Peoples Temple Collection; Box 7, Virtual item 13, Q54 - Shortwave broadcasts (Spring 1977)

Digital Record

Identifier: ms-0183_07.13

Staff Only

Digital Object (mixed_materials)

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Dates

Digitized: Spring 1977

Creator

Jones, Jim (Jones, James Warren) (Person)
Peoples Temple (Organization)

Summary Note

In connection with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s investigation into the assassination of U.S. Congressman LEO J. RYAN at Port Kaituma, Guyana, South America, on November 18, 1978, a tape recording was obtained. This tape recording was located in Jonestown, Guyana, South America, and was turned over to U.S. Officials in Guyana and subsequently transported to the United States. On June 5, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B97. This tape was found to contain the following: Phrases which appear to have been coded. The transmissions were decoded by the Agent using the People’s Temple code book. The word or phrases underlined indicate the coded word and the word or phrases in parenthesis indicate the decoded section. This is something from ARLENE’s (VERA) or (CLEO) department that Dr. BRYANT (SUTTON) or DYMALLY) and FELIX’s (WILLIE BROWN) counter part in Dr. Bedford’s area and a number of other people, anyway its tomorrow in Dr. Bedford’s place and its a SCOTT (Synanon) will be there. No but he is related to Dr. SHOEMAKER (CECIL WILLIAMS) main one will be Dr. BRYANT its all of San Francisco meeting together in unity. We talked to Dr. RYAN today, so he has background regarding SALLY (Press), however this was another event where I just wanted to run it across and not make any assumptions of Dr. RYAN. We have already given Dr. RYAN, Dr. HUDSON’s (possibly JIM JONES) opinion on the matter.) Dr. MILLS (GRECO) who is he. He works for the same department as Dr. WHITWHITE (TOS). The remaining transmissions described the performances given by the people of Jonestown in Georgetown. This tape, which was was initially withheld from disclosure, includes some discussion of supplies which the Jonestown project needed, questions about concerns raised by relatives in the US, and a conversation about a play or skit to be performed in Jonestown. The majority of this rather short tape is a conversation which is essentially incomprehensible. The exchanges between people on the radio mention names which are unfamiliar and which may be in code. Even with the names deciphered through the Peoples Temple phrase book — as presented in the FBI Summary linked below — the conversation is out of context and does not scan well. Full summary of the recording available at Alternative Considerations of Jonestown website, along with the tape transcript.

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