Transcribed by Don Beck<\/p>\n
RYMUR-89-4286-C-3-A-3 (1) through RYMUR-89-4286-C-3-A-3 (171)<\/strong><\/a> The text transcribed here (revised 2011) from Edith Roller’s notes has some missing words or lines due to (1) unreadable, poorly xeroxed text or (2) unreadable writing. Blanks are left in the text for these areas.<\/p>\n List of people and groups mentioned in this Journal<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n =============================================<\/p>\n 1 March – Wednesday\u00a0 1978<\/strong><\/p>\n Jim put the times in the morning for getting up ahead two hours, 8.00 & 9.00.\u00a0 I got up at 8.00. Terri Buford is in the cottage too, in the loft with Harriet.<\/p>\n I had a talk with Inez Wagner. I had thought she had gone to Guyana with Mark. As it turned out, she had been in Los Angeles. I think she personally had difficulties getting out. I walked to breakfast with Inez, difficult because she stopped every few minutes to be greeted by an old friend.<\/p>\n The new people were to meet in the pavilion with Lee Ingram and Judy Ijames for orientation.\u00a0 I asked Lee if I could go on tour if there was one, as I learned that the high school classes were not to be held.<\/p>\n I did a little work on my journal.\u00a0 I had lunch.<\/p>\n Waited in the Book Depository for 1.00 at which time the tour was scheduled to start. Suddenly a downpour came and lasted for sometime.\u00a0 This relieved my mind, as it made watering unnecessary this afternoon. I had intended to join the water brigade.<\/p>\n The rain stopped but it took until 2.00 to get the group together.\u00a0 Johnny Jones first displayed a young tree boa constrictor\u00a0to us.\u00a0 This was the snake used last night in one of the dances. Stephen Jones was handling him.\u00a0 We were told not to kill snakes if encountered in the bush, but to call security. They are valuable for food or for export.<\/p>\n Jack Beam was put in charge of the tour, with Eleanor Beam and Rochelle Halkman as guides. They pointed out the crops along the road: citrus, pineapple, cassava, cutlass beans, sugar cane and rice.\u00a0 We walked down the road to the piggery, chickery, dairy and cassava mill.\u00a0 It is 1-1\/2 miles from Jonestown to this point.\u00a0 We saw our two horses.\u00a0 They are apparently scarce in Guyana and are \u201criding horses.\u201d We saw a big boar (we have two), a young boar, some of the hogs we brought on the boat and piglets which arrived yesterday.\u00a0 We saw chickens, both broilers and layers, several varieties and all ages. I did not see the cows, of which we have\u00a0 X [Edith\u2019s X]. The cassava mill was not open, as articles from the boat are being moved into it for storage but we saw some if its auxiliary space.<\/p>\n While we were in the area, more rain fell. Walking back was very different because of the mud.\u00a0 The piggery and animals are 1-1\/2 miles from the Front Gate.<\/p>\n On arriving home, I had a shower. Did a little more work on my journal. Inez was home.\u00a0 She is having a problem with vaginal itching.\u00a0 Luggage is still in disorder in the cottage.<\/p>\n For dinner we had a special meal in honor of the new arrivals: fried fish, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, cheese bread and a grapefruit.\u00a0 I saved the latter two items.<\/p>\n Read Cities Without Crisis<\/em> in the pavilion until time for the rally.<\/p>\n Jim and Marcy were present at the beginning.\u00a0 There was a short program.<\/p>\n \u2013Peter Wotherspoon and Tchabaka Baker sang a song about Victor Jara and one to \u201cFallen Comrades.\u201d Jim said some don\u2019t appreciate how we feel, some wish we hadn\u2019t come, but he described the situation in the states.\u00a0 The Christian Science Monitor is now branded communist. Jim said he didn\u2019t believe the world will escape nuclear war and concentration camps<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jim gave a summary of world news.<\/p>\n Jim spoke on his own indispensability to this cause.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u201d better hope we fare well; for it we don\u2019t, their ass is grass.\u00a0 Those bastards murdered Chris Lewis.\u00a0 We have an opportunity to defend ourselves here.<\/p>\n Approval to purchase a boat was given today. It will transport cargo and people.<\/p>\n Discussion on government advice on contour plowing and windrow systems.\u00a0 Jim asks for clarification of this issue. Russ Moton reported urea fertilizer is available at a good price. Jim insisted we should have proper storage, doesn\u2019t want any waste.<\/p>\n A problem concerning the order for pumps for the irrigation system: some essential parts were not ordered. The problem was one of communication between Rob Christian and Richard Janaro.\u00a0 Responsibility was not clearly fixed as yet. Jim said he had never seen the value of getting the pumps. People power has proven able to do the job, a great value to them. Seniors should realize the benefits of vigorous daily exercise.<\/p>\n Kay Rosas had been reported as saying \u201cGod damn Dad; I wish I hadn\u2019t come.\u201d Rose Shelton and Lula Ratin [probably Ruben] pummeled her. After discussion of putting seniors on the Learning Crew (they are not immune), she was assigned to it.<\/p>\n Alleane Tucker didn\u2019t care to come to the program to welcome Mother. She is a good worker but has a nasty disposition. Vincent Lopez is another one who didn\u2019t want to see Mother. Vincent admitted he is lazy. Danny Beck mocked Mother by giving an imitation of her. Rose chastised him.<\/p>\n The Christians sent a note complaining about the treatment of their child, Tina, on the Learning Crew.\u00a0 Jim said they interfere with the supervision of children.\u00a0 Rob Christian stated that he disagreed with the discipline program.\u00a0 Jim damned him for criticizing the office.\u00a0 \u201cYou underestimate my intelligence.\u201d Vernetta admitted she can\u2019t see the faults of her own child. Jim said Rob had wanted to leave. He warned him his wife wouldn\u2019t stay with him.<\/p>\n It was reported that Rob had showed an interest in cutting a trail through the bush to the river, that he wanted to look good.\u00a0 Rob admitted he is arrogant, puts his own family first. Jim read the report on Tina about her misbehaving on the learning crew because she gets support from her parents. Vern and Rob talk firmly to Tina and Vern spanked her. Rob asked to be assigned to learning crew for two weeks. Jim refused.<\/p>\n Jim asked that the problem about Kimo be brought up. He is a child about three in the toddlers group who, I thought, had been brought to the Temple by Carolyn Layton and her sister, Annie Moore, probably from their father\u2019s ministerial group.\u00a0 He is in the nursery school group and is seen often with Annie and Carolyn in the Jones family surroundings.\u00a0 It had been stated in the nursery school group that he was getting special attention.\u00a0 The statement had been made by Marlene Wheeler, who has a bad effect on her own children [Jeff and Darius].\u00a0 She was accused of picking on Jim\u2019s child (the first time I had heard that Jim was the father, though I recalled that a Herb Caen column had said Jim fathered a child after John). Marlene said she thought Kimo\u2019s case was exceptional. Jim said things like this shouldn\u2019t be brought up on the side. Mother asked if she tried to find fault with Jim\u2019s child, taking out hostility on a child. Jim said, \u201cYou\u2019re looking for a cop-out because you\u2019re a permissive type parent.\u201d<\/p>\n Jim said he had been offered $7,500,000 as a bribe (probably to give up John) which he could have taken, but he refused to abandon any child.<\/p>\n Teresa King had agreed that Kimo gets special attention. Harriet Tropp said that Kimo has been subjected to particular terror. He has to be guarded from kidnapping, threats, he wakes in the night screaming that someone is coming out of the bush to get him. Jim asked what special treatment, any of the children receive. Teresa said the workers take extra time with certain of the children. She admitted she was wrong to have said anything about Kimo\u2019s getting special attention.<\/p>\n Jim said there was shooting around his residence eight times.\u00a0 He asked what children did not get enough attention. Two were mentioned and Jim held each one and talked to him.<\/p>\n Paula said the central question was hostility to Jim. \u201cYou keep skirting around it.\u201d\u00a0 Stephen said there were worse hostilities held by other people and Jim said the remark was a sign of leadership.<\/p>\n Returning to discussion of the agricultural program, Jim said it was fortunate that we got the burn out of the way (because it had rained the following day) though it could have been done better.<\/p>\n Ten pigs were born; eight came through.\u00a0 Volunteers were requested to work on the fish heads all night.<\/p>\n Chris Talley needs cages for a young deer and an anteater.\u00a0 This involves the whole problem of an animal shelter.<\/p>\n Michael Simon sprayed James Turner in the eyes with insecticide today. Jim saved his eyes. Simon was very casual about the matter. Jim gave him a warning.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 2 March \u2013 Thursday 1978<\/strong> I found my watch under the bed in plain sight.\u00a0 It might have been fallen down from the bedding or even from my suitcase.<\/p>\n There were no high school classes. Students were sent to their jobs.<\/p>\n I worked on my journal this morning.<\/p>\n Shirley Ann Edwards and another young woman who worked cleaning fish heads last night slept in the cottage through a good part of the day.<\/p>\n A little rain fell during the day.<\/p>\n I was very tired from the trip to the piggery.\u00a0 I got a blister on my toe, which together with my athlete\u2019s foot is giving me some trouble.\u00a0 The athlete\u2019s foot had been nearly cleared up. I took my shower about one and went to the pavilion to get treated.<\/p>\n Dick Tropp told me that resumes of all our teachers, anyone who has teaching experience or who has any college credits are to be sent to the Guyanese Department of Education in order to forestall any attempt to close our school. The idea is to have already in their files evidence of the number of educated people we have.\u00a0 Dick Tropp had drawn up a sample form and wants me to collect the required information and type it up in a uniform manner.<\/p>\n I wrote my resume and also got my adult class list in order so that I can tell who has been coming regularly.\u00a0 Irra was home and scrubbed the floor and then took a nap.<\/p>\n For dinner we had fish chowder, made from the fish heads and greens.<\/p>\n I met my class tonight, the first time this week.\u00a0 I broached the idea of our doing a little skit about the water brigade. This had occurred to me on listening to Ron Talley describing funny episodes when SAT tries to round up reluctant seniors.\u00a0 The class was enthusiastic about the idea and contributed ideas.\u00a0 I had two class members jot down the names of those who wanted to do a speaking part. Jimmy Jo Jones [Cordell] came to the class tonight, taking a prominent part and offered to be a bucket runner and recruit some others.<\/p>\n At the end of the class I gave the class an exercise on metaphors in proverbs. This aroused a good deal of interest and several members of the class had a goodly fund of proverbs they could call upon and understood the meaning. Etta Thompson had a particularly rich store.<\/p>\n Jim had lent his voice on the loud speaker to encouraging adults to come to the class and a number of people who had not previously been there attended. I later found that Jim had put emphasis on learning to read and write, and several who could not, had come.<\/p>\n I had planned with Dick and I had announced that resumes would be taken in the school tent from teachers and others at 8.30.\u00a0 I waited until 9.10.\u00a0 Dick Tropp did not come and neither did anyone else.<\/p>\n I read Cities Without Crisis<\/em> at home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3 March – Friday 1978<\/strong> When I went to my class today, I took a viewer for the filmstrips and two of the strips which Tom had thought might be useful in improving reading. Jerome Anderson, Kenny and Billy Jones were absent. Billy later gave me a medical excuse. The class seemed to be interested and got some good from the exercise. At 2.00 after I had had my shower, I spent all afternoon in the Pavilion taking resumes except during the high school teachers meeting. I wrote the information at the dictation of individuals who preferred that way or let them do it following the form, if they preferred that.<\/p>\n Dick Tropp presided over the meeting. Praises and reprimands were discussed. Mike Rozynko who teaches high school math reported difficulties with Stephanie Jones, who helps teach some classes but is a student in his.\u00a0 Stephanie was called in. Dick and others tried to explain how she might undermine Mike\u2019s relationship with his class. Mention was made of her brother, Billy Jones. Tom said Billy has epilepsy and suffers continued little attacks in his brain but did not think he had to be as unsettled as he is. Stephanie thought Marcy, her grandmother, had not told him much about his illness.<\/p>\n A sudden call from Jim went out for Kay Rosas \u201cfront and center.\u201d\u00a0 All who could, went to the Radio Hut to which Kay was literally dragged. It was not made clear what her original offense had been but Jim was wrathful that she had said \u201cFuck Mother.\u201d The workers who came forward were very angry with Kay and Jim ordered her to be put in the \u201chole,\u201d the isolation box.\u00a0 She was taken away.