MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Andrews, Edward Deming, 1894-1964
Click here to exit print-formated view.
Descriptive Summary
Record Group: Section A - Correspondence
Dates of materials: 1958, 1960-1964
Volume: 30 item(s); 61 pg(s)
Scope and Content
Merton expresses his love of the Shakers through these letters and develops a greater understanding of them, prompting him to write essays on the subject. In addition, Merton wrote a preface to one of Mr. and Mrs. Andrews' books on the Shakers.
Biography
Edward Deming Andrews was a foremost authority on the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, or the Shakers. As Merton became exposed to the remains of the community at Pleasant Hill, he sought out Andrews' expertise. After Edward's death, Merton corresponded with his wife, Faith (see "Andrews, Faith Elizabeth" file). (Source: The Hidden Ground of Love.)
Usage Guidelines and Restrictions
Related Information and Links
See also: Cold War Letters #12 and other letters, published in The Hidden Ground of Love, and all letters published in A Meeting of Angels: The Correspondence of Thomas Merton with Edward Deming and Faith Andrews. A brief selection of letters appears in Seeking Paradise: The Spirit of the Shakers.
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 |
| | 1958/01/07 | other | | PROJECT PROPOSAL / <i>Title</i>: THE ARTS OF THE SHAKERS / An exhibition of photographic panels, | |
| |
| | 1960/11/29 | HLS | to Merton | Word has reached me that you are writing a book on the religion of the Shakers, to be illustrated by | Yes |
| [sends unknown enclosure] Shirley Burden illustrator / Harold Hugo and reproduction of Shaker furniture |
| | 1960/12/12 | TLS[x] | from Merton | It was indeed a pleasure to get your kind letter. I had been thinking of writing to you myself for | Yes |
| |
| | 1960/12/19 | TLS | to Merton | We so appreciate your letter, with its great understanding and insight. The mystical phrase of the | Yes |
| |
| | 1961/01/17 | TL[c] | from Merton | This morning I received a good long letter from Shirley Burden in California and some pictures he | Yes |
| |
| | 1961/02/13 | HLS | to Merton | I am deeply grateful for the pamphlets and the little book you so kindly sent me. In reading them I | Yes |
| |
| | 1961/08/22 | TL[c] | from Merton | It is a terribly long time since you last wrote and since you sent the little book on the | Yes |
| |
| | 1961/08/26 | TALS | to Merton | It was good to hear from you again. Aside from our common interest in the Shaker culture, I feel | Yes |
| [Andrews enclosed "6 tracts, flyer, Hancock history" / possibly among undated materials at the end of the sequence] |
| | 1961/11/10 | TLS | to Merton | You were so good to give of your time and thought to us at the Abbey. I wish it were possible to | Yes |
| |
| | 1961/12/21 (#01) | TLS[x] | from Merton | Forgive please this very long delay in thanking you for the copy of <u>Shaker Furniture</u> which | Yes |
| Cold War Letter #12 / see also <i>Seeds of Destruction</i>, "Letters in a Time of Crisis" #6 |
| | 1961/12/21 (#02) | transcript | from Merton | Forgive please this very long delay in thanking you for the copy of <u>Shaker Furniture</u> which | Yes |
| Cold War Letter #12 - transcript of letter as included in bound set of Cold War Letters |
| | 1962/08/06 | HLS | to Merton | Please do not think that because I have not written that I have not had you often in mind. In a | Yes |
| |
| | 1962/09/20 | TLS[x] | from Merton | Probably my silence is the result of a more or less frantic effort to preserve some simplicity in my | Yes |
| |
| | 1962/12/13 | HCS | to Merton | The song you particularly liked, <u>Decisive Work</u>, did not have, in my book, the music to which | Yes |
| letter is in a Christmas card containing the song "The Humble Heart" |
| | 1962/12/28 | TL[c] | from Merton | I was touched at your thoughtfulness in sending me the music for the song "Decisive Work". It is | Yes |
| |
| | 1963/11/19 | HLS | to Merton | Though I have not written you of late, you have constantly been in my thoughts -- always near, and | Yes |
| |
| | 1964/01/21 | HLS | to Merton | I have been reading with the greatest interest your article on <u>The Shakers</u> in <u>Jubilee</u>. | Yes |
| |
| | 1964/01/29 | TL[c] | from Merton | Thanks for your most recent letter, as well as for the previous one which I put off answering until | Yes |
| |
| | 1964/02/02 | TLS | to Merton | We are very happy to know that you will do the preface to our new book. The illustrations - 80 to | Yes |
| |
| | 1964/03/13 | TL[c] | from Merton | The Tree of Life has arrived, and indeed has been on the wall for some time. It really brightens up | Yes |
| |
| | 1964/03/19 | TLS | to Merton | Your letters do us so much good. The one just received was a true Easter gift! We're pleased that | Yes |
| |
| | 1964/03/24 | TLS | to Merton | Enclosed is a copy of the manuscript of "Religion in Wood". I can't tell you how much I appreciate | Yes |
| |
| | 1964/04/05 | TLS[x] | from Merton | The ms has reached me and I want to say it is safe and that I will get to it and to the preface | Yes |
| Merton's art book / illustrated section |
| | undated/no/no (#01) | other | | <i>A Proposal to Save The Shaker Community at Hancock, Massachusetts</i> | |
| two slightly different-sized copies of a similar flyer / may be what is referenced in 1961/08/26 letter |
| | undated/no/no (#02) | other | | <u>SHAKER INSPIRATIONAL DRAWINGS</u>[:] <i>THE COLLECTION OF DR AND MRS EDWARD DEMING ANDREWS</i> | |
| signed, illustrated catalog for an exhibition of drawings and a short essay by E. D. Andrews entitled "Art of the Shaker Folk" / Smith College Museum of Art, 1960-1961 |
| | undated/no/no (#03) | other | | <u>SHAKER STUDIES AT SMITH</u>[:] <i>EXHIBITION, LECTURE, SYMPOSIUM, CONCERT</i> | |
| Program for exhibition, lecture, symposium and concert / Smith College Museum of Art, 1960-1961 |
| | undated/no/no (#04) | other | | <i>Mount Lebanon</i> Two hundred years ago, Anne Lee, a Quaker of Manchester, England, went to New | |
| from E. M. (Edward Morgan) Forster's book Two Cheers for Democracy |
| | undated/no/no (#05) | other | | <i>Mount Lebanon</i> Two hundred years ago, Anne Lee, a Quaker of Manchester, England, went to New | |
| photocopied version of other "Mount Lebanon" chapter, which is on brittle paper |
| | undated/no/no (#06) | other | | "Your most important studies" THE PEOPLE CALLED SHAKERS, Dover, 1963 | |
| title of page from W.H. Shannon, "Andrews -End -Notes" / used by Shannon in editing Merton's correspondence with Andrews |
| | undated/no/no (#07) | HNS | | | |
| 2 envelopes with some notes from Merton on one |
| | | | | | | | |
|