These letters help to show how the Merton collection came to be at Bellarmine. Merton and Horrigan carried out a dialogue during this period, which, at times, reaches a point of friendly interaction beyond simply the establishment of the collection or the transfer of new materials to the collection.
Msgr. Alfred Horrigan, Bellarmine's first president, served from 1950-1973. He assisted Fr. John Loftus in the establishment of the Merton collection at Bellarmine.
See also the "Fox, James, Dom", "Loftus, John", and "Stone, Naomi Burton" files. The Thomas Merton Center also contains Bellarmine University Archives, including some of Horrigan's correspondence (besides the Merton correspondence) and administrative files.
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.
This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.
Click icons for links: ✓="Published | Library Record", ✉="Scanned" | 🗷="Scanned, Viewable Only at Merton Center"
| # | Date | From/To | First Lines | Pub ✓ | Notes |
| | y/m/d | Merton | | Scan ✉ | |
| 1. |
1960/03/02 (#01) |
TLS from Merton |
Since our brief conversation at Carmel some weeks ago |
|
dated "Ash Wednesday"
«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1960/03/02 (#02) |
TL to Merton |
I enjoyed very much our breakfast visit of a few weeks ago at Carmel |
|
dated "Ash Wednesday"
«detailed view» |
| 3. |
1960/03/07 |
TLS from Merton |
Our letters crossed in the mail as I rather expected they might. |
|
«detailed view» |
| 4. |
1960/03/18 |
TL to Merton |
Thank you so much for your welcome letter of March 7. |
|
«detailed view» |
| 5. |
1960/04/22 |
TL to Merton |
I am continuing to think about our "workshop" project for next fall |
|
«detailed view» |
| 6. |
1960/10/07 |
TL to Merton |
May I do a final check concerning our much-anticipated visit with you October 19-21? |
|
«detailed view» |
| 7. |
1960/10/12 |
TLS from Merton |
Many thanks for your kind letter. I am happy that so many |
|
«detailed view» |
| 8. |
1963/10/02 |
TLS to Merton |
As I believe you have heard from Dan Walsh and Jim Wygal, the college |
|
concerning Thomas Merton Collection
«detailed view» |
| 9. |
1963/10/08 (#01) |
TLS from Merton |
Father Abbot has given me your letter of October 2nd about the "Collection". |
|
concerning Thomas Merton Collection
«detailed view» |
| 10. |
1963/10/08 (#02) |
TL[c] from Merton |
Father Abbot has given me your letter of October 2nd about the "Collection". |
|
[copy] concerning Thomas Merton Collection
«detailed view» |
| 11. |
1963/11/15 |
TLS to Merton |
For everyone at Bellarmine may I summarize our thanks for the memorable gift |
|
«detailed view» |
| 12. |
1964/10/07 |
TLS to Merton |
Thank you so very much for your last set of copies of your recent articles. |
|
«detailed view» |
| 13. |
1965/02/16 |
TLS[x] to Laughlin, James |
I am planning to be in New York City from February 24 to March 3. |
|
«detailed view» |
| 14. |
1965/02/18 |
TL[x] from Laughlin, James |
It was good to hear from you again, and I do look forward to another pleasant visit with you, |
|
[see "Dwyer, William O." file for a copy of this letter]
«detailed view» |
| 15. |
1965/02/23 |
TLS[x] to Laughlin, James |
Thank you so very much for your letter of February 18. In view of the interesting |
|
«detailed view» |
| 16. |
1965/02/25 |
TLS from Merton |
James Laughlin sent me a copy of his recent letter to you about the literary executorship. |
|
«detailed view» |
| 17. |
1965/03/08 |
TLS to Merton |
Thank you very much for your letter of February 25. I am grateful for your kindness |
|
«detailed view» |
| 18. |
1965/12/06 |
TLS[x] from Laughlin, James |
Please forgive my delay in getting back to you after your kind telephone call. This seems to have |
|
[see "Dwyer, William O." file for a copy of this letter]
«detailed view» |
| 19. |
1965/12/14 |
HCS from Merton |
I offered Mass for the faculty and students of Bellarmine today |
|
note card has A.H. (Alfred Horrigan?) and 12.28.65 - possibly received then - card has woodcut of Holy Family
«detailed view» |
| 20. |
undated/no/no (#01) |
HNS[x] from Merton |
+for Monsignor Alfred Horrigan most cordially in Xt [-] fr M. Louis. |
|
[see Sub-Section D.9, "Concerning the Collection in Bellarmine College Library", for original]
«detailed view» |
| 21. |
undated/no/no (#02) |
HNS[x] from Merton |
+for Msg Horrigan [-] hoping you will get well quickly and will have a good rest [-] cordially in Xt |
|
[see Sub-Section B.6 for original inscribed copy of The Sign of Jonas]
for Mons. Alfred Horrigan [-] best wishes [-] Thomas Merton.
«detailed view» |
| 22. |
undated/no/no (#03) |
HNS[x] from Merton |
for Mons. Alfred Horrigan [-] best wishes [-] Thomas Merton. |
|
[see Sub-Section B.6 for original inscribed copy of Cables to the Ace]
«detailed view» |
|