Jacques Maritain, author of thirty books of philosophy and theology, was one of the most important Catholic writers of the 20th Century. He and his wife, the poet Raissa Maritain, are remembered in more than a dozen biographies, as well as in her popular memoirs--in particular, We Were Friends Together, which tells the story of the famous French circle that gathered around the Maritains in the 1930s and 1940s in Paris. They were in close consort with the many great artists of that period, including Picasso, Braque, Reverdy, the philosophers Gilson and Pegeuy, the composer Lourie, American painter Abraham Rattner, and many others. The Maritains were converted to Catholicism by the radical philosopher Leon Bloy during their student days. Maritain, known principally for his work on St. Thomas Aquinas, was considered the ultimate Thomist in modern times. He had great influence over Thomas Merton and John Howard Griffin--also Catholic converts--who considered the French philosopher to be their friend and mentor. Griffin, in particular, saw Maritain as his ultimate mentor and spiritual guide.
Subseries XV.1: General
Box 17 Folder 583
Griffin's interview with Maritain, published as "Maritain Charts A Course Through Change" in The National Catholic Reporter, in 1966, Fort Worth, TX, 1966, 9 page t.ms. (carbon, with Griffin's ms. corrections
Box 17 Folder 584
Maritain's "Preface" to the paintings of composer Arthur Lourie, Princeton, NJ,, 9 Oct. 1964, 5 page t.ms. (carbon
[Translated from the French by Griffin; the piece was published, with Griffin's photographs, inLatitudesmagazine
Box 17 Folder 585
Maritain, Jacques To John Howard Griffin, [v.p.], 1961 -1970, 3 a.l.s., 2 t.l.s., 3 Telegrams, 1 commemorative card of Raissa Maritain
Box 17 Folder 586
Maritain Secretaries To John Howard Griffin, Toulouse & Princeton,, 1962 - 1969, 6 a.l.s., 4 t.l.s.
[dictated by Maritain to various secretaries
Box 17 Folder 587
Fumet, Stanislaw To John Howard Griffin, Paris, 1961, 1 a.l.s.
[Fumet was a leading French literary critic and close friend of the Maritains and Reverdy
Subseries XV.2: Literary Matters
Box 17 Folder 588
Joseph Evans To John Howard Griffin, Notre Dame, IN, 1961-1973, 6 a.l.s., 2 t.l.s.
[Friend and biographer of Maritain, who was the Director of the Jacques Maritain Center at Notre Dame concerning Maritain and Griffin work
Box 17 Folder 589
Roberto Papini To John Howard Griffin, Rome, 1975-1978, 5 t.l.s. (with related material
[Director of the International Jacques Maritain Institute in Rome
Box 17 Folder 590
American Maritain Association Publications and materials
Box 17 Folder 591
Richard Rosswum To John Howard Griffin, Huntington, WV, 3 Feb. 1975, 1 page t.l.s. (with carbon
Box 17 Folder 591
John Deely To John Howard Griffin, Chicago, IL, 30 April 1973, 1 page t.l.s., 15 page essay ("To Be and To Know"
[With Griffin's replies (carbon typescripts);
Box 17 Folder 591
John M. Dunaway To John Howard Griffin, Macon, GA, 28 June 1976, 2 page t.l.s. (with carbon
[With Griffin's replies (carbon typescripts)
Box 17 Folder 592
Adler, Mortimer J. To John Howard Griffin, San Francisco CA, 21 May 1963, 1 page t.l.s.
[Director of the Institute for Philosophical Research, thanking Griffin for sending "a magnificent photograph of Jacques Maritain". Dr. Adler and Maritain were friends and philosophy colleagues
Box 17 Folder 593
Encyclopaedia Britannica To John Howard Griffin, Chicago, IL, 1971, 2 t.l.s. (with carbon
[Thanking him for permission to print one of his portraits of Maritain in their Great Ideas Today series
Box 17 Folder 594
World Publishing Company To John Howard Griffin, Cleveland, OH, 1967, 4 t.l.s. (with carbon
[With Griffin reply, concerning Maritain portraits for cover of the philosopher's Challenges and Renewals; and also their interest in publishing a book of Merton portraits by Griffin; the Maritain book was published but the Merton book (by World) was not
Box 17 Folder 595
Lawler, Justus George To John Howard Griffin, New York, 1967, 2 t.l.s. (with photocopy article
[Editor of Jubilee magazine, at that time (1967) having been-taken over by Herder--and Herder Publishing; many of Griffin's portraits of Maritain, including one for the issue's cover, were published in Jubilee's homage to the philosopher, January 1968; the letters from Lawler are original typescripts; also photocopy of Jubilee
Box 17 Folder 596
John M. Dunaway To the Estate of John Howard Griffin, CT & GA,, 1991 & 1992, 4 t.l.s.
[Requesting the use of one portrait to be published in Dunaway'sExiles and Fugitivesby LSU Press; also a second letter requesting that the same photograph of Maritain be printed in the LSU Press catalogue (1992)
Subseries XV.3: The Gwen John Project
Gwen John, sister of Augustus John, was little known during her lifetime. After her death, her meticulous paintings--especially portraits--became highly regarded. As a friend of the Maritains, she left with them several paintings as gifts (watercolors and gouaches), as well as drawings.
