Events Summary, Roller Monthly Journals 1975-78 Source in FBI RYMUR materials



July 1975 (July 16-31) 27 pages (from typed journal) RYMUR 89-4286- HH-2-1 to -HH-2-25

— Returned from Chicago – Jim says very receptive to Socialism there. — Edith’s sister Dorothy turned away in Chicago after long discourse — Talk of leaving RV-Ukiah, “atmosphere rural life getting worse” — Possible campaign in Hawaii: arranged for $300 — Chris Lewis mentioned [ie back in states] — Trial in Sonoma-Santa Rosa whites who attacked Joe Wilson & Ronnie James — Kids “gang” in Temple — Boxing as punishment — Jim takes whacks — Joanne Little trial in news — Senate Bill 1 powers discussed — Tim Stoen visits at night twice — PT voted into the Cyuanese Council of Churches

August 1975 (Aug 1-31) 44 pages (from typed journal) RYMUR 89-4286- HH-2-26 to -HH-2-67

— Edith borrows $300 at 19% from B of A for trip — Larry Schacht admitted to UC Irvine Med school — Edith has fall and cut at Buttonwillow — Gene Chaikin back from Guyana — Aug 2 canceling trip to PL and maybe Hawaii too — Chris Lewis speaks at service — Aug 6 facing plot by CIA and Kinsolving. Postpone trips — Deanna Mertle ruptured appendix — Goodlett offered to take Jim to Socialist countries — Danny Kutulas out of Temple and back — Jim speaks at Muslim Temple in SF — Mexico trip to replace Hawaii trip — “Joe Hill” film shown in service — SF Police and Firemen strike — Aug 24 Jim w/part of congregation went to Nation of Islam mosque meeting SF — Mexico trip cancelled — Edith had vacation from work as trip cancelled—went to Chinese exhibit in SF — Congregation listens to Paul Robeson story on KQED TV — Tim Stoen [supposedly] shot but ok. Shot in Ukiah near Rexall in car — Temple plans to buy hotel in SF — Discussed adoption Agnes, loss of Suzanne’s sister and getting Suzanne — Disneyland trip emerges- planned for Labor Day (Sept 1)

September 1975 (Sep 1-15) 23 pages (from typed journal) RYMUR 89-4286- HH-2-68 to -HH-2-89

— Sept 1 Disneyland — Sept 5 Visit to Lorraine & Ryn (friend of Edith at SFSU) — Sept 7 Sandy Ingram back from p.l. with Helen Swinney — 11 Children from PT to go to Drew College Prep School in SF

February 1976 (Feb 1-15) 26 pages (from typed journal) RYMUR 89-4286- HH-2-90 to -HH-2-114

— Feb 1 Edith discusses going communal — Discussions with Dorothy (co worker Bechtol) re religion, etc. — Edith pamphleting — Mention of Marie Lawrence in article in SF Examiner (re PT support) — Showing of “Pawnbroker” movie in meeting. — Neva Sly denounced — Deputy Mayor of LA connected to feeling gentitalia of police officer

March 1976 (Mar 1-31) 46 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286- C-2-A-7- (1) to -C-2-A-7- (111)

— Edith notarized doc for her sisters; Edith gets raise, names salary $830/mo — No California snow… — Edith connections at SF State — Bible errors — Herb Caen article — JJ Mike Prokes back from JT w/video — Political figures SF at PT service Gain, Willie Brown, Harvey Milk,… — Angela Davis asks support in N Carolina… — Bobby Stroud, conscientious objector discharge from Army — Preparing for negative woman reporter expected April 4, 1976

April 1976 (Apr 1-30) 49 pages (from handwritten & typed notes) RYMUR 89-4286- C-2-A-8- (1) to -C-2-A-8- (109). [21 Apr (72) – (75) typed]

— Poor turnout for Dennis Banks fund raising — Muslims visit PT service & PT visits Muslim service, April 4 & 11 Sunday — PT writes letters fro Cecil Williams re Playboy mockery of him — Work with KGO-TV staff, rehab of drug addicts — Muni strike

May 1976 (May 1-31) 63 pages (from handwritten & typed notes) RYMUR 89-4286- C-2-A-9- (1) to -C-2-A-9- (143) 12 May & 21- 24 May typed

— Letters/phone call to sisters, arrange meeting — Trip to Chicago: 1 bus left May 2; 1 service May 4 with Nation of Islam — Muslims visit PT for SF and LA services — PT guests at Nation of Islam Jubilee May 23, LA — Muni Strike continues — Visitors courting PT for June Calif vote — Tim Stoen finishes part-time, begins full-time in SF DA office, voter fraud — Edith buys portable electric typewriter — Sign up for June Cross country trip– St Louis, NY, Philadelphia, Chicago etc — First contact w/ Charles Garry — Chris Lewis said to be on a “mission.” — BART opened May 27

June 1976 (Jun 1-30) 45 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286- C-1-A-1- (1) to -C-1-A-1- (109)

— Working trip cross country: June 13 into July includes Wash DC. — Further planning of Edith reunion with sisters to August. — Some kids to p.l. including Jimbo Jones (Agnes Jones son) RYMUR 89-4286- C-1-A-6- (1) to -C-1-A-6- (159) — Talk of raising money for a plane — Teri Buford back from p.l. with pics

July 1976 (Jul 1-31) 52 pages (from handwritten and typed notes) RYMUR 89-4286- C-2-A-2- (1) to -C-2-A-2- (125) 23 July – typed

— Much description of Edith’s work at Bechtel — Arranging and getting permission for reunion with sisters in Aug 15-21 — Jack Arnold Beam gone but not unfriendly to PT; says life tough out of PT — Kathleen Cleaver, Eldridge’s wife, in service, Jul 3. Trial scheduled Jul 23 — Jim visits Eldridge Cleaver in jail July 13. — July 4 in RV; list of places left in RV, only money making — LA Temple for sale — Tommy Moore returns to Vicki Moore — July 18 Dr. John Moore at SF PT service — Dennis Banks mentioned — Magazine article mentioned July 24, negative to PT, Mayor Bradly, others LA. — Letter from Don Beck in JT read in service

August 1976 (Aug 1-31) 51 pages (from handwritten and typed notes) RYMUR 89-4286- C-1-A-3- (1) to -C-1-A-2- (128) 8 Aug -typed

— Mother LeTourneau, and several from Peace Mission put out of PT. — Cutting back buses to LA; call for more to move to SF — Training Marquita at Bechtel; Dor (her boss) negative towards Edith — Family reunion for Edith & Sisters in Denver, CO: Aug 15-25. — Revealed Liz Forman has left PT — Don Beck returns from p.l.

Sept 1976 (Sept 1-30) 54 pages (from handwritten and typed notes) RYMUR 89-4286- C-1-A-4- (1) to -C-1-A-4- (131) 29 Sep -typed

— Edith getting shots for Guyana; has her passport. — Slides of Guyana from Gene Chaikin — Films shown in Friday night and Wednesday night services sometimes. — Liz Forman gone: Edith speaks to various this month to get more info on it. — Grace Stoen had been in the p.l. — Preparing for Muslim Jubilee trip cross country (Oct 4-10 meetings) — Labor Day (Sept 6) Edith with Lor de la Fuente and company. — Met Eldridge Cleaver, Kathleen Cleaver — Fresno Bee Four (Sept 6-12): Temple demonstration to support — Democratic Campaign Rally — Edith previews her communal apartment with Rheaviana — Problems with children in SF, Jim calls for tighter more activities for child. — Sept 25 Testimonial Dinner for JJ at PT, many celebrity guests

Oct 1976 (Oct 1-31) 49 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286- C-1-A-5- (1) to -C-1-A-5- (121)

— Oct. 2 Sat. Edith goes communal, moves into 1029 Geary apartments — Back from trip East to Muslims, results discussed — PT attends Democratic Rally several times; Meets Jimmy & Rosalyn Carter — Only Vitamin C supplied to communes — Problems at work continue: discussed and tried to resolve them — Opportunity school: PT students probs but best curriculum for PT, PT donate $ — Crash nr Barbados Cubana Flight 455, Oct 6. CIA involved: united soc causes — Needs of p.l.: equipment, freighgter, small plane, Toyota Rovers. — Something large thrown into Jim’s bus window traveling north on 5 — Bob Houston was one who went out in Sept, crushed between trains. — John Gardener, Ronnie Dennis, Garnet Johnson, Nawab Lawrence, Dov Lundquist: problem kids sent to p.l. with Tom Kice whose building skills needed. — In general discipline being tightened, call to SF, go communal, be ready to go. — Supreme Court decision wrong to target getting more minorities in schools — Edith gets Bell’s palsy but little reference to it — Jim accepts mayor’s appointment to Housing Commission — Announced Jon Stoen in p.l. permanently — Jim meets Ralph Nader

November 1976 (Nov 1-30) 66 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286- C-1-A-6- (1) to -C-1-A-6- (159)

— Many pages unreadable because of bad copying… — Nov 2 Presidential, etc election: Sen Hayacawa and Pres Carter — Nov 12 Soc Labor Party: So African Protest w/Cecil Williams & Willie Brown — Throughout: children brought up for discipline: school, newspapering, beh. — Tighten-up communes: much confront behaviors; behavioral problems sent out — Blacktop behind church put in — Temple Broadcasts mentioned — Eunice Blackwell-Wright from Mississippi spoke at church — Penny Kerns chases AF man listening in to service, followed to Sacto & Miss. — Jimmy Gill transsexual, JJ support alternatives — PT supports anti-aparteid in So Africa – Bill Anderson fr/So Africa speaks — PT supports Chileans — Linda Mertle leaves, back with parents

December 1976 (Dec 1-31) 57 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286- C-1-A-7- (1) to -C-1-A-7- (146)

— Throughout month, much confrontation in meetings as discipline is tightened — Uncommitted fringe members causing problems, sent on their way — Linda Mertle declared arch enemy — Testing members on socialism — Lt Gov Mervin Dymally visits JT — Gyanese Government Dinner honoring JJ in Georgetown — Wilmington 10; Ben Chavez; Angela Davis’ Alliance Agnst Racism & Polit Rep — Hongisto jailed for refusing to evict International Hotel — Laura Allende sister of Pres Allende of Chile speaks to Temple — Eva Pugh returns to SF to work on finances

January 1977 (Jan 1-31) 59 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286-C-2-A-5-(1) to -(148)

–Jan 2 Chilean visitors—Isobel Allende (daughter) –Jan 15 MLK Memorial service at PT, State, city Officials, religious leaders –Jan 15+ PT marches at International Hotel –Jan 16 Glide Memorial, Jim Jones awarded 4th Annual MLK Award –Jan 16-28 Trip to Houston. Washington –Edith turns in copyJournal notes to Tim Stoen, told not to take notes publicly –Revamp Communal kitchen/procurement/ etc. –Distribution of Peoples Forum –Jan 23- PT watches “Roots” 6 part miniseries

August 1977 (Aug 13-31) 13 pages (OCR – denser text) RYMUR 89-4286-HH-7-(117) to -(128)

–(Jim gone, not much mention of people leaving, though many left in Aug) –Marcy handling services—alternating SF & LA, busses still traveling –Casper Weinberger working at Bechtel –Phone call from Sister Dorothy re Newsweek article –Edith working with Phyllis Chaikin on Affidavits of healing –Communes scaling down; consolidating apt rentals

September 1977 (Sept 1-30) 24 pages (OCR – denser text) RYMUR 89-4286-C-3-A-4-(1) to (82) OR RYMUR 89-4286-HH-2-(129) to -(150) (typed)

–Marcy handling services—alternating SF & LA, busses still traveling –Communes scaling down; consolidating apt rentals –Being ready to leave—short notice. –Gather more books, materials for Guyana. –Lt Gov Dymally attends PT SF 18 Sept –Attend Russian Delegation reception at American-Russian Institute22 Sept –Jean Brown returns from visit to Guyana mission

October 1977 (Oct 1-31) 23 pages (OCR – denser text) RYMUR 89-4286-C-3-A-5-(1) to (80)

