Jacques Maritain., 05/02/1945-05/02/1945

File — Box: 1, Folder: 48

Identifier: 65739

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Michael Richey papers 1, consist of original correspondence from personal friends who also comprise the notable circle of artists who congregated at the home of English sculptor Eric Gill (1882-1940), on Pigotts farm in Buckinghamshire. Together with Gill, these included Anthony Foster, Rene Hague, David Jones, Walter Shewring, and Denis Tegetmeier.

Correspondence is also included from other well-known acquaintances (many of whom were related or closely associated to the Pigotts circle), such as Tom Burns, Graham Greene, Harman Grisewood (also longtime friend of Rene Hague and David Jones), Shirley Hazzard, Fiona MacCarthy (Gill's biographer), Jacques Maritain, Prudence Pelham (Buhler), Margaret Pepler, George Speaight, and Bernard Wall, as well as members of Richey's family.

Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by individual. Michael Richey provided annotations to many of the letters, indicated with an asterisk (*). A copy of the complete annotations is located in Folder 73.

Dates

05/02/1945-05/02/1945

Conditions Governing Access

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Extent

From the Collection: 0.42 Linear Feet (1 Hollinger Document Case)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Container Summary

TLS (1 page), dated 5/2/1945, in French.* Richey comments: "In the Garrick House days Jacques Maritain, the eminent French scholastic philosopher was due to call on Bernard Wall and I had been asked to go down into the street to intercept him and show him the way. I found a somewhat puzzled Frenchman and ventured "Monsieur Maritain?" "C'est moi meme," he responded. That was virtually the extent of our conversation but for me it was like greeting Aristotle. Shortly after the fall of Rome to the Allies I was able to visit the city while my ship was being refitted in Taranto. I saw that Maritain had been appointed French Ambassador to the Holy See and wrote to congratulate him, reminding him of our previous encounter. His charming reply from the Embassy was clearly banged out on his own typewriter."