Box: 1 Fold: 1 Correspondence 1959: Merton to Rice, Feb. 28, 1959
Box: 1 Fold: 2 Correspondence, Merton to Rice, March 31, 1960 Box: 1 Fold: 3 Correspondence 1960: Merton to Rice, June 20, 1960
Box: 1 Fold: 4 Correspondence 1960: Merton to Rice, June 27, 1960 Box: 1 Fold: 5 Correspondence 1960: Merton to Rice, Nov. 12, 1960
Box: 1 Fold: 6 Correspondence 1961: Merton to Rice, Jan. 10, 1961 Box: 1 Fold: 7 Correspondence 1961: Merton to Rice, Oct. 13, 1961 Box: 1 Fold: 8 Correspondence 1961: Merton to Rice, Nov. 15, 1961
Box: 1 Fold: 9 Correspondence 1962: Merton to Rice, Jan. 8, 1962 Box: 1 Fold: 10 Correspondence 1962: Merton to Rice, Feb. 10, 1962 Box: 1 Fold: 11 Correspondence 1962: Merton to Rice, Sept. 10, 1962
Box: 1 Fold: 12 Correspondence 1967: Merton to Rice, Jan. 30, 1967 Box: 1 Fold: 13 Correspondence Undated: Merton to Rice, Feb. 4
February 28, 1959
DESCRIPTION: Contains TLS, 1 page. Letterhead from Our Lady of Gethsemani, Trappist, Kentucky. Reference to the controversy following the publication of a book review written by Merton on the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan. Thi sexpereince would persuade Merton to cntinue his recent practice of writing under assumed names on issues outside of his field: "What then have I done? This. I have set down in a swirl and written a short address of the book with my own hand . . . But this has not been done without subterfuge and an assumed name. Which assumed name is not makin I think its last appearance because under it also I can publish like articles . . . outside my official ken."
March 31, 1960
DESCRIPTION: Contains TL, 1 page. Letterhead from Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, Kentucky. [Letter signed under the typed pen name of "Jess Stacey." Handwritten note by Merton in margin referring to a review he is planning to write for "Jubilee" on the poetry of Jorge Carrera Andrade.] Reference to serveral upcoming publications, including the intention to write several book reviews of works on Zen under an assumed name: "Have Zen books. Will have to write surreptitious reviews in invisible ink, but will do my all."
June 20, 1960
DESCRIPTION: Contains TLS, 2 pages/1 sheet. Letterhead of Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, Kentucky. Contain's Merton's observations on the poverty found in Latin America: "This poverty is the judgement of other peoples and places to wit ourselves. . . . I wonder if these is the slightest chance that we will not be found wanting."
June 27, 1960
DESCRIPTION: Contains TLS, 1 page. Contains some of Merton's acerbic comments on the recent approval of several of his articles by the Trappist censors: "I have to tell other editrs that the censors have fallen into a stupor and passed several articles besides the above. Let all New York pray for the censors in their agues and tremblings. Let all New York intercede for the censors i the providential darkenings."
Nov. 12, 1960
DESCRIPTION: Contains TLS, 1 page. Letterhead of Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, Kentucky. Reference to the rejection by the Trappist censors of an article written by Merton on the Jesuit anthropologist Pierre Teilhard de CHardin: "Well, now I have the final supreme decision about the Teilhard de CHardin article. . . . It must remain inthe hole or warren. It must go the way of all other well meaning attempts to say T de C is all right."
Jan. 10, 1961
DESCRIPTION: Contains TLS, 1 page. Letterhead of Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, Kentucky. [Signed under the pen name of "Jesse James".] Reference to the completion of Merton's hermitage onthe grounds of the abbey at Gethsemani: "Alas the little house finished is not open to dames anymore it has been cloistered it has been put under lock and key, it has been enclosed, it is barred."
Oct. 13, 1961
DESCRIPTION: Contains TLS, 1 page. Letterhead of Choir Novitiate, Gethsemani, Kentucky. [Signed under the pen name of "Happy."] Contains veiled reference to Merton's unhappiness with the administration of the Abbey's nee abbot: "Was here a miracle woman, since reading Fr Raymond she eats nothing but Trappist cheese, exclusively, brought back from the gates of death exclusively by Trappist cheese."
Nov. 15, 1961
DESCRIPTION: Contains TL, 1 page. Letterhead of Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, Kentucky. [Pen name "Nestles inc." used.] Cotains further reference to conditions at Gethsemani Abbey under the new abbot: "Ther goes the whistle. Everbody into the fallout shetler and pack cheese."
Jan. 8, 1962
DESCRIPTION: Contains TLS, 1 page. Letterhead of Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, Kentucky. Reference to the increasing difficulties Merton was encountering from the Trappist censors for his work on war and peace: "Ok I still havent heard from the censors about your article on Ethics and Bombs which I done sent. Took three months to get the article I did for Commonweal through."
Feb. 10, 1962
DESCRIPTION: Contains TLS, 1 page. Letterhead of Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, Kentucky. Reference to works in progress by both Merton and Rice, along with editorial advice from Merton regarding an upcoming issue of "Jubilee."
Sept. 10, 1962
DESCRIPTION: Contains TLS, 1 page. Letterhead of Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, Kentucky. [Addressed to "General Plumpton". Signed under the pen name "Llwellyn" (sic).] Contains a discussion related to the rejection of a recent article Merton had written for Rice: "Never mind. DOn't give it a thought, Foertg it I mean forget it. Pass it off with a wave of the hand. It is the censor's fault. . . . It is my fault. It is their fault. It is our fault."
Jan. 30, 1967
DESCRIPTION: Contains TLS, 1 page. Letterhead of Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, Kentucky. Contains kind words of advice for a Rice upset over the financial problems of "Jubilee": ". . . don't let it affect you if you can help it. Me I get the dame about various things too. Just the depression of living under the constant absurd attrition. Fortunately I have the woods."
Feb. 4, [1967]
DESCRIPTION: Contains TLS, 1 page. Letterhead of Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, Kentucky. [Handwritten note by Merton in the margins.] Contains more words of advice for a troubled Rice: "There is every serious reason why the life of the Catholic Kirk should induce all forms of neurosis and anxiety and everything else right up the line. THe way the Christian faith is lived is so schizophrenic that it is a wonder one can be at the same time a Christian and sane."
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