–Marcy handling services—alternating SF & LA, busses seem not to be going –Communes scaling down; consolidating apt rentals –Oct 16 800 said to be at JT –Oct 23 Sandy Bradshaw returned from JT visit. –Jim tape of radio broadcast about Guyana mission for broadcast So. America. –Jim as “Bishop Jones” –Oct 29 Temple w/Delancy St demonstrate against Prince Charles (Irish vs Brits)

November 1977 (Nov 1-30) 35 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286-C-3-A-6-(1) to (101)

–Marcy handling services—alternating SF & LA, LA comes north only –Communes scaling down; consolidating apt rentals –More notes re work at Bechtel… –Edith asks about resigning Bechtel, end of year go on SS, approved. –Marcy back from Guyana [not clear when she went down] –Nov 6 Guests- Charles Garry, Mary Warner (Human Rights Commission) –Letters to Rep Don Clausen, Reps John & Philip Burton, Sen Alan Cranston. –Nov 9 Voting in SF –Films from Jonestown by Prokes –Nov 16 8am to 6pm Marching in protest around Examiner bldg –Jim sends statement to congregation re: John Victor as his child. –Nov 19 Tim Stoen comes out supporting Grace Stoen Examiner article –Nov 24 Thanksgiving. Group from Temple at Dennis Banks reception Oakland –Nov 29 PT Grp at American Trade Union mtg Russian Trade Union delegation

December 1977 (Dec 1-31) 28 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286-C-3-A-7-(1) to (81)

— Lisa Layton and Debbie Layton preparing to go to Guyana — Terry Buford comes back from Guyana to do Debbie’s work in SF — Dennis Banks Fund Raising Concert at Temple — Edith’s 2 sisters (Dor & Eddie) visit for 10 days around Xmas. — Edith retired from Bechtel at end of Dec. — Edith preparing to go to Guyana — Chris Lewis shot in Hunters Point — KGO Ron Owens Interview on radio of Marcy, Jean B, Jim McElvane

January 1978 (Jan 1-31) 74 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286-2018- C-2 -A-1 (1) to (80)

— Preparing, packing to go to Jonestown

— Gave check from Dor to Lor [friend not PT] to keep for Edith in case she needed it later

— Departed San Francisco Jan 16; Arrived in Georgetown Jan. 17.

— Several days in GT: immigration matters, seeing city, visiting Zoo & Botanical Gardens

— Left GT Jan 26 on Cudjoe (Don Sly captaining) to Pt. Kaituma, Jan 27.

— New arrival reception — Rally and Entertainment.

— Luggage searched when they arrived

— Settling in: cottage and work assignment (teaching), explain schedule, medical office, etc.

— Sundays: parents with their children

— Agricultural report

— All day loudspeaker with admonitions from Jim.

February 1978 (Feb 1-28) 127 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286-2018- C-3-A-2 (1) to (127)

— Guests coming: Soviet & Cuban Ambassadors & Tass correspondent. On-again/off-again /on-again

— Jack Baron showed me around: plants, crops, toddler play area, stream.

— Saw Lynetta Jones Grave. [died 9-Dec-1977]

¬— Visit by US Embassy official and a US lawyer

— New arrivals Feb12

— Entries to Journal. Washing clothes. Daily trip to Medical office for medication

— Observed & critiqued classes

— Rallies (9 times) Ag reports (8 times), medical reports, work reports; people on floor

— Entertainment in evening: 8 times

— No rain –> bucket brigades throughout Feb. for watering plantings

— Letter writing

— Socialism classes, literacy classes

— White Night Discussion (Feb 16)

— First child in “isolation site” — children shown where & what would happen if misbehaved (Feb 20)

— Jim reports “stateside news” evenings over speaker system

— PNC (Peoples National Congress, political party) Rally in Port Kaituma (Feb 25-26)

— Cleared area near cottages burned

March 1978 (Mar 1-31) 171 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286-2018- C-3-A-3 (1) to (171)

— New arrivals Mar 1.

— Resumes to be gathered from all residents

— Rallies (11 times): Ag reports-lengthy (9 times), entertainment (8 times), people on floor

— Intruder Mar 6

— Port Kaituma nursing for local folk

— Bucket brigade continues

— Entertainment Program Mar 17

— Breast Exams Mar 22; shots Mar 29.

