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Archival description
Henri Nouwen Collection
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Family photograph album 18

Album 18 consists of photographs taken between 1932 and 1934. Put together by Maria Nouwen, the album is predominantly dedicated to photos of Henri Nouwen as a newborn and infant at the family home in Nijkerk. Nouwen is seen being held and cared for by family, including Maria and Laurent J.M. Nouwen, Sara M. Ramselaar and [Nel Laumans (nee Ramselaar)?], and in professional portraits taken during his first year. Also included are newspaper clippings of announcements about his birth and postcards dedicated to important events in his life including his baptism and first birthday.

Family photograph album 16

Album 16 consists of photographs taken between 1934 and 1939. Put together by Maria Nouwen the album is dedicated to Paul Nouwen, beginning with photos of him as an infant and continuing until he is roughly 5 years of age. Laurent J.M., Maria, Henri and Paul Nouwen are seen with family and friends, including Sara M. and Tennis Ramselaar, Judith and Lien Otto (nee Ramselaar), Henricus, Maria H.R. and Jeanne Nouwen and Els Albregts, throughout. The photos focus predominantly on day to day events at the family home in Nijkerk and later in Bussum, such as Paul Nouwen being held and cared for as an infant, the Nouwen children playing outdoors with friends and the Nouwens posing for photos. Special occasions documented in the album include a trip to Italy taken by Laurent J.M. and Maria Nouwen; Wim Ramselaar's marriage to Rie Letscherts; Paul Nouwen's 4th birthday party; and a beach trip to Wijk aan Zee in 1938.

Family photograph album 7

Album 7 consists of photographs taken between 1938 and 1948. Put together by Maria Nouwen, a large number of the photos focus on Laurent J.M. and Maria Nouwen travelling, including by boat and with their children, through the Netherlands, France, Italy and Norway. One such trip was taken to visit the Friedische Molen [Friedesse Mill] in Neer, the Netherlands that was owned by the husband of Laurent J.M. Nouwen's [niece?] Lia Schippers. There are also several pages dedicated to photos of Laurent J.M., Maria, Paul, Henri, Laurent and Laurien Nouwen at home in Bussum and Scheveningen. A series of photos taken in May 1944, during a visit by Henricus and Maria H.R. Nouwen, show Laurent Nouwen as a young baby, less than 6 months after his birth. Extended Ramselaar and Nouwen family members including Hetty Berghs (nee Nouwen), Truus Derkx (nee Nouwen), Harrie Nouwen, Jeanne Nouwen and Toon Ramselaar appear throughout the album.

Nouwen family correspondence

Series consists of handwritten and typed correspondence between Henri Nouwen and his family. Some letters are to those outside the Nouwen family. Majority of the correspondence is in Dutch.

1950 family correspondence

File consists of handwritten letters and postcards from Henri Nouwen to his father and mother from 1950-1959 while he was a priest and at a seminary in the Netherlands.

Family photograph album 9

Album 9 consists of photographs taken in 1957 during Henri Nouwen's time at the major seminary in Rijsenburg, the Netherlands where he studied philosophy and theology. The majority of the photos are dedicated to Nouwen's ordination as a priest by Cardinal Bernardus Alfrink, Archbishop of Utrecht on July 21, 1957, a formal dinner at the Hotel de Witte Brug in Scheveningen in celebration of the event on July 28, 1957 and his first Holy Mass at Lourdeskerk in Scheveningen, the Netherlands. Family and friends including Laurent J.M., Maria, Laurent and Laurien Nouwen, Toon Ramselaar, Jan and Ella Leijten (nee Nouwen), Francois and Liesje Tombeur, Ivonne and Bert Peperkorn, Ferdinand de Grijs and Jelmer Huisman are seen in several of the photos. Scrapbook like in nature, the album's photos are punctuated by ephemera relevant to the ordination and dinner including newspaper clippings, song lyrics, copies of speeches given by family members and a menu from the celebration dinner. Also included are photos from an unidentified church event and photos of Henri Nouwen in casual and more formal group shots with colleagues and friends at the major seminary.

Transcripts of Nouwen's talks

Subseries consists of transcriptions of Nouwen's talks received after his death. Transcriptions are of homilies, sound recordings, dedications, conference and workshop talks, convocation addresses, keynote addresses, and general talks.