Box 17 Folder 597
Griffin, John Howard Proposal to photograph the Gwen John pieces as an art book, with or without text, and to have the proceeds go to the Maritain Circle housed at the Chateau de Kolbsheim, France, Fort Worth, TX,, 13 Aug. 1967, 1 page t.l. (carbon
Box 17 Folder 597
Grunelius, Alexander Letter of agreement, Cercle d'Etudes Jacques et Raissa Maritain, France,, 11 Oct. 1967, 1 page a.l.s.
[Owner of Kolbsheim, the Grunelius Estate which provided space to artists at no cost, allowing a quiet and elegant setting for artistic retreats. The Maritains and Griffin made many trips there.
Box 17 Folder 598
Mary Taubman To John Howard Griffin, Strosbourg, France, 24 Aug. 1967, 1 a.l.s. 4 page, t.ms. (essay)
[Art critic who was the curator for the Gwen John exhibition at the Tate Gallery, London
Box 17 Folder 599
Antoinette Grunelius To John Howard Griffin, Kolbsheim, France, 1967-1969, 10 a.l.s., 1 a.p.c.s., 1 telegram
Subseries XV.4: The Peasant of Garonne
For an in-depth discussion of the controversial ideas in Jacques Maritain's last book, a reading of the Griffin interview with Maritain is illuminating. However, there is a story behind the book's publication in America, and this story behind the story is revealed in the correspondences that follow. This short morality play features a French publisher, several American publishers, a French literary agent based in Manhattan, a translator, concerned friends like Thomas Merton and John Howard Griffin, and the elderly layman who called himself "the peasant of Garonne" (Jacques Maritain). Georges Borchardt, a literary agent for the Paris publishing house, Declee de Brouwer (which published the original edition ofPeasant) offered both the Maritain book and French edition of Raissa Maritain'sJournalto Charles Scribner's Sons of New York. The legendary Scribner, a long-time friend of the Maritains and the publisher of many of the philosopher's books in English, was interested inPeasantbut not the poetic reflections of Raissa's Journal. Displeased with Scribner and Borchardt, Maritain wrote the publisher to say that either both books would be published by his old publisher or neither would be published under his imprint. And he turned the proceedings over to his friend, John Howard Griffin, who agreed to find an appropriate American publisher for both books, as well as translators.. However, as Griffin made contacts with publishers--and had interest from Arabel Porter at New American Library and Ralph Manheim at Harcourt--Borchardt was contacting other New York publishers with the encouragement of the original French publisher, Deciee de Brouwer. Borchardt managed to interest Joseph Cunneen, the religious editor at Holt, Rinehart and Winston, inPeasant, reaching preliminary agreement on a contract. When Maritain hear of this from Cunneen, he wrote to say that he was not against Holt publishing his book, but insisted that Griffin and not Borchardt handle the negotiations (as well as choose the translator). At the same time, Borchardt wrote Griffin to say that he had came to terms with Holt on behalf of Declee de Brouwer. Griffin, in an agony of embarrassment because this was exactly the sort of tension he wanted to avoid for Maritain, was forced to alert NAL and Harcourt of the mess, as well as correspond with Holt to make certain that the contract did not violate Maritain's wishes.. Finally, after several rounds of letters, the issue was clarified.. Holt would publishPeasant, Borchardt would be the link between Holt and Declee de Brouwer, and Griffin would select the translator. In the shuffle, there was no mention of Raissals Journal, so Griffin went elsewhere with that project, eventually landing it with Magi Books several years later. Michael Cuddihy was chosen to translate with the understanding that his English version would be examined by Griffin, Thomas Merton, and Joseph Evans of the Maritain society -- all trusted Maritain friends and translators (from French) in their own right.. All the preceding took place from November 1966 until the spring of 1967. At that point, a complete retyping of the Cuddihy translation had to be made at Holt, and Maritain became concerned about the slow progress. For some of the others there was a greater problem: No one was very impressed with the translation. So, after making changes suggested by Merton and Evans, Griffin took the translation to France, spending several weeks working it over with Maritain, who was not impressed with Cuddihy's work either. The accepted translation was dispatch by Maritain to Griffin's hands and then on to Joseph Cunneen at Holt, who made the point that not only had Cuddihy improved his work as he went along (and that his work had been further improved by Merton and Griffin especially), but that he was not pleased with Maritain's low opinion of the translation or with the philosopher's changes which he felt were neither "that extensive nor that helpful". When all the smoke of ego had cleared, the book was published by Holt with a portrait of Maritain (by Griffin) on its dust jacket. It sold well and went into a paperback-reprint by MacMillan (again with Griffin's portrait as the cover). Extensive detail is revealed by the actual documents
Box 17 Folder 600
Maritain, Jacques To Charles Scribner, [Haute-Garonne, France?], 21 Dec. 1966, 1 page t.l.s.