<\/p>\n I took resumes for another hour.<\/p>\n We had a good dinner with smoked fish made in the new smoking oven. I got weighed and found I have gained back a pound or two.<\/p>\n The teachers of the socialism classes met at 6.30.\u00a0 I cleaned up first and arrived late.\u00a0 I told Don Jackson that I did not have time to prepare to teach tonight, but he suggested I make the presentation from the socialist book.\u00a0 This week we had a section on Karl Marx which I quickly read.<\/p>\n Don spent a few minutes on items from the agricultural meeting and very little more on the current news as read to the village by Jim.\u00a0 Many are not in a place where they can hear them clearly.\u00a0 I had not heard them well myself.\u00a0 Someone had typed up and posted the items in the dining room, which helped a little. Don is going to inquire what else can be done. The section I have on Marx seemed to be fairly well received, but it is hard for me to raise my voice above the surrounding clamor.<\/p>\n After the socialism class again worked on resumes in the school tent while movies were being shown in the pavilion. At one time I was helping Debby Schroeder. Teresa King, and Becky Beikman and we got a good deal of amusement of some of the incongruities coming out of their background.\u00a0 Debby confessed to taking drugs and anything she could get, so that her mind was very cloudy. Becky told of some of the days in the Valley when she was working as a teacher\u2019s aide, in a convalescent hospital and with a house full of young people.\u00a0 Dad told her she would be a teacher someday, which seemed unlikely as she had not even finished grade school.<\/p>\n Mike Prokes arrived for his interview. We got into conversation about his first time at the Temple when he put down his equipment and announced he was joining us and has never resumed his old life.\u00a0 \u201cI had a sudden conversion,\u201d he said.\u00a0 I asked him if he had been a socialist before.\u00a0 He said he had recognized that socialism was right but had never seen an authentic leader before.\u00a0 \u201cThen I had no excuse.\u201d\u00a0 I told him my reasoning had been the same, but a lot more gradual.<\/p>\n It was quite cold tonight.<\/p>\n Got to bed about 11.00.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4 March – Saturday 1978<\/strong> I spent the whole day typing resumes, except for taking my shower. I got my typewriter out of the crate, putting some of the other items from the crate on my bed.<\/p>\n The day was hot and humid with no rain.<\/p>\n Diane received a letter from her mother, Marian Pursley who is living in Cuba.\u00a0 She compared Cuba favorably with New Mexico where she had formerly lived.\u00a0 She speaks Spanish. I have met Marian in the Temple and thought she was a member.\u00a0 I asked Diane if she did not intend to come to Jonestown.\u00a0 She said Marian would like to come for a visit.\u00a0 As far as living here, \u201cShe\u2019s getting on in years.\u201d\u00a0 When I asked her age and the answer was that she\u2019s in her 50\u2019s, I reminded Diane that I am 62.<\/p>\n Went to dinner at 6.00.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rally<\/strong> Jim entered.<\/p>\n \u2013For the benefit of the new people Patty Cartmell repeated an episode formerly given of an episode which took place on the river, to her, Tommy Johnson and Rheaviana. The agricultural meeting: <\/strong> Fields. Jan Wilsey<\/em> says rice grows best on bush soil which has just been cleared. One variety is doing well in spite of having no rain.\u00a0 It is ready to harvest.\u00a0 She wants land to plant three different varieties experimentally.\u00a0 She wants Patty and others to look for pineapple suckers.\u00a0 Becky Beikman says pineapple is not a good money crop here, but it is in Linden.\u00a0 The government says we have the soil here for pineapples. Chaikin said the farmers around here have different kind of land than we.\u00a0 They grow yams to make money.<\/p>\n Livestock. Guy Mitchell<\/em> reported six piglets out of ten died.\u00a0 Ten piglets were born today.\u00a0 We\u2019ve been having a problem with mastitis. [Infection of the teats from bacteria entering, permanently damage the teat.<\/em>] It is caused by nutrition deficiency [Not true according to internet and vet]<\/em>.\u00a0 Guy underwent sharp questioning because of the loss of the piglets.\u00a0 Why was Larry not consulted? \u00a0He didn\u2019t succeed in reaching him.\u00a0 He was told from now on, contact Sylvia if he can\u2019t reach Larry. She schedules his time. Larry said Guy has a lackadaisical\u00a0attitude. Jim said it is the duty of the livestock people to contact Larry. Wanda\u2019s [Swinney] attitude and activities were questioned.\u00a0 Wanda didn\u2019t tell Guy of books brought from the states on tropical pig raising. Jim Morell [Bogue] also backed off.\u00a0 Guy said he\u2019s (Morrell) glad not to have the responsibility.<\/p>\n Jim said the IRS has come down on us all with tax threats. Jim Morell [Bogue] was charged with holding out on information because he wants to spend time with Minnie Buckley.\u00a0 Morell was not present.\u00a0 Jim said people like to eat collectively but don\u2019t like to work collectively.\u00a0 All were told to solve the problem.<\/p>\n There were complaints that fence posts were burned down a second time when burning was done.\u00a0 Then new poles have to be made. Fire makes galvanizing come off the wire and it will rust fast.<\/p>\n Tropp said the reports here have been too Pollyannaish.\u00a0 The people had to dig out the facts.<\/p>\n The cows were discussed, were said to be low milk producers.\u00a0 Wanda bought them.\u00a0 Morell was now in the meeting. Questioned about the production qualities of the cows. He said they are not big producers, have to be upgraded by two or three breedings. Wanda said Dr. Fernandez [Peter Fernandes, head of Guyana Livestock Board] recommended these cows as did two other government experts.\u00a0 It is possible the cows were switched on her overnight.<\/p>\n Jim had told her what to do, how to bargain.\u00a0 Jim: if we don\u2019t succeed, we face the gun. The boom is being lowered.<\/p>\n Charlie Touchette says Morell must stay with Guy step by step and teach him.\u00a0 Jim and Johnny Jones insist on all priorities being taken care of, bring in the healthy pigs and raise those pigs.<\/p>\n Jim said 93 crates were coming in, with more of our people.<\/p>\n Chicken Report. Tommy Keaton<\/em>, Rob Gieg added to it.\u00a0 There was a long discussion on arrangements for letting the chickens out.<\/p>\n Small Animals. Chris Talley<\/em>, said a small zoo is planned.<\/p>\n Reference was made to buying a boat.\u00a0 Patty could keep in touch with the Amerindians along the river. Chaikin recommends putting the word out that we\u2019re looking for one.\u00a0 Jim: get it taken care of.