The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Merton, Agnes Gertrude Stonehewer (Aunt Kit), 1889-1968

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1953-1968

Volume: 24 item(s); 43 pg(s)

Scope and Content

This file contains original letters from Agnes Merton and carbon copies of the letters Thomas Merton sent in the 1960's. There are a few photocopies of letters from Agnes Merton to Robert Giroux at Harcourt Brace publishers.

Biography

Agnes Gertrude Stonehewer Merton, Thomas Merton's Aunt "Kit", was Owen Merton's sister, and she lived in New Zealand. Thomas Merton met her twice: once coming with her mother Gertrude Hannah Merton to Flushing, New York, in 1919; and once visiting him at Gethsemani in 1961. She suffered a tragic death aboard the ferry Wahine, which sank between New Zealand's largest islands. (Source: The Thomas Merton Encyclopedia, p. 293).

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See also published letters from Thomas Merton to "Aunt Kit" in The Road to Joy, pp. 59-63, 68-70, 73-75, 79, 81-82 and 84.

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
 1953/08/09 HLS[x]to Giroux, RobertMy nephew, Thomas Merton, (Father Louis of Gethsemani) wrote that he had asked you to send us a copy   
 1953/10/27 HLS[x]to Giroux, RobertI have to thank you very sincerely for the copy of Thomas Merton's book, 'The Sign of Jonas,' which   
 1954/07/19 HLS[x]to Giroux, RobertI have to thank you for very much for the copy of my nephew's latest book, 'The Last of the Fathers.   
 1963/12/01 TAL[c]from MertonI am not sure I remember when I last wrote but I have an uneasy feeling, rooted perhaps in bad habitYes  
 1964/05/15 HLSto MertonIt is long since I wrote, and longer since you wrote, but I know how busy you are and so excuse you.   
 1964/05/27 TAL[c]from MertonYour letter came this morning and since I have been such an abominable correspondent I will makeYes  
 1964/12/17 HLSto MertonI can't be sure whether I wrote earlier to wish you Christmas wishes, and I hope this will reach you   
 1965/04/20 TL[c]from MertonYour letter arrived this morning. I was certain I had answered your last letter.Yes  
 1965/05/02 HLSto MertonI am delighted to have news of you, and to look forward to a copy of the latest book.   
 1965/06/09 TL[c]from MertonBefore I forget, here is the sleeve measurement: on the inside, from armpit to cuff, it is nineteenYes  
 1965/09/11 TALS[x]from MertonThe sweaters arrived yesterday and I am delighted to have them: they fit very nicely, though a bit  [copied from Sub-Section H.7, Accession 2, Hart Working Files]
 1966/01/30 TL[c]from MertonThe new sweater arrived yesterday, which happened to be the coldest day of this winter so far,Yes  
 1966/06/01 TL[c]from MertonYour letter postmarked May 25th reached me today and I can see from it that I probably have notYes  
 1966/12/12 TAL[c]from MertonHere is a picture of me with the sweater you knitted. I would have sent it long ago but I only justYes  
 1967/04/27 HLSto MertonIt is a long time since we heard from you, and I expect, a long time since I have written. I think   
 1967/06/27 HLSto MertonI should have written before to thank you for your latest book-- too deep for me, I fear me,   
 1967/08/14 TL[c]from MertonI am finally trying to catch up with my mail. I don't dare count the letters I should answer --Yes  
 1968/01/05 TL[c]from MertonI have not heard from anyone in the family this Christmas (except by surprise from Uncle Harold whoYes  
 1968/04/11 other WAHINE [-] Record of a disaster [-] THIS is the story as it happened. A story recorded on the spot  [special edition of the <u>The Dominion Sunday Times</u> about the Wahine Disaster of April 10, 1968, where Agnes Gertrude Merton died - sent by Sr. M. Nivard, see "Nivard, Mary, Sr." file]
 1968/04/18 other OBITUARY [-] Miss A. Merton [-] Miss Agnes G. S. Merton, who was well know in education  [obituary for Agnes Gertrude Merton from the <u>Christchurch Press</u> - sent by Elsie M. Ryan, see "Ryan, Elsie M." file]
 undated/05/30 (#01)HLSto MertonI can't remember whether I wrote in answer to your letter of March 19th, but I think I must have   
 undated/05/30 (#02)HLSto MertonI told you, I think about our interesting tours in North Canterbury, and seeing the place where our  [see n.d./05/30[3] for newspaper clipping enclosed]
 undated/05/30 (#03)otherto MertonPIONEER HOMESTEADS - II [-] Hillcrest, Fernside [-] (Specially written for "The Press" by JOHN A.   
 undated/no/no HPCSto MertonThe center of our town, both locally and religiously. Cathedral Square surrounds the Cathedral  [verso: black and white photograph labeled, "Anglican Cathedral, Christchurch, N.Z."]
        

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