— New arrivals Mar 25

— Movies at night

— Use of Box (isolation place) for adults

— Call in recorders (Mar 28)

— Materials due to Guyana Educ. Dept for certification of our school

— New arrivals (Mar 29)

— Shots in the bush

April 1978 (Apr 1-30) 148 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286-2018- C-2 -A-2 (1) to (148)

— Bucket Brigade

— Rallies (12 times): Ag reports-lengthy (9 times), entertainment (7 times), people on floor

— JT Medical staff see patients in Pt. Kaituma

— Apr 12 & 13, discuss White Night

— Women’s Revolutionary Socialist Movement (WRSM) – 3 meetings

— Concerned Relatives threat

— Save electricity was going into effect

— Guest: Tass News Reporter (Apr 15-16)

— SF Press conference

— Teachers’ Conference in GT (Apr 17-23)

— Safety plan: check-in 4 times daily to protect all

— Jim questions whether isolation box works as changing behaviors

— Shots from the bush (Apr 22)

— Jonestown school system a credited by Guyana Dept of Ed

— Ag Report: Soap Project Apr25; Pea-Nut Crop Apr 28

— Dentist from GT visits Apr 30

May 1978 (May 1-31) 137 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286-2018- C-2 -A-3 (1) to (137)

— Rallies (9 times): Ag reports-lengthy (6 times), entertainment (3 times), people on floor

— Women’s Revolutionary Socialist Movement (WRSM) – 2 meetings

— Mosquito spraying (May 10)

— Guests: John & Barbara Moore, parents of Ann and Carolyn (May 12-14)

— Group discusses Debbie Layton’s leaving

— Choosing texts to use from Guyana school texts

— New arrivals (May 16)

— Learning Crew renamed New Brigade

— Mrs. Hunter from Ukiah in GT (May 20)

— “Windmill playground” being built next to cottages at night, camouflage for a watch tower

— Newsmen expected May 21

— New Arrivals (May 24)

— Alert called, White Night, noon May 25

— Ag: Sick Chicks (May 27)

— Boat in at Pt Kaituma, New Arrivals

June 1978 (Jun 1-30) 99 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286-2018- C-2 -A-4 (1) to (99)

— Rallies (6 times): Ag reports-lengthy (6 times), entertainment (1 time), people on floor

— Women’s Revolutionary Socialist Movement (WRSM) – 2 meetings

— Socialism classes and being tested on what

— PNC Rally – Burnham (Jun 2-3)

— Watched the movie “Z”, discussion for many days

— News men visit

— Debbie Layton who left, is in Caracas

— School Open House

— Little bull calf born

— Monthly remembrance of Lynetta Jones’ death

— Our own fruit preserves from our plantings at a meal

— FCC cancels PT radio license

— Roots series shown (Jun 23)

— Political Enlightenment class

— No electricity or water (Jun 25)

— Enquirer plane fly-over (Jun 26 & 30)

— Several days of Journal unreadable

July 1978 (Jul 28) 1 page (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286-2018- C-3-A-1 (2)

— NO JULY JOURNAL

— Only one page, Sun July 28, crossed out on back of Aug 2 entry

August 1978 (Aug 1-31) 96 pages (from handwritten notes) RYMUR 89-4286-2018- C-3-A-1 (1) to (96)

— Rallies (7 times): Ag reports (4 times), entertainment (3 times), people on floor

— Socialism class (5 times)

— Women’s Revolutionary Socialist Movement (WRSM) – 2 meetings

— Eye checks

— Edith changes cottages

— Socialism classes

— Oral tests on what learned: paper shortage in JT

— Radio ban in US on responding to “Jonestown/Peoples Temple” shortwave.

— Fashion show

— Making “Africa patch-work quilt” to learn countries

— All-day pavilion meeting

— Guest: Don Freed (Aug 21-23), wrote “The Parallax View”

— Freed said Tim Stoen CIA agent

— Electricity outages

— Russian classes

September 1978 (Sep 10) 1 page (typed letter) RYMUR 89-4286-2018- EE-2-pq-9

— Letter to Jim about binder, paper Journal notes missing from her foot-locker.