{"id":125704,"date":"2024-01-16T15:13:18","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T23:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=125704"},"modified":"2026-01-10T11:16:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T19:16:14","slug":"writings-of-the-oliver-family","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=125704","title":{"rendered":"The Writings of the Oliver family"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Editor\u2019s notes<\/strong>: The Oliver family depicts the tension of a family split apart. Bruce and his brother Bill \u2013 and Bruce\u2019s wife Shanda James Oliver \u2013 may not have been over 18 when they joined Peoples Temple, but they were adults when their parents tried to get them out. Howard and Beverly Oliver were in the Concerned Relatives, they both traveled to Guyana in mid-November when Rep. Leo Ryan went down, and the boy\u2019s mother accompanied the congressman to Jonestown and was wounded during the attack at the Port Kaituma airstrip. The letters recovered by the FBI give some indication of how that tension played out.<\/em><\/p>\n

[This page was transcribed by Alexandra Prince, a professor of religious studies at Skidmore College, with the assistance of Caleb Taran. The editors gratefully acknowledge their invaluable assistance.<\/em><\/p>\n

[The letters on this page derive from several sources, principally FBI Section 129 \u2022 EE-1 \u2022 Letters to Dad (N-Z)<\/a> and FBI Sections 121-123 \u2022 BB-31 \u2013 BB-32 \u2022 Tim Stoen, D Touchette<\/a>.]<\/em><\/p>\n

[These letters retain their original spelling and grammar, with corrections only for clarity and for names.]<\/em><\/p>\n

EE-1-0-11a \u2013 11b<\/p>\n

Handwritten letter to Bruce Oliver<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aug-8-77
\nS.F. Ca<\/p>\n

Dear Bruce,<\/p>\n

We received your letters, it was good to hear from you. We love you & miss<\/u> you very much.<\/p>\n

As we told you, this was your choice, I hope by now you received the box, for you and Bill O [Oliver], two watches, 5 T shirts, 5 socks & shoes for Bill O. It take three to five days to get a letter over there 31\u00a2 airmail. Everyone is fine. Grandma said hello, tell Shanda I miss her, also hello to all your friends. Dad is fine. Please write when you [can] & rember we both love you. P.S. did you get your tape recorder Emmit [Emmet Griffith Jr.] had it at the church. I told Lee to get it, & ship it. Please let me know.<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

EE-1-0-11c \u2013 11d<\/p>\n

Handwritten letter to Bill Oliver<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aug-8-77
\nS.F. Ca<\/p>\n

Dear Bill,<\/p>\n

We received your letter, it was good to hear from you, we love you and miss you, so much, I hope you are happy, for this was your choice not mine. I hope by now you & Bruce got the box with the things in it you need, watch, shoes & T shirts. Whatever you need let me know. It takes three to five days to get a letter over there, but I will write once a week, hope I can talk to you soon. Gramps, Dad & all is fine. We miss you they also said hello. Say hello to your friends & let me hear from you soon.<\/p>\n

I love you. [illegible signature, presumably \u201cMom\u201d or \u201cMother\u201d]<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

EE-1-0-11e, envelope addressed to Bruce and William Oliver<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

EE-1-0-12<\/p>\n

Letter from Bill Oliver<\/strong><\/p>\n

TO FATHER<\/p>\n

Here are some of my feelings and thoughts. While at my stay in George town I thought about the personal risk you are taking for me. I thought about how it would be best for the greatest good for the greatest number to let me go back because I did not want the guilt of sacrificing the group for me. I thought about the thousands of dollars that is being spent for me in such a crisis time. I thought about if my mother sent attoneys over here to get me and you Dad said no he not going, we would be back in a STATE OF SIEGE. And in reality our group will make the different between wheather people eat all over the world. It will play the main part in lifting oppression. It goes over my mind why take the chance of our group going in an another STATE OF SIEGE when I would rather sacrifice myself because you have proven your loyalty to me and you would sacrifice yourself for us. Without you as the leader at this time the organization would fall, but still you stood for me. I also thought if I was to be sent back doing the 7 weeks waiting my 18 birthday they might try to use me to get to you, or the U.S. government might restrict me from leaving because they are all involved in the destruction of our group. I feel like a group first must be loyal to its people, I feel that is why you are loyal to me beside you love me. I would rather die first then go back to the U.S. I think as I looked at my self its more that guilt Its a debt a responsibility that i did not want to accept but I will. Thank you Dad for your loyalty that you have given to me not only now but through the years. The same loyalty that I know that can might be acceptable is my life.<\/p>\n

