Letter of Appreciation to Jim Jones from Jonestown Students, August 1978
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August 29, 1978
To Jim Jones,
Margarita’s [Geig] Class would like to extend their appreciation for all the school supplies, books in the library and new Guyanese textbooks that help to develop our educational skills.
– I, Detra Smith, thank you personally for being so concerned about our school.
– I, Rochelle Kemp, would like to thank you for caring so much and giving us these new books.
– I, Jennifer Newell, would like to thank you more and more for being so concerned about our education.
– I, Sonya Evans, would like to thank you for providing those wonderful books from Guyana.
– I, Nikki Mitchell, would like to thank you for being so concerned about us and giving us the best education out of the whole wide world. Thank you so very much.
– I, Robert Johnson, is very grateful for caring.
– I, Margarita Geig (teacher) would like to thank you personally for everything that you have done for the students plus the teachers. Nowhere in this world would we receive a better education and teacher’s training that’s provided free of charge. Here teachers have the opportunity for advancement without even a teacher’s license. As I look around me and contemplate on the returning to the enjoyable work in the fields, I say to myself, if it wasn’t for this operation that has set me back physically, I’d be out there pushing for a more productive life. (I sure do miss it.) And I miss the cassava crew I used to supervise and work hard hand-in-hand with. Then I realize also, that there is a reason for everything, and this is where I am right now, teaching, not for myself, but for the children and adults of tomorrow. I am still grateful. Perhaps maybe when I feel stronger, one day I can return to some type of outdoor work. I know I have the ability and fortitude to build and make others build, and that’s my desire. One day, I hope!
Sincerely, Margarita Geig & students
P.S. I am guilty for being late in the morning for teachers meetings several times. I haven’t been feeling well lately, I feel tired and heavy head at times. I am sorry regardless and will try to be on time. I will accept any discipline. Thank you.
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Memo to Leona Collier from Tommie Rochelle, June 1978
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6-20-78 Tues night
Toi Jones [Toi Fonzelle] – information
Toi told me (Tommie Rochelle)
That someone has been calling her home every so often. And every time she call, she would give a different name.
6-18-78 Sun morning. Toi Jones received a phone call saying they were Vernell Henderson and that Leona [Collier] told her to call to see if anyone was bothering her. Toi Got very angry & hung the phone up. Later they call back & Curtis answered the phone & she ask to speak to Corey.
She has also asked to speak to Toi’s daughter at times when she can’t speak to Toi.
6-19-78 Monday morning – Toi received another phone call asking was Sister Johnson there
Toi says it’s nobody but Rosie Mae Williams, brother Harry Williams life making those phone calls, because at the time Rosie tried to find out information from Toi, but Toi didn’t respond, so Rosie started making the phony phone calls.
Toi said: That Rosie made a statement saying that Jim Jones was worse than Rev. Moon.
From Tommie R. [Rochelle]
To Leona C. [Collier]
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Undated Note on Jim Jones’ Pain from Kay Rosas
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I think what makes you suffer the most is when you have a real bad pain and you still have to fight and still have to stay awake night and day. It takes a lot of hard work to protect us like you do.
Kay Rosas
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Note to Jim Jones from Elsie Ross, May 1978
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27-5-78
Elsie Ross
CB 3
Dear Dad: –
I feel in my heart what you are going thru & if there is anything I can do let me know.
You are going thru all this to save us & give us our freedom.
I will die fighting & will carry someone with me – I want to take some of our traitors.
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Note on Jim Jones’ Pain from Liz Ruggerio, May 1978
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26/5 [78]
Dear Dad,
You are suffering every day for us in your health because of the torment we put you through. We show no concern for knowledge and are very selfish. You hurt inside to see this and that people do not change at all. It hurt you to see the people after years of teaching them betray you, and mostly this cause. The pressure of meeting every need to keep the family going & protecting us make sure you have pain & raises your blood pressure. It hurt you that after hours of telling us the news that only a handful of people can say they listened & repeat important items of the news.
Our anarchism which came from capitalistic America is still in our blood. It hurt you that our minds are not on communism like they should.
Thank you dad for not giving up through the many years you’ve struggled to establish this promise land. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a communist and live the life of one.