<\/p>\n Tish said many production reports are not coming in.<\/p>\n Follow-up reports were taken: Jack said tools must be checked out to individuals, not crews, to ensure care of property.<\/p>\n Responsibility was fixed for repairing the cellar roof to safeguard the urea coming in.<\/p>\n Sharkskin, that we had saved, was destroyed by maggots. The group tried to fix responsibility for not getting it taken care of. Juanita Green, a senior, was put on the learning crew for being unpleasant. Regina Bowser, who carelessly talks too much, assigned to learning crew. Eileen Johnson for doing a half-ass job, too mouthy, given a warning. Loreatha Buckley was defensive, had a bad attitude, put on learning crew. Kim Fye, talks too much, defensive, on learning crew. Darell Keller, new, observes rather than working, slept in three straight meetings, given a warning. A long list of others given warnings.<\/p>\n Mary Ann Casanova on the floor for not doing her inspection job.\u00a0 She says she had too many responsibilities. She wants off the inspection job.\u00a0 Jim let her off but required that she be watched on other jobs, reported if she is guilty of elitism.<\/p>\n Cynthia Davis was on the floor for attitude. Given a warning.<\/p>\n Tom Partak doesn\u2019t like the country. He was late for work, is defensive, is lapsing into bad habits. Put on learning crew.<\/p>\n Pauline Groot graduated from learning crew.<\/p>\n Tyrone Cartmell was worse after a long time on learning crew. He is going to the box.<\/p>\n Tina Christian cooperated when her parents stood behind her discipline.<\/p>\n Shonda Gaylor on the floor. Grandma is weak with the child. Jim insists on parent backing up discipline. Her mother spanked her.<\/p>\n Tad Jensen [Schroeder] released from learning crew.<\/p>\n Tommy Kice makes fun of people. Made faces at Pauline Groot. Tom Kice gave his son a lickin.\u2019 April Klingman got a spanking from Martha Klingman; she\u2019s back on the learning crew. Nawab Lawrence also received a spanking from his mother.\u00a0 Jim said to him: \u201cYou\u2019re a bright boy. Do you understand why I can\u2019t let you have your way?\u201d<\/p>\n Jim dismissed the meeting, asked for commendations to be read out at 1.30.<\/p>\n I was in bed a 2.00.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 5 March \u2013 Sunday\u00a0 1978<\/strong> I typed resumes all morning.<\/p>\n Then had a shower.\u00a0 My right foot is swollen and I have some pain in it.\u00a0 I had socks on last night to avoid insect bites in the pavilion.\u00a0 I think the foot got too hot.\u00a0 I am afraid it may be infected.<\/p>\n I wanted to get back to my resumes but Irra was scrubbing the floor.\u00a0 When she finished and I started work again, the housing investigators came by and objected because I had many of the items from my locker on the bed. I worked for another hour or two on resumes in the afternoon. The other residents had their half day off which they spent in the afternoon and concentrating was not easy.<\/p>\n Mended a few items. Did a little work on my journal.<\/p>\n Waited until 5.00 to go to dinner.\u00a0 It was near the end of the serving period, but the lines moved extremely slowly as the servers kept running out of food. Jim on the loudspeaker was telling the people that at $13 for which we sold broilers in the market, it costs us nearly $3000 for chicken dinner on Sunday.\u00a0 The chickens cost almost that much with the losses we have suffered lately.\u00a0 He said we had lost some more baby chicks because they had been de-beaked once more in spite of our orders.\u00a0 It may be a CIA engineered plot.<\/p>\n I was talking with Joicy Clark and Jim Pugh among others in line.\u00a0 I like and admire Joicy because she is so vitally interested in everything, but sometimes she wears me out because she always talks excitedly.\u00a0 Today a great many parents were with their children in line. We were in line over an hour. I traded my piece of chicken with Joicy so that I could get a leg.<\/p>\n Returned to the cottage and read Cities Without Crisis<\/em> a while.<\/p>\n Got my candy. Mother was distributing.<\/p>\n It was announced that there would be a meeting of all teachers at 8.00 in the dining tent.<\/p>\n Carolyn Layton was in charge. The Guyanese officials from the Education Ministry were going to be in Port Kaituma on Monday and Tuesday. We had heard on good authority they might come to visit our schools and we had to be prepared to demonstrate what we are doing.\u00a0 They might refuse to accept our school and insist our students attending Port Kaituma school.\u00a0 Plans were made for demonstration classes.\u00a0 Carolyn wanted as many of the resumes to be completed as possible.\u00a0 It was announced that teachers who had not yet given their resumes to me should stay after the meeting and do so.<\/p>\n However only three did so. Two of them were Peter Wotherspoon and Lois Ponts. Peter was born in Chile to British people who were second generation residents. Peter said they were now fascists. He had lived through three distinct modes of living in his life: breakfast in bed, literally; the street life of the 60\u2019s in Chicago which reached a high point at the Democratic National Convention in 1967; and the socialist life of Jonestown and he was grateful for having known them all.\u00a0 Peter has an astonishing number of skills and is now interested in fish farming.\u00a0 Lois Ponts seemed disorganized and I would guess is not\u00a0 very well adjusted here. It took a long time for her to recall the facts and dates I asked for in order to fill out her form.<\/p>\n I went to bed at 12.00.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 6 March\u00a0 – Monday 1978<\/strong> My foot is still swollen.\u00a0 It worries me as it may be infected.<\/p>\n I finished the resumes I had this morning.<\/p>\n After lunch I did my laundry.\u00a0 I used the bucket at the toilet area and Diane let me have her little washboard from the pre-school.<\/p>\n I took a shower and got my foot treated. If it is not better tomorrow, I intend to go to the Medical Office.<\/p>\n Diane Wilkinson moved in with Loretta Cordell; we have a teenager, it is said. I haven\u2019t seen her yet.<\/p>\n Did very little on my journal. Took a short nap. The water brigade was called for before 4.00 o\u2019clock. I didn\u2019t want to go on account of my foot and the very little work I had done. I typed the skit for my adult class.<\/p>\n I had dinner.<\/p>\n A special meeting of all the teachers was called for 8.00 in the school tent.\u00a0 I had to cancel my class which was beginning to assemble. Carolyn Layton told me we had to gather and type some more resumes.\u00a0 She had sent Rita Lenin with her own resume, which she wanted rewritten to submit to the government ministry.<\/p>\n Carolyn said it was definite that officials from the Education Ministry were coming to visit us tomorrow. The issue is whether we shall be allowed to retain our own schools or whether our children will be required to go to Port Kaituma.\u00a0 Very careful plans were made to convince them that our school is doing a creditable job.\u00a0 Carolyn said some of the government officials are capitalistic and elitist. Jobs were assigned to different teachers.\u00a0 Jim wanted the Book Depository shown and it had to be straightened up. Bea\u00a0 [Orsot] is too sick to help. Carolyn said the officials wanted to see lists of all the children, their ages and classes to which they are assigned. Since the school does not have such lists, some teaches will have to go to the coordinator\u2019s office to get them.<\/p>\n In the middle of the meeting I started taking resumes from those who didn\u2019t give them earlier.\u00a0 I worked in the dining room tent, then did more in the school tent where the Steering Committee was having a long meeting.<\/p>\n Had a conversation with Shirley Fields, who has been expressing interest in helping with my adult class.\u00a0 I have been trying to get her to commit herself, so that I can begin reading instruction for those who need it.\u00a0 Now Shirley seems to be interested in helping with my remedial problem in my high school class.\u00a0 I think daytime hours are easier for her.\u00a0 This might be a help, as my class is going to be larger next term, I understand.<\/p>\n As the residents in my cottage were asleep when I was ready to type, 12.30, I was invited to type next door.\u00a0 Karen is in Georgetown and Penny was not there.\u00a0 Christine Lucientes went away. Paula Adams and Daisy Stroud went to sleep with the lights on and tape playing all night. I worked until almost 5.00 a.m. and did 11 more resumes, including Carolyn\u2019s which I had to draft.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 7 March – Tuesday 1978<\/strong> Vernetta Christian came in with hers and I let her type it on my typewriter while I got the info for Diane\u2019s.<\/p>\n Terri Buford picked up he resumes to deliver to Carolyn.<\/p>\n I returned my plate to the kitchen.\u00a0 The Guyanese officials had arrived and were at that time looking at Jack Barron\u2019s work-study project.<\/p>\n Saw Bates who, to my surprise, had procured some surplus material from the warehouse and had one of the other seniors make up a pillow for me, covering it with my material.\u00a0 She will use the rest of the material to make pillows to sell.<\/p>\n Did some work on my journal before I went to lunch.<\/p>\n Had my shower. The aide who treats sores and athlete\u2019s foot wasn\u2019t at her post in the pavilion today because of the guests. But my foot is better, the swelling has gone down.<\/p>\n I saw the new young woman who is going to be in the bed vacated by Diane Wilkinson.\u00a0 Her name in Anitra Green. She rustled through Versie\u2019s possessions looking for a tape adaptor.\u00a0 I told Irra about it when she came and she didn\u2019t like it at all. Some odd episodes have occurred lately in our cottage. Somebody left some toast in the room yesterday and Harriet said somebody had gone through her cosmetics and taken a bottle of cologne.<\/p>\n I tried to take a nap for two hours from 3.00 to 5.00. I thought I just dozed off, it seemed to refresh me. The day was very hot.<\/p>\n Spent half an hour examining recent journal entries to see which are incomplete. With so many meetings the first part of March, I got behind.<\/p>\n Went for dinner. Then worked on my journal in the pavilion.\u00a0 Jim gave the news at the loudspeaker before the rally started.<\/p>\n –The Apostolic Singers sang, \u201cTrusting in that Rock That Wont Give Away\u201d and \u201cMoving Around with Father Every Day.\u201d Jim on eggs that were injected with some disease from which chickens were hatched which we are losing.<\/p>\n Agricultural Reports<\/strong> Reports on chickens.<\/em> We should consider all changes for raising them. Expert says we\u2019re overcrowded. Keep rats out.\u00a0 Walls too high for ventilation. More suggestions: thorough disinfection. Thinks biggest problem is poor sanitation.\u00a0 Jim says Georgetown people must see chicken farm of Mr. Fernandez\u2019 brother.\u00a0 Use more lamps with chicks. Give antibiotics in water. May need extra water. Use circular room to prevent overcrowding. Use aureomycin. Use gravel to help them digest food, screen it.\u00a0 Edwards says we need gravel, chickens not to walk in excreta.\u00a0 Rob Gieg says we\u2019re following all suggestions except probably don\u2019t have aureomycin. Jack Beam says some practices are shoddy.\u00a0 Anthony hard to find. Schacht says disease seems to be Ariz disease. Johnny Jones says put medicine on airplane. Chaikin says Gieg maybe should get the medicine.<\/p>\n Discussion on probing or pushing the agenda.\u00a0 Jim says we need coordinator, farm manager. All decisions will have to move up to him. Jack Beam was nominated.<\/p>\n Cassava: Keith Newsome,<\/em> a child. Margarite Romano is head. Chaikin suggests we get good advice on which kind of cassava best for what they want. Also which direction they should be planted.<\/p>\n Land Clearing: Mike Touchette<\/em> Reported on burn. Also on Machine Shop. Discussion on using windrows. Stephen has feeling Al Touchette reflects on his ability with the tractor.\u00a0 Jim thinks he has paranoia.\u00a0 He had leadership potential and makes it hard for him.\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t blame him for resentment feelings but think of tortures undergone by Biko.\u00a0 Jim: US is afraid of us. Question is Caterpillar tractors could be used more, not that Steve was goofing off.\u00a0 Charlie Touchette can\u2019t approach Mike. Stephen agrees that Mike is touchy. Natural for Stephen to resent being brought into world. To people: go ahead and have a kid, but when he\u2019s 16 he\u2019ll hate you.\u00a0 Mike says he\u2019ll change his attitude toward Charlie.\u00a0 When you get older you don\u2019t change rapidly.\u00a0 He\u2019s less arrogant. Mike says he hasn\u2019t taken his responsibility seriously.\u00a0 Jim says Mike\u2019s companion is very independent, which is hard on his ego.<\/p>\n Jim reported he had heard that Rob Christian said that if anything happens to Jim he said to Marie Lawrence he couldn\u2019t stay with the movement. Jim said for a person without an ego this is the worst thing you can say.\u00a0 Rob doesn\u2019t remember saying this exactly.\u00a0 Jim: One reason enemies do what they do, they want us to fail, so then they can say, \u201cI knew it. It couldn\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n Utility of windrows discussed.\u00a0 Erosion control. Chaikin says we get sheet erosion. Chaikin thinks one windrow down the side of a hill was discussed. They take up valuable land. They make it harder to turn machinery around.\u00a0 Need contour plowing. Windrows also harbor insect pests.