Bill Oliver<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

EE-1-0-13<\/p>\n

Draft radio message from Bill Oliver<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is Bill Oliver, and I just want to say<\/u>, I\u2019m SICK of my parents trying to mess with my life, and my brother\u2019s.<\/p>\n

I told them once before that I didn\u2019t want to see them again \u2013 EVER. And I mean that. My dad, Mr. Oliver, he never did anything for me. All I can remember of my childhood is how he beat me with iron cords or coat hangers, or whatever else he could get his hands on. I\u2019ve hated him for as long as I can remember.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a mean old man and he\u2019s a<\/span> racist. Oliver\u2019s watch & Jewelry [illegible inserted word] 2050 Fillmore was use for a bookie [illegible word] for gambling.<\/p>\n

As for my mom, she knows what she<\/u> did to me, before I got in the church. If I\u2019d done what they wanted me to do, I\u2019d be in a life of crime today. They\u2019re both sick. Do you copy.<\/p>\n

[Scratched out paragraph]<\/p>\n

Me and my wife are building a good life here.<\/p>\n

So I won\u2019t stand for it. I\u2019ve made my choice, and that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n

By the way [notation to \u201cslow,\u201d presumably in speaking] I would like to know where all the money is coming from to hire someone to follow me and my brother in Georgetown.<\/u> I know they don\u2019t have money to do this kind of thing themselves. When my brother was in Georgetown recently, people told him our parents sent them to keep an eye on us.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m fed up with this, Leave us alone \u2013 I hope that clear?<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

BB-31-a-263 \u2013 a-264<\/p>\n

Bill Oliver Letter to Dad on Tim Stoen<\/strong><\/p>\n

To Dad<\/p>\n

Dad I feel there should be no money given because he is a part of the conspiracy and regardless if the money was given or not we are such threat that the conspirators are devoted to are [our] destruction because of what we represent. Tim Stone should be confronted face-to-face because a person who has sold out under pressure value his own life more than money. So there’s a limit he can be reach on being he\u2019s spinless [spineless] & weak. So less [let’s] not give him shit. I would be more than willing to do anything and in a task for the cause. Here are some of my ideas. I feel if I was choosen I would be positiev that I could go back under the false image that my parents wanting me back. And I wonder since my parents sent a prepaid ticket for my return if someone could use it for the task. I feel there will have to be a start but it must be a lot of planing [planning] because it can stop our people [illegible word] I would make sure he was killed but in the process using some sort of bomb if possible and could be made to stop some of these organization. But this is I might could be to easily trace to Peoples Temple. In my thinking I thought about the man the mulism [Muslim] who took over the capital of Washington. And Dad said he had enough power at that moment to make them free every person in prison. I also recognize these acts can setbacks the [illegible word] but just a suggestion.<\/p>\n

Thank Dad
\nBill Oliver<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

EE-1-0-14a \u2013 14b<\/p>\n

Letter from Bruce Oliver<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dad,<\/p>\n

I would like to be the one of those to help kill off our enemies. First I would again like to thank you for love and concern you have for us by the time and money you put in Billy and my care. I think that it would have been better to keep the money because their bullshit hasn\u2019t stop and I dont think it will stop no matter how much money you put out. The money would benifit the collective of over 800 much more than just Billy and I, but yet I still thank you Dad. I use to think that a Revolutionary were hero\u2019s of the poor who fought capitalist but on their terms with guns, bombs, ect. This is true but it goes deeper than that, because you fight but on any terms. Like when we were on the lines, all we knew was that we were going to die but yet we had stand up for what we believed was right. All I had was a cut-less [cutlass] and I was going to fight just as hard with my cut-less as those of us who had guns, all the time knowing that in the end I would be dead.<\/p>\n

The first few hours I was scared to die but after a few more hours I was wanting to hurry up and die but near the end I didnt give a fuck weather I lived or die or whatever. This was completely different than what I thought a Revolutionary is but now I know I must be willing to live or die any way that is choosen. I would let our enemies know that their [they\u2019re] going to die because there is nothing worse than living in fear. I would kill them off one at a time then go in hiding with one of our contacts. I would come out kill another then go back into hiding. Their lives would be in constant fear wondering will they be next. I would continue this until I was caught then I would kill myself or make the police kill me. When I die another one of us would start until all the enemies are dead. The second way is I would go back to my fucking parents call a meeting with the traders [traitors] (including my parents) and have the place were [we\u2019re] meeting at blown up with all of us in it (if possible). This way all of us would die and I could not be made to talk or used against the cause.<\/p>\n