Een preek op oudejaarsavond 1957

File consists of an annotated typed transcript of Nouwen's sermon for New Year's Eve of 1957 titled "Een preek op oudejaarsavond 1957". Accompanied with a yellow post-it note with the handwritten words “sermon HN New Years Eve 1957”.

Letters from Louis and Maria ter Steeg

File consists of handwritten and typed letters from Henri Nouwen to Maria and Louis ter Steeg. File also includes Nouwen's ordination prayer card dated 1957 and documents concerning the celebration of Nouwen's 25th Anniversary in the Netherlands on December 11, 1982. Celebration documents include a general letter from Laurent Nouwen, dated November 10, 1982; a double sided postcard advertising the event; the order of service for the ceremony; the words of a song, entitled "Henri's song."

Details on letters:

  • Original typed letter from Nouwen to Louis ter Steeg. Dated July 24, 1970. Written in Dutch on Holy Cross letterhead. 2 pages
  • Original typed letter from Nouwen to Maria ter Steeg. Dated April 4, 1971. 1 page. No letterhead. Written in Dutch.
  • Original typed letter from Nouwen to Louis and Maria ter Steeg. Dated Feb 14, 1974. Written in Dutch on Yale Divinity School (YDS) Letter head.
  • Original typed letter from Nouwen to Louis and Maria ter Steeg. Dated Jan 27, 1977. YDS letterhead. 2 pages
  • Original typed letter from Nouwen to Maria and Louis ter Steeg. Dated May 31, 1977. YDS letterhead. 2 pages.
  • Original typed letter from John Mogabgab to Louis ter Steeg. Dated June 23, 1977. YDS letterhead. 1 page, written in English.
  • Original hand written letter from Nouwen to Maria and Louis ter Steeg. Dated Nov 7, 1984. Written on L'Arche Trosly-Breuil card.

1958 to 1961 family correspondence

File consists of handwritten and typed letters and postcards between Henri Nouwen and his family from 1958 to 1961. File also includes a newspaper clipping, a hymn, and a transcript. One letter is in English. File also consists of correspondence from Henri when he was in Powhatan in 1961 with his family and Reverend R. J. Engelen.

Family photograph album 1

Album 1 consists of photographs of the Nouwen family and their friends during the 1960s. Put together by Maria Nouwen, images within the album include family trips to Ireland, Italy, Mexico and Switzerland, photos of the Nouwen children and special occasions attended by the family. The travel photos are casual in nature, focusing primarily on Laurent J.M. Nouwen and Maria Nouwen in the company of friends including Philip and Puck van Campen, Piet, Maria and Karel Kasteel, Seamus and Sophie Fitzgerald, and Kitty Upjohn Verbist. The photos of the children, many of which include portraits, comprise several pages of the album and are predominantly of Laurent and Laurien Nouwen as young adults, with two pages dedicated to Paul Nouwen. Henri appears sporadically throughout the album as he was abroad studying during most of the period captured by this album. A small number of photos on the full pages dedicated to Laurent, Laurien and Paul Nouwen are from their childhood, possibly taken from other albums in the collection.

Letters of condolences to Nouwen family

File consists of letters of condolences sent to the Nouwen family after Henri Nouwen's death. Majority of letters are organized alphabetically by surname and were originally contained in two large binders. Subsequent additions to file was contained in a four flap folder and loose materials from later donations and consists of the following letters:

  • Photocopy of caricature of Nouwen, undated
  • Letter to Nouwen family members from Wendy Greer, dated November 19, 1996
  • Letter to Laurent Nouwen from Kathy Christie, dated January 23, 1997, on L’Arche Daybreak letterhead
  • Two copies of Nouwen’s funeral notice in Dutch
  • Letter to L.J.M. Nouwen from Sue Mosteller, dated July 29, 1997, on Henri Nouwen Literary Centre letterhead
  • Letter to L.J.M. Nouwen from Sue Mosteller, dated October 4, 1997, on Henri Nouwen Literary Centre letterhead, with yellow post-it note “Post mortem: various condolences, articles, correspondence with LJM Nouwen after death Henri” (applies to next batch of materials)
  • Op Tocht (Dutch publication) v.7.n.7. October 1996, containing article In Memoriam about Nouwen
  • Letter to L.J.M. Nouwen (?) from Cathryn [Haubrich Goosleers?] in Dutch, dated September 26, 1996
  • Letter to Nouwen family [Laurent Sr., Laurien, Paul, …?] from Sophie Fitzgerald-Albregts in Dutch, dated October 22, 1996
  • Letter to L.J.M. Nouwen from Carol Plantinga Mead, dated October 31
  • Paper, “Sokrates is een mens: Tragiek van een levenseinde” (6 pgs.)
  • Letter to Nouwen from [L.F.J. Swets?] in Dutch, dated January 14, 1978, with yellow post-it note “HN related/references with various correspondence” (applies to next batch of materials)
  • Letter to Laurent (?) from Edithe [Ryvers?] in Dutch, dated September 9, 1996
  • Letter to L.J.M. Nouwen (?) from Henk de Vilder SJ in Dutch, dated September 22, 1996
  • Letter to Laurent (?) from [Paul van Campes?] in Dutch, dated October 22, 1996
  • Letter to L.J.M. Nouwen from Tiny Hylkema in Dutch, dated September 28, 1996
  • Letter to Laurent (?) from [G. Beremer?] in Dutch, dated September, 1996
  • Letter to Laurent (?) from Netty in Dutch, dated October 26, 1996
  • Postcard to L.J.M. Nouwen from Tiny in Dutch, dated September 20, 1996
  • Photocopy of article in Dutch publication from October 1991, “Nederlandse priester heft grote invloed op kerkleiders VS”
  • Letter to Mevrouw Nouwen (?) from [Goon?] in Dutch, dated November 13, 1963
  • Letter to Hak (?) from [...?] in Dutch, dated May 17, 1989
  • Letter to Laurent (?) from [Haus?] in Dutch on Nederlands Commissaris voor Algemene Voorlichting letterhead, dated June 8, 1965
  • Letter to Nouwen from R. Mansvelt in Dutch on Gooiensticht bv letterhead dated February 6, 1981
  • Letter to Professor Nouwen (?) from [Marc Ros…?] in Dutch, dated June 18, 1991
  • Letter to Maria Nouwen-Ramselarr from Helen Hiltner, dated March 6, 1972
  • Letter to Maria from Helen Hiltner, dated June 8, 1971
  • Letter to Maria from Helen Hiltner, dated June 16, 1971
  • Letter to Mrs. Nouwen from Helen Hiltner, dated October 20, ?
  • Portion of letter to Mrs. Nouwen from [Helen Hiltner?], no date
  • Letter to Mrs. Nouwen from Helen Hiltner, dated Nove 28, ?
  • Letter to L.J.M. Nouwen from [Rery and Fraur Joluck?] in Dutch, dated October 17, 1996
  • Letter to L.J.M. Nouwen from Henk Goossen in Dutch, dated October 1996
  • Eucharistieviering [Eucharist] for Nouwen performed on October 25, 1996 in Utretch
  • Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Nouwen from [Wim Wolten?] in Dutch, dated September 25, 1965
  • Letter to L.J.M. Nouwen from Harry van den Hout in Dutch, dated September 28, 1965
  • Letter to Nouwen family from C. Beeker in Dutch, dated July 31, 1965
  • Letter to Laurent (?) from [?] in Dutch on letterhead from Stichting Steunfonds Gezondheidszorg Brazilie, Dr. Cornelis W de Ruijter, dated April 27, 1963
  • Letter to “children” from “moeder” (mother) in Dutch, dated April 14, 1963
  • Letter to “B’s en B’s” from “vader” (father) in Dutch, dated April 19, ?
  • Letter to Nouwen from moeder in Dutch, dated April 18, 1963
  • Letter to “kinderen” (children) from moeder in Dutch on letterhead from Stichting Steunfonds Gezondheidszorg Brazilie, Dr. Cornelis W de Ruijter, dated April 9, 1963
  • Letter to “L’s L’s” from moeder in Dutch on letterhead from Stichting Steunfonds Gezondheidszorg Brazilie, Dr. Cornelis W de Ruijter, Dated April 2, 1963
  • Letter to Nouwen from moeder in Dutch, no date
  • Letter to kinderen from moeder in Dutch on letterhead from Stichting Steunfonds Gezondheidszorg Brazilie, Dr. Cornelis W de Ruijter, no date
  • Letter to Laurine, Paul, Wim en Harry from moeder in Dutch on letterhead from Stichting Steunfonds Gezondheidszorg Brazilie, Dr. Cornelis W de Ruijter, dated April 3, 1963
  • Letter to “Vervolg” from [H…. vader?] in Dutch on letterhead from Stichting Steunfonds Gezondheidszorg Brazilie, Dr. Cornelis W de Ruijter, no date
  • Letter to kinderen from [?] in Dutch on letterhead from Stichting Steunfonds Gezondheidszorg Brazilie, Dr. Cornelis W de Ruijter, dated April 1963
  • Letter to Nouwen from Louise Hofmann in Dutch, dated December 15, 1962
  • Letter to Nouwen from [?] in Dutch, dated September 3, 1961
  • Letter to Laurent Nouwen from Martin Vernooy in Dutch, dated January 24, 1997
  • Letter to Jutta Ayer from Laurent Nouwen, dated January 1, 1997

Interview with Wim Wolters

File consists of an interview with Wim Wolters interviewed by Peter Naus in the Netherlands. Wolters is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist living in the Netherlands; he was a friend of Nouwen's. There is an envelope and note in the file from Wolters to Joe Vorstermans that accompanied the photograph. Two interviews were conducted by Naus. The interviews are transcribed and available electronically or in hard copy; two hard copies of the April 27, 2005 interview are available. All recordings and transcriptions are in Dutch. Brief English notes from the interviewer are in the file. They include: 15/06/04 "This was for me the most fascinating of the interviews because of the rather extensive analysis Wim put forth regarding Henri's personality and work. He is clinical psychologist with a psychoanalytic background who knew Henri for a long time and considered himself a close friend. He also knew Henri's family very well. Before the interview started we discussed briefly his ethical concerns about discussing impressions of Henri. I told him that in interviews and pieces I had written about Henri I had been guided by two considerations: not to divulge anything about Henri that was not already in the public domain and to protect as much as possible the privacy of Henri's family". 24/04/05 "Wim is a Professor Emeritus of Psychology. He is still active as a therapist and he is a member of a number of advisory boards a governing councils. I interviewed him last year as well because he and his wife, Milene, are long-time friends of Henri. This time around I wanted to focus on Henri's homosexuality because he had not said much about it in the first interview. He believes rather strongly that the emphasis should be on Henri's impact on people and how he changed the lives of many. As he stated in the tape, Henri's homosexuality as such is not a big issue, but that he did not come to grips with it is. Yet, it would be entirely inappropriate to interpret Henri's writing as the expression of a frustrated, neurotic gay person. One should not hide his homosexuality nor draw undue attention to it". File also includes letters between Wim Wolters and the Nouwen family in Dutch from 1962-1997.

Bound Nouwen family correspondence

File consists of four bound volumes of Nouwen family correspondence from 1964 to 1977. The bound volumes are separated into the following periods:

  • 1964-1967
  • 1968-1974
  • 1975-1977
  • 1977-1980

Family photograph album 15

Album 15 consists of photographs predominantly taken between 1964 and 1969. It is unclear who put the album together, but the content's focus primarily on Henri Nouwen and his professional life as a priest. Approximately half of the album's pages are dedicated to Nouwen's departure for and stay at the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas. The photos, many of which were professionally taken by an unknown photographer, show Nouwen having a meal and posing for photos with Laurent J.M., Maria, Paul, Laurent and Laurien Nouwen, before leaving for the United States; Nouwen with family and friends, including Toon Colen, at the Schiphol airport in Amsterdam; portraits of Nouwen speaking while seated; Nouwen participating in a talk with Menninger colleagues, including Thomas W. Klink, during a visit from Cardinal Alfrink; and scenic shots of Topeka including the Most Pure Heart of Mary church. Other photos in the albums are dedicated to a trip to Chicago, Illinois and Niagara Falls; unidentified church services; a party at the Dijnselburg Huis Ter Heide, in Utrecht, in celebration of Nouwen's 12 1/2 year anniversary of his ordination as a priest; Don McNeill's [graduation?] from [Notre Dame University?]; portraits of family and friends; a trip to an unidentified location. Of interest is a photo, tucked into the front cover of the album, of Nouwen participating in a church service in St. Peter’s Basilica during Vatican II and the inclusion of the photo and dinner menu from his ordination as a priest, in 1957, as a marker of time placed along with the 12 1/2 year anniversary photos and invites.