\u00a0 Keeps good ground covered.\u00a0 Jim: needs long range planning.\u00a0 Hope analysts can handle this. Jan Wilsey speaks of immense manpower needed to get rid of wood.<\/p>\n Many suggestions of dealing with logs and windrows. People power to remove and stack them. Jim says idea of using them instead of diesel fuel for power.<\/p>\n Gardens:<\/em> somebody wanted report to indicate how much of each for a meal.<\/p>\n Jack Barron reported 25 gallons wing beans soured during picking. Suggestions for avoiding.<\/p>\n Herbs: Shirley Fields<\/em><\/p>\n Cultivation: Philip Blakey<\/em><\/p>\n Senior Gardens: Selika Bordenave<\/em>\u00a0 Jim says crops grown in senior gardens should be coordinated. Concentrating on what is really needed.<\/p>\n Safety Steward:<\/em> To be assigned to and report to steering committee.<\/p>\n Chris Lund reported on what has been done to cut down on electric power.<\/p>\n Jim: Necessary for conserving.\u00a0 Our enemies are going for our jugular. Stoens, Mertles, We have evidence that they are involved in he murder of Chris Lewis.<\/p>\n Warning from Jim: someone in shipments of people who are coming in might be CIA plant.\u00a0 Do not say anything negative to anyone.<\/p>\n Analysts Reports.<\/em> Pigs:<\/em> more piglets dies. Three more. Remainder moved up to central area to feed them\u00a0 and try to save them. Larry just reveled that another pig died.<\/p>\n Cows.<\/em> Marshall Ferris thinks cows are poor quality, won\u2019t give much milk.<\/p>\n Kitchen was refused butter because they asked for it on off-hours. Messenger was told the anteater had to be fed.<\/p>\n Traytease Arterberry to box. Gina [Regina] Bowser to box.\u00a0 Shonda Gaylor to box. Mark Rhodes 2 days in the box. Kay Rosas pleaded for mercy. Jim gives her a chance to see Big Foot. Other choice was test administered by Jack Beam.<\/p>\n Joe Johnson, taken just to save him. Somebody hunting you in the states. You were in drugs. Spoke of \u201cslave camp.\u201d<\/p>\n The boa put around Kaye\u2019s neck.<\/p>\n Melanie Breidenbach reported washing own clothes in the laundry when laundry is closed to others.<\/p>\n Karen Lendo on floor for trying to smuggle out a request for a tape recorder.<\/p>\n Several others were on the floor for discipline.\u00a0 But I was getting sleepy and at times the microphone was off. I was sitting in the back and couldn\u2019t see well, so I didn\u2019t note names. The meeting ended about 1.30.\u00a0 Jim announcing that we would sleep two hours later in the morning, but work through lunch.<\/p>\n I went to bed at 2.00<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 8 March – Wednesday 1978<\/strong> High school classes were cancelled and students sent to work projects. No lunch was served.<\/p>\n In the morning I made considerable progress on my journal.<\/p>\n Washed my hair. My foot was much better though I still have some raw skin between the toes. The aide at the pavilion was not giving treatment as the nurses were about to start a meeting but she did put some cassava powder between my toes.<\/p>\n I worked most of the afternoon on a memo to Jim, a recommendation for saving time and thus helping to increase production by better management of the People\u2019s Rallies.\u00a0 I plan to submit it for discussion to several others before passing it on to Jim.<\/p>\n I intended to go to the water brigade, but the call was early and I was not through with my memo.\u00a0 I decided to finish it.<\/p>\n Went down for dinner at 6.00.\u00a0 Took my laundry in. Took a copy of my memo to Tish. Also showed the original to Mike who asked me a few questions as to who would be able to handle the chairmanship.<\/p>\n The boat bringing our crates (a private carrier) also brought some new arrivals to Jonestown, among them Jane Mutschmann, but I didn\u2019t see her yet.<\/p>\n During dinner Jim was on the loud speaker and very angry. At the watering he had initiated a water fight for the children. This had been criticized as wasting water by some of the adults, who had even snatched buckets away from children.\u00a0 Jim said they had forgotten their childhood, that children needed some fun.\u00a0 He had economized more over his whole life than they had ever thought of.<\/p>\n The loud speaker system is not working in the cottage area.\u00a0 I thought we were to have an entertainment program for new people. Because of this and because a letter writing project was announced for 8.00, I cancelled my adult class again.\u00a0 Some of them had already assembled and were disappointed. As it turned out, the event taking place on the podium was a try-out for those who wish to present musical, dance and related items at a show the Temple will be giving in Georgetown in a couple of weeks.\u00a0 The letter writing group was meeting at the same time and we heard the entertainment people trying to persuade those wishing to perform, not to be reluctant to appear before the others.\u00a0 Jim got on the microphone and called such people down for giving trouble.<\/p>\n I had missed a letter writing session the other night when I was writing resumes and Dick had me write all the letters I had not done plus the new ones.\u00a0 I wrote to the Internal Revenue Service, with a copy to the President, protesting their harassment, then a letter to the Ukiah Daily Journal, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat and the San Francisco Examiner, taking exception to the article each had carried on the Jim Jones\u2013Tim Stoen child custody case, mainly based on information from Tim Stoen.\u00a0 I wrote the letters by hand in the school tent.\u00a0 Dick kept going to the microphone and rousing the people on his list to come and write their letters.<\/p>\n I had given a copy of my memo on saving time at rallies to Dick and got his opinion.\u00a0 He was supportive, merely remarked it would be difficult to implement.\u00a0 Meanwhile there was much movement among leadership people, including Jim himself, and the Radio Hut and the tent area.\u00a0 I heard Jim say he had a crisis on his hands.\u00a0 He also, as on the other nights was calling the doctor and several nurses for consultation on the radio.<\/p>\n I finished with my letters and went home at 11.30 and to bed. \u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 9 March\u00a0 – Thursday 1978<\/strong> Went to breakfast. It was announced that high school classes were cancelled Thursday and Friday.<\/p>\n The crates brought on the boat were being delivered by our workers to the rice tent and unpacked in a steady stream.\u00a0 Tom told me many of our books and school supplies are included.\u00a0 Traffic through the unpacking area is banned, making the short cut I usually take unfeasible.<\/p>\n Paula Adams had a statement from Crocker National Bank that my account was still open and asked me to close it. I think the following month\u2019s statement will show that it has been closed with the $60 check I gave Lor, but I agreed to write a letter to the bank.