Thomas Merton Papers
The six items of the Thomas Merton Papers, 1968-1969, include speeches, letters and vitae of Father Thomas Merton from the Abbey of Gethsemani, Kentucky. Two letters from the fall of 1968, discuss his trip to conferences in Asia. There is a curriculum vitae and list of his works as well as a copy of notes for a piece of writing. One item is a copy of speeches from or about Merton. There are five separate items within this one; three pertain with his speeches in Asian conferences from October and December 1968, two are homilies given by fathers after the death of Merton in Bangkok on December 10, 1968.
Dates
- 1968-1969
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet
Abstract
The six items of the Thomas Merton Papers, 1968-1969, include speeches, letters and vitae about or by Father Thomas Merton from the Abbey of Gethsemani, Kentucky (mostly from the fall of 1968).
Biographical/Historical Note
Trappist monk Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was born to artist Owen Merton and his wife in France and raised in the United States and Bermuda until 1926, when his father moved him to Europe. He studied modern languages at Cambridge in England from 1933 to 1934 and attended Columbia University in America from 1935 to 1939. In 1938, he graduated with a BA and the next year with an MA. From 1939 to 1941 Merton taught English, subsequently entering the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky. There he became a subdeacon in 1948, an ordained priest in 1949, Master of the Students (1951-1955), and Master of Novices in (1955-1965). Merton retired in 1965 after receiving a Medal for Excellence from Columbia and an Honorary LL. D. from the University of Kentucky. He died while at a conference in Bangkok on December 10, 1968. Throughout his years, Merton wrote, compiled, and translated many books and poems, and there have been many posthumous publications, totaling to seventy printed works. He was also the editor and a contributor of several publications.
Arrangement
Collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
Collection is property of UT Special Collections.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository