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Henri Nouwen fonds
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Van Gogh - resources file

File consists of copies of articles pertaining to van Gogh and a copy of a manuscript on van Gogh by Cliff Edwards at Virginia Commonwealth University. File also contains a copy of a letter of response by Connie Ellis, Nouwen’s administrative assistant.

Material regarding Vincent van Gogh

Subseries consists of photocopies of textual records created in the process of developing a film on Vincent Van Gogh, with which Nouwen was involved, including correspondence, grant applications, research notes, typescripts, film scripts, and film schedules relating to the development and execution of the project. Records are separated into the following 13 folders:

  • File 1: Van Gogh – Quotes I [1980-1981]
  • File 2: Van Gogh – Quotes II [1980]
  • File 3: Van Gogh – Quotes III [1980]
  • File 4: Van Gogh – Notes and correspondence I [1980-1984]
  • File 5: Van Gogh – Notes and correspondence II [1979-1980]
  • File 6: Van Gogh – Notes and correspondence III [1978-1979]
  • File 7: Van Gogh – Notes and correspondence IV [1978-1980]
  • File 8: Compassion – Henri Nouwen I Van Gogh, Hold [1980]
  • File 9: Compassion – Henri Nouwen II – Text for Recording [1980-1981]
  • File 10: Compassion – Henri Nouwen III – Text for Recording [1980-1981]
  • File 11: Compassion – Henri Nouwen IV – Text for Recording [1980]
  • File 12: Compassion – Henri Nouwen V – Text for recording July 21, 1980 [1980]
  • File 13: Compassion – Henri Nouwen VI [1978 or 1980]

Letters regarding 12 1/2 Year Ordination Anniversary

File consists of letters regarding the twelve and a half year anniversary of Nouwen's Ordination. The package has been kept together in its original order. The correspondents include:

  • a telegram from Han and Nelson
  • a telegram from Joe (last name unknown)
  • a telegram from Tante Yvonne and Tante Rie
  • a telegram from Mia Janssens
  • a telegram from the van Susante family.
  • a telegram from Tante Puck and Oom Philip van Campen
  • a telegram from W and W van der Grinten
  • a telegram from Wim and Milene (Wolters)
  • a telegram from Paddy and Loliet Kiely
  • a telegram from Seamus and Sophie (Fitzgerald)
  • a letter from Hans van Wissen
  • a letter from Dr. H. A. J. Wegman
  • a letter from Caspar and Anneke (last name unknown)
  • a letter from the Sint- adelbertabdij Abbey (correspondent unknown)
  • a letter from Virginea Scheerman
  • a letter from Kris ter Reide
  • a letter from Tante Mary
  • a letter from W.G. Ramselaar
  • a letter from Tante [Yvonne?]
  • a letter from Rie P[?]
  • a letter from Jan [?]
  • a letter from Tante Corry and Oom Eef (Offerman)
  • a letter from Tante Lien and Oom Jaap (Otto)
  • a postcard from Tante Truus (Derkx-Nouwen)
  • a letter from Tante Hetty (Berghs)
  • a letter from Tante Hetty (Berghs)
  • a letter from Tante Jeanne (Nouwen)
  • a letter from Tante Jeanne (Nouwen)
  • a card [accompanying flowers?] from Dr. H. J. B. Mulders
  • a letter from H. A. van Munster
  • a letter from [Vinent?]
  • a letter form [Vinent?]
  • a letter from Tante Nel Laumans-Ramselaar
  • a letter from [Tante Ella and Oom Jan?] (Leitjen)
  • a letter from Prof. Mr. M. V. M. van Leeuwe
  • a letter from Oom Quirin B. Laumans
  • a card [accompanying flowers?] from Dr. Th. C. de Kruijf
  • a letter from S. C. M. de Jong-Vreeburg
  • a letter from Marie-Thérèse [Honée?]
  • a letter from Dr. P. G. van Hooijdonk
  • a card [accompanying flowers?] from J. Helthuis
  • a card [accompanying flowers?] from G. J. J. Harmelink
  • a card [accompanying flowers?] from Dr. F. J. A. de Grijs
  • a card [accompanying flowers?] from G. A. H. Groothuis
  • a postcard from Didy [Feringa?]
  • a letter from Tante Truus Derkx-Nouwen
  • an envelope from Jan v. Dijk, Joe Wissink, [Marisinus vd Bek?], H[?] vd [Sandt?] and Dave Schlaver
  • an envelope from Tante Truus, Oom Harry, Hubert, Rosemarie, Magdaleen and Joep
  • a letter from Laurien van Campen
  • a card [accompanying flowers?] from C. G. M. Bak
  • a letter from Joop [Bronschot?]
  • a postcard from G. vd Berg (Gerard van den Berg)
  • a postcard from an unknown sender
  • a list of names and addresses from [Louis?] Engels
  • a letter from Maria
  • a letter from Maria
  • a letter from Kees Bak
  • a letter from Ph. M. P. van de Burgt
  • a letter from Joost and Els
  • a letter from Oom G[?] and Tante L[?]
  • a card [accompanying flowers?] from Bernardus Kardinaal Alfrink

Death notice for Truus Derkx-Nouwen

File consists of a death notice for Truus Derkx-Nouwen (November 28, 1911 - January 16, 2006). Further inquiry to Laurent Nouwen revealed that Truus was Nouwen's fraternal aunt.

Postcard scrapbook

File consists of eighteen loose scrapbook pages which contain sixty-two postcards depicting buildings, streets, and other landmarks in the Netherlands and Germany.

Conciliebrief no. 4 by Ramselaar

File consists of two copies of a document entitled “Conciliebrief no.4 – 4e zitting”, written by Msgr. Antonius Ramselaar, in Rome.

Poem to Oma

File consists of a poem for Oma, Nouwen’s grandmother (Maria Rutten?).

Baby Book

File consists of a baby book given to Nouwen’s mother at the time of his birth.

Baptismal records

File consists of a photocopy of Henri Nouwen's baptismal record and birth certificate.

Typescripts of Boisen book

File consists of manuscripts for a book on Anton T. Boisen.

Folder 1 consists of seven typed manuscripts by Nouwen on Boisen. They include:

  • Boisen and Forestry
  • Dr. William Lowe Bryan
  • Boisen and Coe (George Albert Coe (1862-1951) important contributor to religious education in the US)
  • The Symbolic Flower
  • Anton Boisen’s Relationship with Alice Batchelder
  • The Background of a Clinician
  • Boisen and Freud

Folder 2 consists of eight typed manuscripts by Nouwen on Boisen. They include:

  • The Symbolic Flower
  • Dr. William Lowe Bryan (2 copies)
  • Boisen and Freud
  • Boisen and Forestry
  • Boisen and Coe
  • The Background of a Clinician
  • Boisen (2 copies) [3-page document about Nouwen's visit with Boisen in the Elgin State hospital in August 1964]
  • Anton Boisen’s Relationship with Alice Batchelder
    Folder 2 also contains sections of The Symbolic Flower and Anton Boisen’s Relationship with Alice Batchelder, as well as handwritten notes by Nouwen entitled, Richard Cabot and Anton Boisen.

Henri Nouwen fonds

  • CA ON00389 F4
  • Fonds
  • 1910 - 1997, 1964 - 1996 predominant

Fonds consists of 15 series:

  1. Manuscripts
  2. General files
  3. Calendar files
  4. Personal records
  5. Publisher files
  6. Financial files
  7. Teaching materials
  8. Nouwen’s education records and study notes
  9. Published works
  10. Video recordings of Nouwen
  11. Sound recordings
  12. Collected materials
  13. L'Arche Daybreak administrative files
  14. Ephemera and artifacts
  15. Photographs

Nouwen, Henri J.M.

Visit of Conrad T. Fischer - February 19 - March 13, 1991

File consists of correspondence regarding a visit from Conrad Fischer to L'Arche Daybreak. Includes the letter from Fischer requesting to visit, Nouwen's response, and a memo from Nouwen to Sue Mosteller and Joe Vorstermans regarding the visit.

Ordination material

File consists of material from Nouwen’s ordination ceremony on July 21, 1957 in Utrecht and on July 28, 1957 in Scheveningen, including reminder cards, dinner menu and two copies of a photograph of Nouwen as a child playing priest. File also includes copies of Nouwen's ordination certificates from 1955-1956.

Doctoral degree and Police clearance certificate

File consists of photocopies of Nouwen’s degrees and certificates, declarations from October 27, 1988, of Nouwen’s doctorate in Psychology (February 3, 1964) from the department of Social Sciences at the Katholieke Universiteit (University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, NL) and in Theology (October 7, 1971), and a police clearance certificate from the York Regional Police from October 19, 1988. Material in the first folder was likely gathered while Nouwen was applying for Canadian citizenship. File also consists of a second folder of awards, certificates, memberships, and degrees awarded to Nouwen from 1979-1995. A third folder consists of additional copies of degrees, original grade reports, and a letter from Nouwen's brother on the need for these documents for Henri's work in the United States.

Hospitality frees guests

This item is a half-page article by Henri Nouwen entitled, ‘Hospitality Frees Guests’ published in the National Catholic Reporter, September 27, 1974, p. 11. Nouwen begins the article by stating, ‘If the first characteristic of the spiritual life is the continuing movement from loneliness to solitude, its second characteristic is the movement by which hostility can be converted in hospitality’. Nouwen suggests that if we meet others out of needy loneliness that will not create an open space of hospitality to help the other be who they should be. Nouwen states that he believes the biblical concept of hospitality ‘might offer a new dimension to our understanding of a healing relationship and the formation of a recreating community’. Hospitality creates ‘not a fearful emptiness , but a friendly emptiness where strangers can enter and discover themselves as created free…’.

Letters from Christopher de Vinck

File consists of six letters from Christopher de Vinck; including excerpts from his book "Simple Wonders" with annotations by Nouwen, and a book proposal “The Journey with Henri Nouwen: Fellow Pilgrims Speak”.

Funeral materials

File consists of materials from various Nouwen funerals including preparation documentation; eulogies; speech transcripts; programs; articles; poems; in memoriam notices; newsletter notices; a funeral guest book; attendance lists; and sympathy notes.

Drafts of Selma 1965

File consists of five copies (three original copies, two original mimeographs) of a draft typescript of "Selma 1965: naar de 'deep, deep south'", about Nouwen's participation in the civil rights march from Selma, AL, to Montgomery, AL, in 1965. Nouwen wrote this paper while a theological fellow in the program of religion and psychiatry at The Menninger Clinic (Topeka, KS). File also includes a copy owned by L.J.M. Nouwen with annotations.

Prayer and health care

This item is an 11 page article by Henri Nouwen entitled, ‘Prayer and Health Care’, published in Review by the Catholic Health Association of Canada, Vol. 17, No. 4, Winter 1989, pp.5 – 16. This article is adapted from a lecture given by Nouwen for the CHAC’s 50th anniversary Day of Celebration, October 25, 1989 in Ottawa, ON. Nouwen begins by reminding his audience of the talk he gave 12 years previously on compassion and indicates that he would now like to speak on the source of compassion: prayer. Nouwen begins by writing about Jesus’ prayer which is the source of Jesus’ life-giving ministry. ‘Every aspect of Jesus’ ministry, every word, every action and every detail of his own journey bespeaks life…’ Nouwen states that from his prayer of listening Jesus understands he is the beloved and that he wants us to know that we are also. ‘Jesus wants each of us to be just as much a child of God as he is himself’. Nouwen then goes on to describe the stresses and pressures that prevent us from being able to hear the God who desires us and our need, over time, to turn to God, to live our lives for God. Nouwen then goes on to speak about freedom which will come from prayer as we learn to listen, to move away from obsessions and compulsions, to say ‘no’ to death forces. The last half of the article speaks about the discipline of prayer in three ways: discipline of the mind, discipline of the heart, and discipline of the body. Nouwen concludes by stating, ‘ …I call all of you to be men and women of prayer, men and women truly belonging to God, men and women who at every moment of your existence and every part of yourselves will give life, not in your own name, but in the name Him who said, “I come to bring life…” Folder also contains a loose leaf photocopy of the article with annotations.

Materials from Pendle Hill Summer Institute

  • CA ON00389 F4-7-1-2145
  • File
  • 1976 - August 1982, predominant 1982
  • Part of Henri Nouwen fonds

File consists of materials related to Pendle Hill, predominantly to the Summer Institute, a 5-week retreat run between June 28 and early August 1982 where Nouwen taught. There are also materials from the 1970s but they were most likely gathered by Nouwen for use during this event.
There are 36 handwritten pages by Nouwen which appear to be preparation notes for various lectures he gave at the institute. There is also a 6-page typed document by John Mogabgab titled "Pendle Hill Conversations Meeting 4 (October 27, 1977) Summary Notes".
Material that relates directly to the 1982 retreat includes correspondence from Pendle Hill dated May 17, 1982 to the 43 participants in the retreat regarding housing arrangements, health insurance, typewriting and cooperative housekeeping chores. There is also a typed list of all the participants and their addresses. As well, there is a eight page group of typed notes titled "Some Notes for a Five Weeks [sic] Reflection on the Gospel of Luke" as well as sheet music and a Curriculum Vitae of a lay reader from Sydney, Australia. There is also a photocopy of a long-distance phone bill containing a letter from one of Nouwen's suite mates regarding an overpayment. Nouwen's long-distance calls are noted.
File also includes three pamphlets from Pendle Hill, namely Parker Palmer's "Meeting for Learning" and "A Place called Community" and Douglas V. Steere's "On Speaking out of the Silence", as well as some ephemera.
Also contained in this file is a program schedule for a commemoration conference on Thomas Merton, hosted by Columbia University between November 27 and December 10, 1978. It appears that Nouwen cancelled some of his plans for this conference to visit Pendle Hill. See Weekly Calendars 1978.
File also contains an introduction package for the institute consisting of a welcome letter by Parker Palmer and brief staff biographies.

Seeing Christ: a meditation on Andrew Rublev's Saviour of Zvenigorod

This item is two copies of a 4 page article by Henri Nouwen entitled,’ Seeing Christ: A meditation on Andrew Rublev’s Savior of Zvenigorod’, published in America, Vol. 154, No. 1, January 4 – 11, 1986, pp. 4 – 7. Nouwen begins this meditation on the icon by stating, ‘To see Christ is to see God and all of humanity. This mystery has evoked in me a burning desire to see the face of Jesus’. Nouwen then relates this to his love of the face of Christ as portrayed by Rublev in this icon. Nouwen begins by describing the damage to this 15thC image and then describes what he sees as a ‘tender human face’ and the colors ‘of inexpressible beauty’ which are used. The next focus for Nouwen are the eyes of Christ: ‘Their gaze is so mysterious and deep that any word that tries to describe them is inadequate’. Nouwen concludes the meditation by stating, ‘Seeing the Christ by Rublev is a profound event…seeing Christ leads us to the heart of God as well as to the heart of all that is human’. In an Afterword, Nouwen discusses the icon painting tradition and notes that beginning in the 6th C. there is a tendency to portray the face of Christ in a similar way in all icons and in a way which may be related to the face on the Shroud of Turin which may have been the actual face of Christ.

Marriage as ministry

Item consists of photocopies of a typescript of "Marriage as Ministry". Nouwen argues that marriage as ministry has two functions: binding the wounds of the other, and healing the suffering guest. One copy is in the bound volume and one is a loose copy.

Draft of Ukrainian Diary

File consists of a bound draft manuscript of Ukrainian Diary : July 24 - August 14, 1993. The draft includes a copy of a letter from Nouwen dated November 30, 1993 (on L'Arche Daybreak letterhead) to friends saying he was finally able to finish his Ukrainian Diary and it tells about how Nathan [Ball], Zenia [Kushpeta], Borys [Gudziak], and Nouwen lived while in Ukraine. Nouwen says "If you do not have time to read the whole journal you might just focus on the entries from August 1 through August 11 because those were the dates that we were actually in Ukraine. The entries from July 24 to August 1 are preparatory notes, and the entries from August 12 through the 14th are some reflections after we returned from our trip." He concludes by saying he hopes to finish the text during his time away in January (1994).

L'Arche in North America: home, healing and hope

This item is a 5-page article by Henri Nouwen entitled ‘L’Arche in North America: Home, Healing and Hope’, published in ‘Letters of L’Arche’, No. 76, 1992, pp. 2 – 6. Nouwen is writing this at the time of the funeral of Pere Thomas Philippe, one of the founders of L’Arche. Nouwen senses that Pere Thomas’ legacy of the vision of L’Arche will continue to live, ‘he can bring a rich harvest’. Nouwen goes on to ask ‘how to be l’Arche in North America’? Nouwen sees three core words that will bear much fruit: Home, Healing and Hope. I. Home: Nouwen sees L’Arche as being home especially for the core members many of whom have experienced living in institutional places that were not ‘home’. Nouwen goes on to describe the sense of homelessness that many in North America experience: actual homelessness, but also places where people live without a welcome, places where people live in loneliness, places where people live alone together. Nouwen notes that the Assistants who come to L’Arche have and do experience this homelessness as well. Nouwen sees that home at L’Arche provides a place to be home but also to be a place of mission and a recognition that we are still journeying home. II. Healing: ‘The great paradox of L’Arche is that, while no one is cured, everyone is healed’. Nouwen speaks of the great suffering that has been experienced by the core members but also by the Assistants. All seek healing. ‘It is clear that we are all handicapped that we all need to offer each other healing by the way we live together’. III. Hope: ‘L’Arche invites people, barely respected or acknowledged by our society, to become witnesses of hope’. ‘Joy, peace, acceptance, truthfulness, the ability to welcome, to forgive and to celebrate; these are only some of the gifts handicapped people have to offer…This knowledge of the ‘gift of the poor’ has been a great inspiration in L’Arche over the years, and has made L’Arche into a true sign of hope’.

Drafts of Power, powerlessness and power

File consists of a draft manuscript and typescript of "Power, Powerlessness and Power", including related correspondence. Folder (1) contains a fax copy of a manuscript and typescript. Folder (2) contains faxed correspondence between Nouwen's administrative assistants, Kathy Christie and Lydia Banducci, and Marion Hollis, of L'Arche Limited (Suffolk, England) and Zizi (last name unknown). Includes a fax copy of an illustration by Zizi (last name unknown), that Nouwen intended to use with this article.

Social security documents

File consists of photocopies of Nouwen’s US Social Security card, and a Social Security Summary of Statement of Earnings prior to 1980.

Death documentation

File consists of materials related to Nouwen's death including death certificates; insurance benefits, files, and correspondence; Nouwen's last will and testament; financial records regarding taxes and royalties; memorial cards; notes; arrangements for Nouwen's gravestone; pamphlets from memorial events; instructions for L'Arche Daybreak on responding to inquiries; and the power of attorney for personal care document from 1995.

Certificate of registration to perform marriages

File consists of Nouwen’s Certificate of Registration from the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations authorizing him to legally perform marriages in the Province of Ontario; including material relating to the Marriage Act of the Government of Ontario.

Driving documentation

File consists of a photocopy of a Declaration of Aptitude for driving in the Netherlands with a foreign Driver’s license, and a license renewal form from Massachusetts.

Personal cards

File consists of an envelope containing Nouwen’s Social Insurance card, Ontario Health card, ManuAssist card, York Central Hospital card, and US Social Security card. Also includes his name badge for York Central Hospital Pastoral Services.

Myer-Briggs report

File consists of Nouwen’s report of the results of his Myer-Briggs type indicator personality test; including a photocopy of the description of his personality type.

1981 last will and testament

File consists of a copy of Nouwen’s Last Will and Testament from 1981, including a letter from Nouwen’s father in 1993.

Health insurance documentation

File consists of a summary of Nouwen’s health coverage, including a Blue Cross and Blue Shield brochure, and contract.

Distribution card

File consists of a distribution card issued to Nouwen. This card identified Nouwen and indicated what resources he received following the Second World War.

Curriculum vitae

File consists of Nouwen’s curriculum vitae from 1976 to 1982, including lists of his published works.

Appraisal of chalice

File consists of the appraisal of Nouwen’s ordination chalice (a gift from his Uncle Antonius Ramselaar), from Gem Service, a division of Harold Weinstein Ltd.

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