<\/p>\n When I returned to the cottage, Terri Buford spoke to me about a request from Bechtel Thrift and Trust office to indicate how I wanted to be paid for the county portion of my Thrift funds.\u00a0 I have some $388.00 coming.<\/p>\n Phyllis Chaikin has to design a curriculum for training nurses aides at Port Kaituma and asked me for help.\u00a0 It was not merely a request to type it; \u00a0she wanted me to help her write it.\u00a0 I worked with her for an hour and a half. We did not finish.<\/p>\n I had Harriet Tropp and Phyllis Chaikin read my proposal on conducting the rallies. Harriet\u2019s attitude was affirmative. Phyllis agreed with me that much of the material in the agricultural reports was not understandable to the uninitiated.<\/p>\n Went to lunch.<\/p>\n I saw Tish in the Agricultural office.\u00a0 She had extremely negative reports on my rally proposal.\u00a0 She thought it showed a complete lack of empathy with people who had had less education than I, little appreciation of what Jim has done to bring our members\u2019 abilities to the point where they are now and lastly, an indefensible questioning of the office. She thought I should examine my motives.\u00a0 My explanations she regarded as defensive.\u00a0 I think that by discussing my adult class, I absolved myself somewhat from the charge of elitism.\u00a0 I told her my biggest problem was the abysmal state of preparation of my basic Language Arts group.\u00a0 We parted amicably, I deciding not to submit the document to Jim, at least in its present form.\u00a0 I was grateful to her in that she had saved me from giving something to Jim which might offend him, though he has said we can write him anything privately.<\/p>\n Saw Jane Mutschmann briefly. She is happy to be here.<\/p>\n I got out my typewriter and completed the necessary business documents.\u00a0 I took them up to the Radio Room just by 4.00, the hour specified by Paula, only to find she was next door.<\/p>\n The call for the water brigade went out at 4:00.\u00a0 I read Cities Without Crisis<\/em> for a half hour, then went down to the field to water.\u00a0 Most of the afternoon I was standing next to Tom Grubbs and later Debby Jensen [Schroeder].\u00a0 He made an inquiry about Bechtel which led to a discussion of intelligence work and finally to my telling him of my coding experience.\u00a0 With Debby we talked of old radio programs, especially comedians we had enjoyed.\u00a0 This arose out a comment hearing the news versus reading it.\u00a0 Tom says he has a hearing deficiency. Tom, I learned, has a deep appreciation of reading, likes poetry, including Shakespeare.\u00a0 He gets no time for reading now.<\/p>\n Some people left the line, perhaps through a misunderstanding, but the majority stayed, afraid of incurring Jim\u2019s wrath, until Jim Simpson called off the work at 7.15.<\/p>\n A change in schedule has been announced. \u00a0\u00a0Many of my adult students and I myself had looked forward to having my class tonight and rehearsing our skit, but we were told socialism classes would be held tonight rather than Friday.\u00a0 Then we would have the Rally on Friday, because of the dentist\u2019s coming on Saturday.\u00a0 During dinner we were informed of another change. We were to come as quickly as possible to the pavilion to see films. I took my food, a cheese sandwich with lettuce, the first time I have eaten it here.<\/p>\n Clayton Heims, Minster of Information, was visiting. He introduced two films on Guyana, the first \u201cThis is Guyana,\u201d showing the historical backgrounds, scenic spots, the chief agricultural and mining products, the different races in the city and scenic spots.\u00a0 \u201cOurs to Build,\u201d concentrated more on development activities.\u00a0 The films were over at 9.30.<\/p>\n I returned to the cottage and read Cities Without Crisis<\/em> for a while but tired with the long physical exertion, went to sleep before all the residents were home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 10 March\u00a0 – Friday 1978<\/strong> Told Dick Tropp of Tish\u2019s comments on my memo. He was vehement in his feelings that she was motivated by her own involvement in the agricultural reports, did not agree that I was insensitive to people with less education than I, nor that I criticized the office.<\/p>\n The school supplies and books coming in, in the crates are being unpacked and distributed to storage facilities in the school tents and the book depository, the latter being used for teacher resource matter.<\/p>\n When I got home I saw Harriett Tropp and told her also of Tish\u2019s opinion on my memo. She was even more intense in her attitude than Dick, thought I should turn it in to Jim.<\/p>\n Worked on my journal a short while at lunch and had hoped to catch Dale Parks and Don Fields in order to write their resumes but I didn\u2019t see either of them.\u00a0 Instead I saw Bob Davis who started to give me is.\u00a0 He has a degree in music from a state college in Washington State.\u00a0 We had to stop before we were finished when Jim began to give the news.<\/p>\n Took a shower and the medical aide treated my foot which is almost completely cured.<\/p>\n I lay down for an hour and dozed.<\/p>\n Dick had told me the usual high school teachers meeting would be held but the teachers were in the pavilion. I went to the Book Depository who told me the teachers were cataloging books and school materials, that he was coordinator and Dick had not consulted him.<\/p>\n I helped catalog from about 3.00 to 6.00, as I didn\u2019t feel like going on the water brigade, which was early. Boxes of books and materials were being brought in and we were going to have a serious problem of storage.\u00a0 As soon as we get the books cataloged, I shouldn\u2019t have too much trouble finding a book to read.\u00a0 I was really having difficulty locating one to read after I finish Cities Without Crisis<\/em>.\u00a0 Dinner was not being served until the water brigade was dismissed, so I went home and got my socks on (to protect against insects) and my pillow.\u00a0 Then I was late and barely made it to the rally, held tonight because the dentist is coming tomorrow and found a seat.\u00a0 We had fish chowder over rice, cutlass beans and oranges. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Rally<\/strong> Lists of those seeing the dentist Sunday: four appointments an hour.<\/p>\n –The Misfits. Praise: Bob Rankin \u2013 others for working overtime. Scott Thomas, Tommy Bogue, Darell Keller working good in bananas crew.\u00a0 Many on learning crew doing well. Many on difference crews.<\/p>\n –Patty Cartmell: Life in Cottage 28.<\/p>\n
\nDownload Word (.doc) version of March 1978<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u2013The kindergarten children did a dance to welcome Mother.