Thank you Dad for giving me a chance to write you. I\u2019m sorry my writing is so hard to read & the spelling is so bad. It will improve.<\/p>\n

Your son, Bruce Oliver<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

EE-1-I&J-80<\/p>\n

Undated Statement from Shanda James Oliver and Richard Janaro<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Jim,<\/p>\n

I know your very concerned about fiances [finances], therefore I feel this should be reported. One day, I had to meet Debbie Touchette in the bank. Debbie was in the middle of Depositing money. She didn\u2019t have an accout (definite) of how much she was depositing. She did not have the money in categories and the teller was highly upset. She was a nervous reck and could not do simple figuring. My concern is if this is a constant pattern we could have been cheated or cheated in the past. Once a teller picks up on an unorganized customer, they take money and the customer gets a bad reputation. I know how tellers are, and how they talk to other merchants. I\u2019m not complaining about Debbie as a person. Obviously she\u2019s very confident. My only fuss is that she needs to be more organized dealing with money in large sums.<\/p>\n

(Shanda Oliver)<\/p>\n

Also checks from various business people have been retained for \u201clack of funds\u201d and \u201clack of I.D. stamp\u201d and omission of one of two signatures required. I believe that some businesses are scrutinizing our checks more than usuall and even shown some reluctance to accept them. Some of the problem is lack of experience of some people given checks and writing them properly \u2013 this can be corrected by careful selection and instruction of person given checks. Also record keeping can be better organized preventing errors and omissions.<\/p>\n

I would like Debbie to share some of her check keeping responsibilities with someone else. I would be willing to help.<\/p>\n

Richard Janaro<\/p>\n

\u2013 —-<\/p>\n

California Historical Society Peoples Temple collection, <\/em>MS 4123 box 7<\/em><\/p>\n

Undated letter to Ronnie James from Shanda James Oliver <\/strong><\/p>\n

P.O. Box 893
\nGeorgetown, Guyana
\nS.A.<\/p>\n

RONNIE JAMES<\/p>\n

Dear Ronnie,<\/p>\n

Hi. I\u2019ve gotten your message about Silvia signing for Andrew to come. I miss that guy? Did Mama get my letter? How did she feel? What is she saying? Ronnie I want you to try and get these things for me. Make sure you get ready also. Bring jeans light jean for yourself as many as possible It\u2019s very warm here. I\u2019ve gotten darker already. Talk to pop\u2019s get money from him to buy me someth [page cuts off] Today I\u2019m going into the interior by boat. I hear the boats really nice. Oh yes bring short pants. They be a pleasure. Hey I know you\u2019ll like it. Tell everyone hi. But get ready Ronnie. You always say you want to be last. If they tell you to leave in 2 hrs. You had better be ready. I also have a note for you to give Bruce\u2019s mom. Here is a list of things to bring or send to me. Please send and mark all articles to Shanda Olive[r]<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n

Send:<\/p>\n

2 cackies [khakis] jeans \u2013 27 waist L any length
\nT-shirts \u2013 sleeveless and shortsleves
\nFor shirts go to shirtworks, ask Robin or Kim where to find it
\nVery cheap tops $2 and $3
\nI need the cackie jeans mostly not ben\u2019s for me
\nLan lay oil and baby oil for body
\nScarfs \u2013 (ones like archie mama) see Robin for help
\nUnderwear cotton
\nGet 1 pr of Sandals $2.88 at National Dollar Stores, Rainbow bottom<\/p>\n

Ronnie try to send these things in a suitcase written for:<\/p>\n

SHANDA OLIVER<\/p>\n

Please write or call for me on the Radio. I\u2019ll be standing by and waiting for response.<\/p>\n

Please follow through.<\/p>\n

Love, together in a Soc. cause comrade<\/p>\n

Shanda Oliver
\nyour sister<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n

California Historical Society Peoples Temple collection, <\/em>MS 4123 box 7<\/em><\/p>\n

Undated note to Beverly Oliver\u00a0from Shanda James Oliver <\/strong><\/p>\n

To Bruce\u2019s mom,<\/p>\n

Bruce and I are doing fine he misses you alot. He said send him some ducketts. How\u2019s Howard? Hope he\u2019s fine. I\u2019ll be talking to you on the radio. Bruce said send:<\/p>\n

