[Editor’s notes: The letters on this page derive from several sources, principally FBI Section 126 • EE-1 • Letters to Dad (K-M); FBI Section 130 • EE-2 • Letters to Jim Jones; and FBI Sections 121-123 • BB-31 – BB-32 • Tim Stoen, D Touchette.
[Insofar as possible, these letters have been arranged in alphabetical order of the writer’s last name. Unless otherwise noted, the letters retain their original spelling and grammar.
[Peoples Temple member often used old reports and documents as scratch paper, using the reverse side of these pages for their letters. We have labeled and transcribed those scratch pages which include information about Jonestown.]
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Note to Jim Jones from Tommie Keaton, July 1978
EE-2-ij-14
7/12/78
Dear Dad;
I would like to get your permission to visit the Seniors who are shut in and other members of the family who may be ill, as Rosa Keaton and I visited the hospitals & restrooms before we came here. I would like for Comrade Rosa to work with me. We would make a report of our visitation as you direct. Thank you, Dad,
Tommie S. Keaton, Jr.
C-30
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Undated Note by Darell Keller on Jim Jones’ Pain
EE-2-ij-6a – 6b
[Editor’s note: Spelling and grammatical errors corrected throughout.]
Darell Keller C-13
Dad:
This short letter pertains to the socialist class on the item of “how you feel in pain.”
The Mistrust of us use our precious time over given of your love. By setting us free & giving your body for news for understanding.
The general realization of wondering why this world is the way it is, with all its capitalist ways bringing all heartbreak upon you, for we owe the socialist world ourselves.
I also saw through you, Victor Haller [Jara] sitting in a small room being tortured (because he spoke out for freedom), 2 men around him; his body tied to a chair they were tearing out his fingernails, his head beaten & bruised. You also, I pictured them to do the same because I do believe that you would & will give up your life completely for us. I also saw pain through you by having to hold on for us, who give little but more so very much & accept that want fully. Only because of your love & who you are can there be peace for all of Jonestown.
I would ask for your understanding on the following statement: I would ask you “Dad” & the family to trust me on my job appointed to me with the pole crew. I must prove to myself; also to the family that I can do what is asked of me to do.
May I have the chance to say I apologize to the fullest that can be apologize for my showing the work & to others I mean what I say.
Thank you, Dad
Darell Keller
[Marginal note: “Or work with Roosevelt Turner if I may!”]
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EE-2-a-4
Undated Thank You Note to Jim Jones from Darell Keller
Thank You!
Comrade Darell Keller
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Self-Analysis of Bob Kice
EE-2-ij-4a
Bob Kice
Analysis
11-7-78
As I try to analyze my thoughts & actions of late I’m not very pleased with what I see. It’s a curious thing but in the 8 plus months that I’ve been here I’ve never considered going back to the states except for an occasional urge to escape reality & get high. But since my confrontation of two or three weeks ago I’ve grown increasingly hostile & rebellious. The confrontation didn’t settle well with me even though I realize that the situation really amounted to a rap with you rather than a ass-kicking session. Ninety percent of the confrontation went well but I’ve been very bothered about my response to the question you posed to me about any involvement with a black child, I’ve yet to figure out why I said that I haven’t in the interest in in a when I do have an interest in Eileen [stepchild, Eileen Renee Jackson]. At the time of the question I was thinking of children as in terms of a very young one. I’ve been feeling a lot of guilt about not mentioning her name which doesn’t overlook the fact that I’m not involved with black near to the extent that I should. Never in my life have I gotten around babies, never exposed to any as I was growing up, and kept it that way as a so-called adult. I feel very insecure & frightened of babies. I generally say [parenthetical remark scratched out: “(to myself)”] that I don’t care for them but in reality I’m frightened of them and never learned how to relate to them. Anyway, since living here I’ve felt more at ease with children generally than ever before. The other thing that bothered me about the confrontation was using Kenny Reed as an example of a male that I’m attracted to. What I was responding to was “what I’m bothered about,” and as
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EE-2-ij-4b
an answer I said about gaining weight & getting soft by working in the tower. So I responded with Kenny’s name as an example of someone who was physically fit as opposed to my physical condition. It’s bothered me that I projected publicly that I was sexually attracted to such a jerk as Kenny. Not that I’m denying my gayness but he is a poor example of anyone to be involved in a relationship with. I admit his physical stature has a basic appeal for me but I’m concerned about my image. Since the confrontation I’ve realized how my paranoia as got a hold of me. I figured that I was being watched as a standard policy after confrontation, that bothered me increasingly, not trusting anyone’s conversation. I think it was coincidental but security was being revised at the time of the confrontation, but I still get the feeling of being demoted as a result of the lack of trust you have in me. Then two or three things have been fed by my paranoia end result has been, “Why did I ever come over here?” and fuck you with you’re [your] threats about being tested on every damn thing that’s talked about or shown. Granted if I didn’t have the pressure of a test, I wouldn’t learn. Anyway I’m surprised at how little it took to get me thinking about what it might be like if I hadn’t come over, like in terms of things I would enjoy and not in terms of what the negative would be. As easily as I turned and with the little amount of commitment I’ve shown, then I am a risk to this organization and should be treated as such. You made a statement about people not wanting to go back because they couldn’t make it in that system as opposed to those who wouldn’t go back out of hatred for that system. I do not have that hatred other than as a personal basis, so I have a long way to go in learning to deal with myself & my elitism. I don’t feel good about myself. Thank you.