Material collected by David C. Duncombe

File consists of material by Henri Nouwen collected by David C. Duncombe. Duncombe and Nouwen were both professors at Yale Divinity School at the same time. They worked closely together, and even co-taught a course of Spiritual direction. Otherwise they often invited each other to be guest speakers in their classes. While teaching, they both looked at religiously significant behavior. They interviewed priests or pastors, or lay workers about their spiritual life, and attempted a sort of diagnosis. Henri Nouwen wrote a lot about theology and psychology in his thesis paper, and that was of great interest to Duncombe.

Material includes:

  • A draft manuscript written by Henri J.M. Nouwen, entitled "Ronald: A Study in Pastoral Diagnosis." The manuscript has Dave Duncombe written on the front page. The front page has also come apart from the main document. Within the document there is a lot of underlining, and some notes from at least two different people. File also includes an additional copy of pages 60-64.
  • Lecture notes taken by David C. Duncombe for a class at Yale Divinity School that was receiving the methodology Nouwen used. Duncombe couldn't remember if Nouwen was in the class at the time to respond.
  • A booklet entitled "Christ of The Americas: Dying and Rising and Coming Again." It is written by Nouwen and produced by World Peacemakers (issue number 9).
  • A chapter copied out of a book by Til Edwards entitled "Living with Apocalypse: Spiritual Resources for Social Compassion," copyright 1984. The chapter is entitled "A Conversation with Henri J.M. Nouwen" and is written in an interview style. There is a personal note stapled to page 19 written to Duncombe from a friend "Bobbie."
  • A book of Lenten Reflections, entitled "Called to Life Called to Love," copyright 1997. It is composed of reflections selected from "Bread for the Journey" by Nouwen.

Dagboek 5 januari – 21 februari 1966

File consists of two copies of a typescript of Nouwen’s diary from January 5 to February 21, 1966, written while he was visiting various universities in the United States with an inscription on the title page. One copy was inscribed by Henri Nouwen.

Works by Nouwen

Subseries consists of various works by Nouwen received after his death including typescripts, drafts, working papers, articles, and books. Some items were published posthumously by his estate.

The death of Martin Luther King

File consists of a typescript of "The Death of Martin Luther King", a description by Nouwen of where he was and how he felt when he heard the news of Martin Luther King's death and then how he experienced going to the funeral. There is an inscription on the first page.

Transcript from training for campus ministry

File consists of one published article of a speech by Henri Nouwen made at the Invitational Conference on The Campus Ministry in Higher Education held at Notre Dame, March 20-22, 1968. The address is entitled "Training for Campus Ministry."

Letters from John Garvey

File consists of copies of Nouwen's letters to John Garvey. The correspondence took place between 1970 and 1993. The 36 letters are typed for the most part, with the exception of two. One letter seems to have been exchanged per year, while there are several years for which no correspondence took place. The letters are friendly in tone, offer snapshots of Nouwen's state of mind, as well as his whereabouts. Occasionally the letters exchange intellectual ideas on such issues as celibacy, marriage, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the writings of Flannery O'Connor. File also includes two letters from John Mogabgab who assisted Nouwen with the preparation and teaching of the course on Heyschasm. Garvey appears to have been instrumental in encouraging Nouwen to develop this course on the eastern spirituality and the Desert Fathers.