Box 17 Folder 601
Maritain, Jacques To Joseph Cunneen of Holt, Rinehart and Winston, [Haute-Garonne, France],, 23 Nov. 1966, 1 page t.l.s.
Box 17 Folder 601
Cunneen, Jopseph To Jacques Maritain & John Howard Griffin, New York,, 17 Nov. 1966, 1 page t.l.s. (with related material
Box 17 Folder 602
Griffin, John Howard To Arabel Porter of New American Library, Fort Worth, TX,, 17 Dec. 1966, 2 page t.l. (carbon
Box 17 Folder 603
Manheim, Ralph To John Howard Griffin, [New York], 21 Nov. 1966, 1 page t.l.s.
Box 17 Folder 604
Cuddihy, Michael To John Howard Griffin, Tucson, AZ, 26 Dec. 1966, 2 page t.l.s. (with related material
Box 17 Folder 605
Borchardt, George To John Howard Griffin, New York, 14 & 19 Dec. 1966, 2 t.l.s. (with carbons
[Also two original typescript letters from Borchardt to Griffin; both men sadly lamenting the confusion and pleading innocence (although it was Borchardt who, in fact, caused all the confusion)
Box 17 Folder 606
Desclee de Brouwer To John Howard Griffin, Paris, 1966 - 1970, 5 t.l.s. (with carbon and notes
Box 17 Folder 607
Young, William To John Howard Griffin, Toronto, 21 Jan. & 15 Feb. 1969, 2 t.l.s. (with carbon
Box 17 Folder 608
Suther, Marshall To John Howard Griffin, Paris, 27 July 1971, 1 page a.l.s. (with carbon
Box 17 Folder 609
Suther, Judith To John Howard Griffin, NC, 7 June 1980, 3 page t.l.s.
Box 17 Folder 610
John Coleman To John Howard Griffin, Paris, 29 March 1967, 1 page t.l.s.
Box 17 Folder 611
Bernard Berhand To John Howard Griffin, Paris, 21 March 1967, 2 page a.l.s.
Box 17 Folder 612
Parbot, Michel To John Howard Griffin, Paris, 15 Feb. 1967, 1 page t.l.s.
Box 17 Folder 613
Editions Gallimard & Edition des Derniéres To John Howard Griffin, Paris,, 3 Feb. 1967 & 8 June 1973, 2 t.l.s.
Subseries XV.5: Jacques Maritain: Homage in Words and Pictures
A 64-page large format book of photographs and texts, published by Magi Books in 1974. This is the same Albany, NY publisher who brought out Raissa'sJournaland also Maritain'sNotebooks. All three of these books are still in print. TheHomaqeconsists of an essay on Maritain by philosopher Yves Simon; this one of many written by a close friend and colleague, who illuminates Maritain's ideas and personality for the general reader. The second part of this "homage in words" is by John Howard Griffin, excerpts from journals kept while visiting with Martain in Princeton (1962), Fort Worth and Gethsemani (1966), Kolbsheim (1967) and Toulouse (1970).. The book ends with Griffin's 1973 entry about the last days of the philosopher. The book opens with a Foreword by Anthony Simon, son of Yves Simon, that reflects on the friendship of his father and Maritain. The magnificent photos throughout the book are by Griffin
Box 17 Folder 614
Griffin, John Howard Journal entries re. Jacques Maritain, [Fort Worth, TX],, [1970s], 38 page t.ms. (carbon, with Griffin's ms. corrections
[Composed from several entries in his journals; comparing these dated entries with the original versions (of the same dates) suggests some polishing but not massive revision
Box 17 Folder 615
Anthony Simon "Foreword" to Homage, South Bend, IN,, [Early 1970 & 1971], 4 page t.ms. (photocopy), 10 page t.ms. (photocopy), 9 page t.ms. (photocopy), 1 t.l.
Box 17 Folder 616
Gallagher, Thomas To John Howard Griffin, Albany, NY, 1970 - 1978, 6 t.l.s, 1 t.l.
[Publisher; these discuss developing ideas about the book's text, format, photographs, followed by plans for promotion
Box 17 Folder 617
Simon, Anthony To John Howard Griffin, South Bend, IN, 1968-1980, 3 a.l.s., 16 t.l.s.
[Also a photocopy of Maritain letter to Simon; and Maritain Symposium materials from the American Maritain Assoc. of which Simon is secretary
Box 17 Folder 618
Griffin, John Howard To Tony Simon, Fort Worth, TX, 1970-1976, 4 t.l. (carbon
[In one of these Griffin discusses his time in the French Underground and how Yves Simon understood the degree of French collaboration with the Nazis which was not realized by those at ground zero (see Simon's book about the Vichy conspiracy). (Plus review-essays and short newspaper reviews)
Box 17 Folder 619
Simon, Anthony "Foreword" & Yves R. Simon essay, [n.p.], [n.d.], 7 page proof & notes
Box 17 Folder 620
Jacques Maritain: Homage In Words and Pictures, [n.p.], [n.d.], 40 sheets page proof
Box 17 Folder 621
Simon, Paule Jacques Maritain: Homage In Words and Pictures, [n.p.], [n.d.], 159 page t.ms. (photocopy; French translation