Liz Ruggerio
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Undated Note to Jim Jones from Pat Rhea
EE-2-pq-6a – 6b
To: Dad
From: Pat Rhea
I would like to thank you Dad for being so loving to all of us. I’d like to thank you for giving this all a beautiful place to live and something worth dying for. Because now I am able to look at death. Even each White Night helps me to stop and look at myself and others. I know as far as Cuba is it sounds beautiful and all but I know if they wouldn’t want me because I was old or something that I would want someone to stay with me. So I wouldn’t want to go unless everything was guaranteed, that we all come or none. Then from there other things. We’d have to look at everything. But I’d rather die fighting if we make it through this White Night, I would like to know if I could change my name from Patricia Rhea to Patricia Hara, after Victor Hara. I like listening to this music. I plan on reading more on him. Also I would like to change my daughter’s name from Asha Tabia Rhea to Aash Tabia Hara or Asha Tabia because her dad [Jerome Othello Rhea] does not show hardly any interest in her. He never picks her up except today. So if I can’t change her last name then I would just like to drop it. Thank you Dad.
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Letter to Edith Roller from family friend, April 1978
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[Untranscribed letter to Edith Roller from family friend, April 24, 1978]
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Memo to Jim Jones from Odell Rhodes, June 1978
EE-2-pq-8a – 8b
27-6-78
Dear Dad
I would like to propose that our Alpha situations be given different status, with specific instructions for each. Example:
Green = situation normal, resume or continue normal duties.
Amber = readiness be on alert – listen for instructions by PA or ISS [Internal Security] officer. IS to go on whatever plan they have.
Red =Situation serious, go to Pavilion, secure entire Jonestown complex.
I think with this system or similar system in operation the people’s actions.
I have also been concerned about how we react when planes fly over. On Sunday most everyone stood around staring or pointing. If photos were taken they could be interpreted in many ways, people could use the negative ones. We are used to planes and should not appear to stand around spellbound by the sight of one. Also no one should enter the radio room or East House at these times except specified persons. Since the last traitor went out I would feel better if you were not in either of these two locations if an unidentified plane is sighted.
With the coded status system the color of the situation could be broadcast and the people would know what action to take if any. We were told to smile & wave, not stand & stare.
Love you Dad
Odell Rhodes Jr.
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Memo to Jim Jones from Edith Roller regarding thefts, September 1978
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10 September 1978
Dear Jim,
I want to report to you a rather strange event which may possibly have security implications – absurd as this may seem.
Yesterday I missed a big blue binder in which I kept the typed copy of the journal I write. It contained a record from August to October 1977 and about 50 pages of blank paper. The last time I used it was last Sunday, 3 September. I never take it out of the cottage and did not do so this time. I looked thoroughly among all my possessions. I kept it in a crate which I had left unlocked a good deal lately, as the lock is beginning to rust and Edith Cordell is in the cottage most of the time. As I checked, I found that another folder was missing, which contained the handwritten notes from August 1977 to August 1978, as I had never thrown any of them away.
My first thought was that somebody just stole the binder (which was a good one) for itself and the paper that was in it. It would have been easy to lift the top of the crate and take the binder, as it might have been near the top. However, the other folder is a different thing – it was buried deeper, it was bulky and would have been harder to walk away with, the paper in it would have been of little value to a thief, as it was all written on.
I don’t think the security danger is very great, no matter who has the notes, as I know no secrets, but these notes contain items on individuals, and I know intelligence agencies consider any information important. It seems unlikely, though, that any agent would have happened on my papers unless Tim Stoen were involved. As you remember, he knew of the journal, as I used to turn it over to him for delivery to Carolyn Layton. That is why I am bringing this to your attention, in case there is a possibility of espionage, rather than just old-fashioned theft.
The paper in the notebook is probably not like any other in Jonestown – good bond, punched for a three-hole binder. I suggest that the tests taken last night be checked for this type of paper and other paperwork which may come to attention – three-hole punch is probably scarce.
Pardon the typing. I got my typewriter fixed, by now something else is wrong with it.
Sorry to bother you with this.
Much love, Edith Roller
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Undated Thank You Note to Jim Jones from L.B. Reeves
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Dear Dad
I love you so much. I want to work real hard for the cause. I can never do enough for you.
Love, L.B. Reeves