35\u00d724 cackies [khakis] pants
\nlarge vaseline
\nlarge ultra sheen
\nlan lay oil (for body)
\njogging tennis shoes 9.99 (at National Dollar Store)<\/p>\n

Please send these things as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

Please write back. Also tell Howard thanks for the watch supply we got it. Bruce needed it too. He still tinkers on watches here.<\/p>\n

See you later<\/p>\n

Shanda OIiver<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n

tell mama summer dresses only $6.00 at Good Stuffy in City [?] j<\/p>\n

See [illegible word] on that<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n

\u2013 —-<\/p>\n

EE-1-I&J-94<\/p>\n

Note to Jim Jones from Shanda James Oliver <\/strong><\/p>\n

3\/10\/78<\/p>\n

Dad,<\/p>\n

Serious business, is your tooth O.K? I\u2019ve been sorta passing you by because I know I\u2019ve been a pest and haven\u2019t really helped. I\u2019m sorry I don\u2019t know more.<\/p>\n

But also, I feel like I haven\u2019t been truely honest with you or myself. I do have feelings for him, what kind I\u2019m not sure. But I don\u2019t like him as a companion I\u2019m sure of that & I do like Bruce.<\/p>\n

P.S.) Sorry I could not have helped more.<\/p>\n

Shanda<\/p>\n

\u2013 —-<\/p>\n

EE-1-I&J-95<\/p>\n

Four basic tactics discussed in People Forum, that will be done in Social Revolution or White night.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Go into this jungle and fight from there<\/li>\n
  2. Burn your body in Washington D.C., San Francisco or Georgetown.<\/li>\n
  3. Fight with cutlass on our land.<\/li>\n
  4. Hunger [illegible word]<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Why sex is not good doing [during] a Socialist Revolution<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Every human being must become an individualist and not be poccessed by anyone.<\/li>\n
    2. Also your thinking must be clear thinking, sex distort your thinking<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      We should have a socialist mind. How dad showed his character to us. He felt guilty for putting Dr. Schack [Schacht] in the position of sex. When dad felt Larry did not need the humiliation.<\/p>\n

      \u2013 —-<\/p>\n

      BB-31-a-218<\/p>\n

      Shanda Oliver Letter to Dad on Tim Stoen<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Dad,<\/p>\n

      My suggestion for Tim Stoen is to have some people break into his house beat him half to death. Stay there for one day at least, making him feel he was on the verge of death. Scare him so he would stop these threats. I think those people could then go into hiding and return or come to Jonestown when out of danger. This is if we want to let people know we won’t put up with bullshit. Like you said, they came for & killed Martin Luther King Jr. because they knew his people were passive. We have declared in the States that we were nonviolent but we\u2019ll stand together. Those fools are pushing us. I am willing to participate in any<\/u> type of plan necessary. Some must die in a revolution. Some may fall at your right and some at the left, as long as 1000 more who will rise up to insure communism in this land. Dad, remember they wouldn’t suspect me. A lady, young, can appear weak. They would expect someone big and man or someone in the cause they know. Dad remember I’ll go or do any mission. If I would have to take my life also, that’s good as long as the greater number survives and this movement goes on. I owe my life & eyes to you. We\u2019ll persue, we have the greatest leader & teacher in all lands.<\/p>\n

      Thank You Dad,
      \nShanda M. Oliver<\/p>\n

      —–<\/p>\n

      EE-1-0-15a \u2013 15b<\/p>\n

      Letter from Shanda Oliver<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Dad,<\/p>\n

      I was guilty for being part of taking a drink. I\u2019m sorry for putting this cause on the line. You sent me in and trusted me, I let you down. I feel I should fast and I am gonna fast for 1 wk. Not eating will sure discipline me. I\u2019ll be more aware of other\u2019s suffering. Also I request that I not go into Georgetown. I let down your trust. I\u2019m so guilty I can’t look you in the eyes. You\u2019ve put alot of trust in me just recently \u2013 even more with going to Georgetown & talking to a Dentist etc. Dad, I won\u2019t let you down again, I\u2019ll grow. Also I\u2019m a piss poor example for my school students. I feel I should go on the learning crew for 1 month or be removed from teaching. Like you\u2019ve said, set an example. I\u2019ve let you down. ME a teacher to your children, and they see my behavior. I think I should be removed from teaching & work until I can show better behavior. Dad, I\u2019m a pure ass-hole. I don\u2019t think I should talk to anyone for 1 mth. also. I\u2019ve drained you. I\u2019ve hurt the cause. I\u2019m a total fool & I should have my ass kicked. I can wait on my Dental training. I can make an excuse. I\u2019m not worthy of anything not even (especially) your trust and the food you pay for to keep us alive. I\u2019ll prove myself, you\u2019ll see. Please forgive me.<\/p>\n

