Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1962-1968, 1972-1973 (Creation)
Extent
1 folder(s), 42 item(s), 62 page(s)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Sr. Elaine Michael Bane was in charge of a group of six Franciscan Sisters from Allegany, New York, in "ritiro", or living a cloistered life of contemplation.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
In this group of letters, Merton and Bane discuss the training of novices for the cloistered life, monastic renewal, and proposed reform to community life in light of Vatican II; the foundation of an audio tape library for Merton recordings; and a retreat for contemplative orders conducted by Merton. In his journals, Merton has many glowing words about the retreat and the quality of the participants (see also references in "Related Information"). Herein are many original typed and signed letters from Bane and carbon copies of letters from Merton.
System of arrangement
Records are arranged chronologically. Records are not divided into Series.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Regulations governing use of the collection can be found here: (‹https://bellarmine.libraryhost.com/index.php/rules›).
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Languages of the material
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
See also: Cold War Letter #91 and other selected letters from Merton, published in «The School of Charity» (‹https://bellarmine.on.worldcat.org/search?queryString=no%3A26858206›), pp. 144-146, 296-297, 339-340, 352-353, 357, and 366; and a reference to the retreat with Sr. Elaine Michael in «The Other Side of the Mountain» (‹https://bellarmine.on.worldcat.org/search?queryString=no%3A59458279›), pp. 20-21.