Doren to Flavian Burns, Abbot of Gethsemani] «detailed view»
Series 2 #33.
«All Series«
1968/12/11 TLS[x] from Cuneo, Paul We are happy to know that you will be able to do for us a short article on Thomas Merton. [from Paul Cuneo, Book Editor from the magazine America in New York City, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #34.
«All Series«
1968/12/18 TLS[x] from Ambrose, Lee If you would be willing to write a note on Thomas Merton for the FORUM, though you have written [from Mrs. Lee Ambrose, editor of Columbia Forum (of Columbia University), to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #35.
«All Series«
1968/12/19 TLS[x] from Cuneo, Paul Many thanks for your moving tribute to Thomas Merton which we received this morning and which [from Paul Cuneo, Book Editor from the magazine America in New York City, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #36.
«All Series«
1969/01/05 HLS[x] from Michael Mary, Sr. This is a "thank you" note, a note of "sympathy" and also a note of "friendship." It is a "thank [from "Sr. Michael Mary" of St. Mary's Convent in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #37.
«All Series«
1969/01/06 HLS[x] from Schretzmann, Walter I would like very much to meet you during my Easter Vacation. I would like to talk to you [from Walter Schretzmann, a 16 year old student from New York City, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #38.
«All Series«
1969/01/07 TLS[x] from Finley, Mitchel When I sat down to write this letter to you a few minutes ago I had intended to ask you about Thomas [from Mitchell B. Finley to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #39.
«All Series«
1969/01/10 TLS[x] from Roseliep, Raymond I wish to thank you for that touching essay on Tom Merton in America. Though I must confess [from Raymond Roseliep, a Catholic priest and poet serving as chaplain at Mount Saint Francis in Dubuque, Iowa, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #40.
«All Series«
1969/01/14 TLS[x] from Merton With this letter I am sending you some back copies of Continuum, a quarterly which I suspect [from Justus George Lawler, editor at Herder and Herder publishers, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #41.
«All Series«
1969/01/20 TLS[x] from Giroux, Robert My piece on Tom worked out a little differently than I expected. I don't know whether the Columbia [from Robert Giroux, editor and publisher at Farrar, Straus & Giroux and friend of Merton, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #42.
«All Series«
1969/01/23 (#01) TLS[x] from Ambrose, Lee Your piece on Thomas Merton arrived this afternoon and we are delighted with it. Thank you so much. [from Mrs. Lee Ambrose, editor of Columbia Forum (of Columbia University), to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #43.
«All Series«
1969/01/23 (#02) HLS[x] from ? May God be Praised for the Brilliant mind He endowed you with - for the opportunity to achieve «detailed view»
Series 2 #44.
«All Series«
1969/01/29 HPCS[x] from O'Gorman, Ned Beauty and love in that memory of Tom - In homage and love [-] Ned [last name difficult to read] [from Ned O'Gorman, poet from New York City, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #45.
«All Series«
1969/01/31 TLS[x] from Arnold, Walter I hope this note finds you and your family well and flourishing. I am writing because I happened [from Walter Arnold, editor at E. P. Dutton publishers in New York City, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #46.
«All Series«
1969/02/01 HLS[x] from Crane, Milton I write to say that I have read – and have been much moved by – your eloquent essay on Tom Merton. [from Milton Crane, English professor at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #47.
«All Series«
1969/02/04 TLS[x] from Devons, Judith We have just received at the FORUM office the galleys of your obituary to Thomas Merton, and they [from Judith Devons, Assistant to the Editor of Columbia Forum magazine (of Columbia University), to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #48.
«All Series«
1969/02/05 TL[x] to Devons, Judith For the life of me I can't find anything wrong with this proof, so here it is with my OK. [to Judith Devons, Assistant to the Editor of Columbia Forum magazine (of Columbia University), from Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #49.
«All Series«
1969/02/10 TLS[x] from Lawson, Nora Recently, I was bereft of a friend whom I loved, although I had not, and likely would never have, «detailed view»
Series 2 #50.
«All Series«
1969/03/11 HLS[x] from Irvine, Ralph I have quite a collection of clippings on Thos. Merton since his death. Yours from America was «detailed view»
Series 2 #51.
«All Series«
undated/10/06 TLS[x] from Gorman, William [?] It has seemed to me that you should at least know how pleasurable to me have been my several recent «detailed view»
Series 2 #52.
«All Series«
undated/no/no other[x]   An immense amount of life went out of the world when Thomas Merton died suddenly in Bangkok «detailed view»
Series 2 #53.
«All Series«
undated/no/no HLS[x] from Maurice, Sr. I am very deeply interested in enkindling a love of poetry. The desire encouraged me to write [from Sr. M. Maurice of the Sacred Heart Convent in Syracuse, New York] «detailed view»
Series 2 #54.
«All Series«
undated/no/no TLS[x] from Giroux, Robert I liked your piece about Tom in America immensely. The quotations from his letters are very [from Robert Giroux, editor and publisher at Farrar, Straus & Giroux and friend of Merton, to Mark Van Doren] «detailed view»
Series 2 #55.
«All Series«
undated/no/no HNS[x] from ? That's a beautiful compliment paid to you on pp 138-9 of "The Seven Storey Mountain" by Thomas «detailed view»
Series 2 #56.
«All Series«
undated/no/no other[x]   THOMAS MERTON, MONK [-] The sudden death of Thomas Merton last December sent letters flying «detailed view»
Series 2 #57.
«All Series«
undated/no/no other[x]   THOMAS MERTON: A Personal Memoir [-] By Robert Giroux '36 [-] I knew Thomas Merton for thirty-three «detailed view»

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