      Comrade, Shanda Oliver<\/p>\n

      \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n

      EE-2-g-5a<\/p>\n

      Letter to Shanda James Oliver from sister Vonrie, October 1978<\/strong><\/p>\n

      October 1 \u2013 1978<\/p>\n

      Hello Shanda \u2013<\/p>\n

      Well what\u2019s up? I know \u2013 knocking out zzzzz. Okay I\u2019m doing really good. Yes everyone else does the same. Mari (Mari Lady) is a mess, I guess you know that for yourself.<\/p>\n

      I heard good news. What was it? Shanda is doing good. Ha ha ha<\/p>\n

      Now getting down to business. I hope you know you are to get as much sleep as possible, that is why I have not been by, but once and that was the day I had Mari Lady. I want you to hurry up and get out so we can be together, laugh and talk.<\/p>\n

      Look don\u2019t worry about your hair being done, because when you get out I will fix it up. If you notice you are in an environment full of funny \u2013 knock out & upside down people ([illegible word]) can all they say about your hair is \u201cWe all look alike, naps, tangles, snarls and all.\u201d Hee hee hee.<\/p>\n

      [Marginal notes: \u201cPS. Mari as always will be spending the night over to our house tonight.<\/p>\n

      [\u201cMari\u00a0 can stand up on a table and I will hold her and she stands & bounces.<\/p>\n

      [\u201cMari weighs 13 lbs. 6 oz.\u201d]<\/p>\n

      \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n

      EE-2-g-5b<\/p>\n

      She went \u2013 Alfred told me to put a [illegible word] letter for him, now before I was rudely interrupted by Alfred to the right, then to the left chemistry not, turn right, and I ended up at camp 1 and I brought back a couple of nice \u2013 sharp plants I was looking for a few shells but I didn\u2019t find in the to go in a big jar of water.<\/p>\n

      Listen up Dad loves you very much as you already know. Everyone said Hi [illegible word] and hurry up get on your feet and off your seat (laugh).<\/p>\n

      I want to see you I hope you know when I want you to get out of SCU [Special Care Unit]. So stop playing around and get up & out.<\/p>\n

      Always your sister, Vonrie<\/p>\n

      P.S. I hope you like my pretty raggedy yellow paper<\/p>\n

      \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n

      Undated Notes of Apology from Shanda James Oliver<\/strong><\/p>\n

      EE-2-h-22<\/p>\n

      Jim,<\/p>\n

      I really sorry about falling asleep in the radio room last night. I caught most of the conversation, but please don\u2019t think I\u2019m not concerned. Like I said before, \u201cuse me.\u201d I cannot sit down for 1\/2 hour before I fall asleep. I fell asleep in the movie & with the guest yesterday. I don\u2019t know exactly what I\u2019m taking but it really affects me. I feel awful, I am concerned about our future. I\u2019m sorry.<\/p>\n

      Shanda James [Oliver]<\/p>\n

      \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n

      EE-2-h-23<\/p>\n

      Jim,<\/p>\n

      Sorry about [Mike] Prokes & Stephanie [Jones]. Hope I didn\u2019t cause more problems for you. I really think Prokes went about it wrong but it\u2019s too late now<\/p>\n

      I\u2019m willing to say or do anything to change it or fix it. I didn\u2019t know Stephanie was coming on to you. I knew the other person. So I\u2019m to blame.<\/p>\n

      Shanda [James Oliver]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      [Editor\u2019s notes: The Oliver family depicts the tension of a family split apart. Bruce and his brother Bill \u2013 and Bruce\u2019s wife Shanda James Oliver \u2013 may not have been over 18 when they joined Peoples Temple, but they were adults when their parents tried to get them out. Howard and Beverly Oliver were in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":88111,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-125704","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125704","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=125704"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125704\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":133322,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125704\/revisions\/133322"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/88111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=125704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}