Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1964-1968 (Creation)
Extent
1 folder, 12 items, 15 pages
Name of creator
Biographical history
Philip Berrigan was a social activist and writer whose acts of civil disobedience during the Vietnam War made him a household name in the peace movement. Younger brother of Daniel Berrigan, he became a priest like his brother, but with the Josephites instead of the Jesuits. He would later marry and would be excommunicated. Throughout his life, he continued to protest nuclear proliferation in the United States and was often imprisoned for his actions.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
Though he was not as often in contact with Merton as Daniel, Philip Berrigan influenced, and was influenced by, Merton. Philip Berrigan took an active posture of civil disobedience that did not rule out the use of violence toward property if that property were being used in service of immoral ends. Merton struggled with Philip's actions but spoke more with Daniel regarding these issues. Philip's correspondence file contains originals of his letters to Merton and copies of Merton's letters to him.
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›). Records with Source listed as "Cornell University Department of Rare Books" may not be published or reproduced without written permission from the Rare Books Department at Cornell.
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 one published letters from Merton to Philip Berrigan in «The Hidden Ground of Love» (‹https://bellarmine.on.worldcat.org/search?queryString=no%3A26858207›), p. 101.
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Caption of headline photo: Phillip Berrigan is pictured on the far right and Daniel Berrigan in a blue plaid shirt in center with Merton seated on the photo's left (Tony Walsh with back to the camera).