[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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Undated Thank You Note to Jim Jones from Estelle McCall
EE-2-l-9
Dear Dad:
I am grateful for what you are doing for all of us to save our children and give us the dignity we have never had before. This is such a beautiful place that you have provided for us here. Dad I am sorry and I am feeling very guilty for not doing what I should’ve and not being here sooner. It was only because of my selfishness and wanting to do my own thing. I am here and ready to do all I can and whatever you want me to do to fight for freedom of all of our people. Thank you Dad for such a wonderful and beautiful place to live. I know that I belong with you Dad. I felt good when we arrived in Georgetown and saw our people in full control with dignity. I love you and this cause so much that I will never be able to repay for your love and concern you’ve given me all these years…
Thank you Dad
/s/ Estelle McCall
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Undated Note on Jim Jones’ Pain from Rose McKnight
EE-2-l-6
I think that a part of the pain you feel is taken by seeing so many defectors & traitors you have given so much of yourself to leave us and put so much filthy lies about you and this socialistic movement.
Also part of your pain no doubt comes from looking at all you have given us and provided, yet still we don’t work to produce nearly enough to help provide resources to try & get the rest of our family here. We waste too much money & time by destroying property. I include myself in this because I too waste too much.
I know I can fully grasp all of your pains & sorrows, but I do know that I’ll not be able to experience all the pain you have and still be able to bear them without breaking up mentally & physically.
Thank you Dad – Rose McKnight
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Undated Note about Jim Jones Miracle from Rose McKnight
EE-2-l-8
Johnny –
Please thank Dad for me for the beautiful thing he did for me Tuesday.
I woke up unable to get air – when I got to the nurse I was choking. When Dale [Parks] examined me a job an inflamed throat with a swelling shut of the windpipe. The medication he gave me was not working sufficiently & when I was admitted to SCU [Special Care Unit], we were getting ready to do a tracheotomy. By the time I got to bed, I was able to breathe.
I know it was only Dad that restored me and kept me from dying. I thank him for every breath I take –
Rose McKnight
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Undated Note to Jim Jones from Virginia Middleton
EE-2-l-7
Dear Dad,
Can’t get along with nobody. Myself until you would stop mine my. They do some to Dad. Can’t do nothing for somebody else. Myself.
Virginia Middleton
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Undated Letter to Jim Jones from Christine Miller
EE-2-l-5a – 5b
I am grateful for the experience that I have had since coming to Jonestown. I am not too happy now though as you may know, maybe because I do not have the peace that I had expected. Maybe I’m thinking about myself too much. I should be more concerned about others.
I have concerned about your health as the Leader, about the future of the children. I am interested in learning and knowledge, but it seems we are so pushed, trying to work every day and produce, and trying to get the news off boards when there is so little paper, no time to study.
I am used to traveling often, and I can’t do that here, and this bothers me. I’m used to doing what I want to do, when I want to do it. It seems that I’m in a cage like a bird. I haven’t gotten adjusted. I don’t think that I have made much of a contribution toward the cause by coming here. I feel that I am a liability rather than an asset. This bothers me. I look at myself and wonder why am I living. To me I am merely existing. I don’t see that I am accomplishing anything. Sometimes I feel like crying, and sometimes I do, but who was it that don’t weep sometime.
I am a tired person, very, very tired. I have worked hard all my born days. Started in the fields when I was too small to pull a cotton sack, and left motherless at a very early age. I worked hard, pulled up by my own bootstraps, no one helped me. Now that I’m older & my pace is slower, I don’t like to be pushed.
I have no sexual ambitions. I have overcome that, Thank goodness.
I am very happy you stop the fighting among ourselves and the hostility among ourselves on the floor. I am totally against that. More love should be shown among ourselves. But it’s hard to show it here, for it seems when you do, you get your ass kicked. Some enjoy cursing, beating and knocking others around. I am against this.
I want to live the rest of my days quietly and peacefully this is all I ask for. Please let me do this.
Christine Miller
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EE-2-l-3
Note of Self-Criticism by Lugenia Morrison, November 1978
[Editor’s note: Grammatical and spelling errors corrected throughout.]
Wednesday 11-7-78 Jonestown
Lugenia Morrison
Report on Elitism
Dear Dad,
It’s hard for me to face my elitism, it’s even sickening. When I think of 3 out of 4 babies going to bed hungry every night. I just can’t see how I think I should eat as much as I want to, and have the nerve to criticize the food if it doesn’t suit my taste, I should just be thankful that we have plenty of food, and none of our babies are going to bed hungry. Yes, I even think of McDonald’s hamburgers, fish & chips, ice cream, & big bottles of Pepsi-Cola. That’s a sick fascist elitism. I considered myself all of that, but after hearing the news daily and each day you mention of how Blacks, Brown & all Minority are being tortured & murdered, behind the taxes that comes from these items, the memory of bourgeoise luxuries are fading away. I think without news, the study what’s happening in the world around us, our minds would go back to that elitist state, instead of following the examples of Jim Jones our leader.
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Undated Note To Jim Jones from Mary Murphy
[Editor’s note: Grammatical and spelling errors corrected throughout.]
EE-2-l-2
Dear Dad I haven’t wrote to you before, but I have gone to others, & no success. They left my bag in Georgetown, I don’t know why, but the bag was open, I had two pairs shoes, the bag was open & I received 2 shoes both go on the same foot. (I had 2 pairs shoes, tennis & house shoes). All of my embroidery, needles, 3 quilt tops, I had wanted to make [illegible word] I wanted to give to cause & other things, personal things, Dad. I would really like to have my things. They have my hands tied.
Thank you Dad
Mary Murphy
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Undated Note to Jim Jones from Jane Mutschmann
EE-2-l-10
Dad,
Before I left the States I have an affair with the black dentist Courtney Price. I didn’t tell him anything about PT. He knew several people that came to his office [who] did belong. The only thing I gave him was a PR leaflet.
It was a 1 night thing& I never saw him after. In fact I left two days after for Guyana.
Jane [Mutschmann]