[Addendum in margin: “As an afterthought I believe my thinking of the states was more out of rebellion than out of a true desire. I can still think of plenty I’m glad to be away from even if it’s only on a personal basis.”]
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Note to Jim Jones from Rennie Kice, September 1978
EE-2-ij-13a – 13c
Sept 22, 1978
Dad,
This is in regard to Johnny & Ava [Jones] breaking up. I have tried to talk to the both of them, but have gotten nowhere. I personally think that it is best for the collective to continue to allow people with positions to break up, when they are looked up to by the community. I am told both of them that this is a mistake, & I think that this is only causing more hostility. Ava is very upset by this, & she said she thinks it would be good if none of the women in Jonestown were to talk to John. This would only create more problems. John is very headstrong in this matter, & says he will not take Ava back. He went to the relationships community with Marianita Langston last night. Both have (Ava & John) have been talking to me, but I get nowhere. Ava said she was going to ask you about going back to the states to help there. She could have been just talking, she also said she is going to kill John, which I think she is just talking, but she seemed very hurt & probably is just blowing off steam. The only suggestion I can make, is the could be called in by old PC [Planning Commission] & told that their separation is dividing the community and the black leadership.
Thank you for your time.
Rennie Kice
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Undated Letter to Jim Jones from Leola King
EE-2-ij-8
Dear Dad,
You have so much to look out for with all of us, besides all of the worries you have. If it’s any way I can make some money I would. A watch, it don’t amount to very much but I’m going to give it, it may help a little. I never will forget what you did for me, you healed me of a stroke, and I’m very grateful for it. When I was in the hospital in Georgetown, the doctor told me that I didn’t have to take any insulin, and I know it was all because of you. Thank you Dad for all of you did for me, I be willing to do anything I can. I feel for you, I understand how you feel.
Leola King
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Letter to Jim Jones from Carolyn Kirkendall, July 1978
EE-2-ij-9a – 9b
To: Dad
From: Carolyn Kirkendoll [Kirkendall]
Date: July 26, 1978
It is a matter of conscience that I am writing to you about things that have been happening lately. I work with Vernetta [Christian] and have been working with her for the last 3 months. During that time there have been a number of occasions that I felt I should report questionable conversations but I did not report them for “cover your ass” and other reasons. But after what happened last night, I felt that I should no longer remain silent. Vernetta gets the IS [Internal Security] warning report before it is read out loud. Looking at the report last night, she noticed my name and report saying that I had been late to work on Monday. I told her that I had been late, but did not think it was 15 minutes as reported by IS. She then proceeded to write a note to Calvin [Douglas] telling him to take my name off the warning report because I have been working with her late Sunday night typing reports. This was not true and I could not understand why she was writing this lie. She was not doing me a favor because I deserved the warning, and it made me begin to wonder about her motives.
I must also admit that I was one of the people that had questioned people not going to the fields, but I did not get up during the rally to say so, which was chicken shit of me. Not trying to make excuses for myself, but I have been in an environment of negative attacks and criticisms on leadership involving Vernetta which perhaps lead the way for my questioning your policy on job placements. However, I have my own mind and should have known better.
It is with some duality of conscience that I write this because I work with her daily. But I feel that she cannot possibly be a friend to me and lie like that, but is only using me. Also I realize that it is an insult to me for her feeling that she can talk to me in that way. I know that I owe it to you and this Cause to report negativity and criticism.
Also I had some questions about the present function of steering. It was stated that steering had been canceled several times in the past few weeks. Does the CAO’s [Chief Administrative Officer] have the authority to cancel steering? What is their jurisdiction in relation to steering? Also we do not know who will be the chairperson and co-chairperson now that Johnny [Jones] is a CAO. Now that we have 10 heads of departments, who are these people reporting to in relation to policy matters they have implemented since organizing their departments. I would like to see the entire schematic breakdown and note where the authority lines are drawn with clear definitions of who does what in organizing and running Jonestown.
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Thank You Note by Carolyn Kirkendall, August 1978
EE-2-ij-2
To: Dad
From: Carolyn Kirkendoll [Kirkendall]
Date: August 29, 1978
Thank you very much for making it possible for Rita to receive legal assistance with her probation. We are a very fortunate people to have you to defend us and stand by us when we are in trouble, because in the final analysis it is you that gets the work done no matter who was involved in carrying it out. I went with Rita to court during her trial where I witnessed such coldness and insensitivity on the part of the judge, lawyer and jury that it was frightening. But it also made me angry. All the cases that came up before hers involved minorities that were poor and with very little education. They had all been trapped by decoy police people and you could see the degradation and viciousness of the American society against these people. There was so much pain there and so many wasted lives – it may be angry and sick. I sometimes wonder if we will ever wake up and realize what we have in you.
Rita is lucky because she has you to defend her, but there are so many others that have no one. I see why you continue on although you are not appreciated or loved and I see why I must continue on also.
Thank you, Dad
Carolyn Kirkendoll
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EE-2-ij-10
Undated Note to Jim Jones from Ellen Klingman
I want to thank you, Dad, for your love and concern shown for Clarence during his crisis. Thank you for seeing he gets the best medical care he needs for his problem. Your [You’re] the best and only Savior mankind could ever have and if only your children (all of us) would realize this and stop draining you but build and support you. Thank you for the protection you’ve given my children. What more could a mother ask for than the protection of her children. We have that security and I am grateful, when thousands of mothers have to watch their babies die and starve in front of them. I felt a lot of guilt for bringing Clarence or any of my children in the world to go through pain. Now they’re here they have the best opportunity of their lives and I hope they will appreciate it.
Ellen Klingman