\n\u2013The Misfits sang \u201cDon\u2019t forget to Remember Where All Your Blessings Come From.\u201d Mother responded.
\n\u2013Diane Wilkinson sang two songs.<\/p>\n
\nBecause we were late this morning, Jim asked us to work straight through without lunch. Lunches were not put up for field workers.<\/p>\n
\nDick Tropp had told me we were going to send resumes of all residents who were teaching school, had teaching credentials, or college credits to the Education Ministry in Georgetown.\u00a0 The move is to forestall attempt to close our school by having evidence in our files or our personnel\u2019s qualifications and intellectual attainments.\u00a0 Dick said they wanted to get as many as possible on the boat when it leaves.\u00a0 Dick gave me a form which he had drawn up and asked me to get the information from as many of those who should be included as I could.<\/p>\n
\nBreakfast was late.\u00a0 I got up and ate after 8.00 o\u2019clock.\u00a0 We went straight through to dinner without lunch.<\/p>\n
\nThe rally at 7.30 opened with students of different class levels who were outstanding coming to the front to applause.\u00a0 Danny Beck got a hand for helping with kindergarten children.<\/p>\n
\n\u2013The Apostolic Singers sang.
\n\u2013Marthea Hicks recited a poem for Chris Lewis, as this was a memorial program for him.\u00a0 \u2013Diane sang \u201cStrong, Gifted and Black\u201d for Chris
\n\u2013Becky Beikman recited \u201cIf\u201d ending with the word \u201cYou\u2019ll be a socialist, my son,\u201d dedicated to Chris.
\n\u2013The Misfits did two numbers.<\/p>\n
\nCitrus and nursery report<\/em>. We have 10.000 seeds in citrus nursery which will cover 40 acres.\u00a0 We have 1000 young Liberica coffee trees.\u00a0 We\u2019ll get our own seed for coffee. We raise acerola for vitamin C.\u00a0 Wing beans bear one ton to the acre. They are the best bearer.\u00a0 We maintain a mixed fruit orchard.\u00a0 Space is being saved for the breadfruit.\u00a0 There was a difference of opinion whether or not to prune citrus. North America almond won\u2019t bear fruit here because we have no frost.\u00a0 Chaikin thought he should visit people who grow fruit here and look at what they are doing.\u00a0 Patty Cartmell mentioned a big citrus grower here who wants to come in here.<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0[note in upper left corner: 4 Mar IRS investigation]<\/em>
\nWe had doughnuts and coffee for breakfast. The doughnuts had frosting on them.<\/p>\n
\nThe school schedule was changed to allow for demonstration classes for the guests for whom we waited all day.\u00a0 High school classes were cancelled and I didn\u2019t have to teach.\u00a0 I counted on getting work done on my journal.<\/p>\n
\nGot up at 7.00 as I had to do Diane Lundquist\u2019s resume before she went to work. We went over it together and I typed it while she went to go get me some breakfast, which was biscuits and syrup.<\/p>\n
\n–Peter Wotherspoon and Tchabaka Baker performed \u201cJungle Talk.\u201d
\n–Ollie Smith performed \u201cWe Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down.\u201d
\n–Tommy Keaton performed \u201cSweetest Thing that Ever Came Down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nRuss Moton: agricultural<\/em> officials visited. Build up pasture. Discussed it and fertilizer. Says another group is raising a dairy herd. Recommended certain kinds of grass, lighter kinds of cows need shade.\u00a0 Having trouble with pigs because mothers are undernourished.\u00a0 Pigs need to root for iron. Use an iron supplement for young.\u00a0 If they root watch for worms and deworm.\u00a0 Moton recommends food analysis but Harriet says maybe better to feed complete food.\u00a0 Jack says not for hogs to root.\u00a0 James Edwards says seniors think they should not be on wood but on ground, in mud. Cheers and hollers. Chaikin says to research in books. Johnny Jones says Jerry Smith a contact who may arrange a seminar.<\/p>\n
\nBeekeeping: Ronny Sines<\/em>, show field workers how to recognize queens. Jim this particular area is only one around that doesn\u2019t have killer bees.<\/p>\n
\nGot up at 8:00. Had breakfast and went to the Medical office for my Premarin.<\/p>\n
\nI was awakened shortly after 6.00 by Jim\u2019s voice on the loudspeaker.\u00a0 The sound was not clear. At first I thought it was some emergency, but as it turned out, he was giving the news, as had been requested by those who work away from the central area and do not hear him at a later hour.<\/p>\n
\nHad my usual routine today: to breakfast, got my medication. The vegetable shed has not had any papayas or any other fresh vegetables.\u00a0 I can eat raw for my constipation. I have had a little improvement in the condition anyway.<\/p>\n
\nTwo tapes of Temple broadcast played.\u00a0 Rally started at 8:00.<\/p>\n
\n–Peter Wotherspoon & Tchabaka Baker
\n–Diana Wilkinson
\n–United Forever- ending with \u201cLong live this Communist dream.\u201d<\/p>\n