A second folder consists of 22 original letters from Nouwen to John Garvey (two of which are hand-written), and one letter from John Garvey. The second folder also includes a photograph of an unidentified woman carrying an infant on her back, taken in Bolivia on December 28, 1982, with an inscription by Nouwen on the verso. Also included in the file are two letters from John Mogabgab to John Garvey. Letters in the second folder include:

  • Typed letter from Henri to John – February 25, 1993
  • Typed letter from Henri to John and Maria Garvey – November 30, 1993
  • Typed letter from Henri to John – June 29, 1990
  • Typed letter from Henri to John – November 7, 1988
  • Typed letter from Henri to John – November 22, 1987
  • Typed letter from John to Henri – December 10, 1987
  • Typed letter from Mabel Treadwell to John – October 3, 1984
  • Typed letter from Henri to Jon – September 14, 1984
  • Handwritten letter from Henri to John – August 10, 1983
  • Typed letter from Henri to John – August 14, 1982
  • Handwritten letter from Henri to John – January 27, 1982. Attached is a photograph with the inscription “for the Garvey Family: With many thanks for your constant prayers, Henri. Picture take in Bolivie on Dec. 28, 1982”
  • Typed letter from Henri to John – September 24, 1981
  • Typed letter from Henri to John – January 21, 1981
  • Typed letter from Henri to John – November 13, 1979
  • Typed letter from Henri to John – September 18, 1979
  • Typed letter from Henri to John – November 8, 1979
  • Typed letter from Henri to John and Regina – July 22, 1979
  • Typed letter from Henri to John – April 10, 1979
  • Typed letter from Henri to John – March 11, 1979
  • Typed letter from Henri to John – February 27, 1979
  • Typed letter from Henri to John – December 20, 1978
  • Typed letter from Henri to Todd – August 17, 1976
  • Typed letter from Henri to John and Regina – June 26, 1970
  • Typed letter from John Mogabgab to John Garvey (copy to Henri) – May 30, 1970.

Material by Nouwen

Series consists of materials by Nouwen that was collected after his death. Series includes journal articles; transcripts of Nouwen's talks, homilies, and presentations; interviews; and manuscripts.

The series is divided in the following subseries:

  1. Works by Nouwen
  2. Transcripts of Nouwen's talks

On care and consolation

File consists of a transcript of a talk Nouwen gave on care and consolation in the early 1970s. It is not known where this talk was given, but it was likely to an audience of those in the ministry.

Generation without fathers

File consists of a paper by Nouwen for the Canadian Catholic Conference of June 1, 1970 in Ottawa. This paper was likely published later as "Ministry for a Rootless Generation" in The Wounded Healer (1979). Included is an abstract of the article by the distributor.

1970 family correspondence

File consists of handwritten and typed letters and postcards between Henri Nouwen and his parents from 1970. File also includes newspaper clippings and correspondence sent to the Nouwen family from others including Seward Hiltner, a professor of theology and personality from Princeton Theological Seminary.

1972 family correspondence

File consists of handwritten and typed letters and postcards from Henri Nouwen to his parents from 1972. File also includes event materials and a news release from Yale Divinity School about a "Memorial Service for the Dead in Indochina" in which Nouwen partook in.

Letters from Carolyn Beehler

File consists of 38 original letters and postcards written by Henri Nouwen to Carolyn Beehler and 2 letters written by others to Beehler. File also includes the paper "Case-recording in Pastoral Education" by Henri Nouwen with an annotation from September 20, 1972 and 1 pamphlet for a sermon given by Nouwen on April 15, 1973. Second folder of letters includes an inventory of the letters with brief content notes.

Letters from Pieter Oussoren

File consists of typed and handwritten letters to Pieter Oussoren and Frits Bosch from Nouwen. File includes annotated articles about homosexuality and photographs of Nouwen speaking at Contact Day Conservative Catholics.

Reaching out working papers

File consists of annotated working papers for the book "Reaching Out". The first page of one of the sections has a note to Pat and Mike Sibley from Nouwen. File also contains an additional copy of the draft chapter titled "From Loneliness to Solitude" with annotations in an unknown hand. Papers are separated into the following sections:

  • A Protecting Intimacy
  • A Receiving Intimacy
  • An Unmasking Intimacy
  • From Loneliness to Solitude (chapters 1, 2)
  • From Reaction to Response (chapter 3)
  • From Hostility to Hospitality (chapter 4)
  • Hospitality and Care (chapter 5)
  • Hospitality and the Host (chapter 6)
  • From Illusion to Prayer (chapter 7)
  • The Prayer of the Heart (chapter 8)
  • Prayer and Community (chapter 9)
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