Fr. Timothy Kelly was eighth abbot of Gethsemani Abbey, serving in this role from 1973-2000. During the time of this correspondence, he was in his theological studies in Rome.
Fr. Matthew Kelty was a Trappist monk of Gethsemani Abbey. He was a former missionary priest in Papua New Guinea before joining Gethsemani. He was later able to return to New Guinea as a monk. Merton chose Kelty as his confessor. Among Kelty's published books include collections of talks and sermons he delivered to Gethsemani guests after the monks prayed compline.
Gerald E. Kemner is professor emeritus in the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri - Kansas City. He composed musical arrangements for two of Merton's poems, "A Picture of Lee Ying" and "The Winter's Night".
Wallace Kendrick was with the Catholic Worker movement.
Ethel Kennedy is the widow of Robert F. Kennedy and daughter of George and Ann Skakel (see "Skakel, Ann Brannack" file).
Jacqueline Kennedy was married to President John F. Kennedy. Merton writes to Jacqueline Kennedy after the President's assassination.
Fr. James William Kennedy was Director and Editor of Forward Movement Publications, an official agency of the Episcopal Church, USA.
Fr. Colum Kenny was a Dominican priest writing from Saint Rose Priory in Dubuque, Iowa.
Catherine Kent was a 23-year-old teacher from Dorchester, Massachusetts, at the time of writing.
Br. Fidelis Kerekes was a monk of Gethsemani Abbey.
Walter Kerell writes from the Catholic Worker in New York.
Julie Kernan was an editor for P. J. Kenedy and Sons in New York. Merton wrote an introduction for a book they were publishing, Raïssa Maritain's «Notes on the Our Father».
Donald Keys was Director of Communication for the International Center for Integrative Studies (ICIS), who published «Forum» (or "Forum for Correspondence and Contact"). Merton's friend Amiya Chakravarty was on the Board of Sponsors.
Gabriel Khouri-Sarkis was editor of L'Orient Syrien and a West Syrian Rite Catholic priest. He writes from Paris, France.
Fr. Robert Kiely was a Trappist monk from Southern Star Abbey in Kopua, New Zealand.
Edward Kikama writes from Japan.
While David Kilburn was studying in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham in England. He wanted to use some of Merton's poetry for the departmental magazine he edited, «Retort». He later moved to London and worked with the literary magazine «Ambit».
Fr. Thomas Kilduff writes on behalf of «Spiritual Life: A Catholic Quarterly», published by the Discalced Carmelite Fathers.
Sr. Agnes Jae Soon Kim was from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Seoul, South Korea.
Francis Kim writes from Taegu [Daegu], South Korea.
Fr. Paul Kim writes from Seoul, South Korea.
Coretta Scott King, an advocate of civil rights and racial equality, is the widow of Martin Luther King, Jr. Merton writes to her after Martin's assassination. She telegrammed Gethsemani following Merton's death.
Simon King was Director of Burns and Oates publishers and writes from London.
Winston L. King was a professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He and Merton discuss Zen and the visit of Shibayama Roshi to Nashville.
Fr. Nivard Kinsella was a Trappist monk of Mount Saint Joseph Abbey in Roscrea (Ros Cré), Ireland. (Previously filed under "Nivard, Br., O.C.S.O." and moved in 2022.)
Fr. David Kirk was a peace activist and member of the secular institute of the Company of St. Paul. He was studying in Rome in the early letters and later comes back to the United States to help found Emmaus House in New York.
Grayson Kirk was President of Columbia University from 1953-1968. He was also a highly acclaimed figure in the study of political science.
Carl L. Kline, M.D., was a doctor serving in Wausau, Wisconsin, when he wrote this letter to Merton.
Dom Vital Klinski was born in Poland. In 1904, he entered the Cistercian Abbey of Achel in Belgium and was elected their abbot in 1920. By 1927, he left for the United States to join Gethsemani. He was Merton's confessor at the time of correspondence. (Source: «The School of Charity», p. 10.)
Sr. John Marie Klisiewicz was a Sister of St. Ann of Providence at Mount Saint Ann in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.
Bonaventure Knaebel was a Benedictine Archabbot at the Archabbey of St. Meinrad at the time of writing.
