Skip to main content

Peoples Temple Collection; Box 17, Virtual Item 10, Q591-Part 2, Discussion of relatives, Jonestown meeting (588-596)

 Digital Record
Identifier: ms-0183_17.10 Part 2

Creator

Summary Note

This tape of a Jonestown meeting from April 1978 begins with a wide diversity of subjects under discussion, including the advantages and disadvantages of emigrating to the Soviet Union; the placement of a few miscreants on the Jonestown Learning Crew; a review of the news by Jonestown residents; even a little playful banter between Jim and Marceline Jones. Early in the meeting, and then for the balance of the hour, the community focuses on the breaking news that Temple antagonists Tim Stoen and the Mertles are organizing through the use of the press and the courts to force the return of relatives to the United States. In making the announcement, Jim refers to the meeting that their opponents are calling as being “for Concerned Relatives,” and his tone of voice suggests this may be the first time he has used those words, although Jonestown would become quite familiar with the group before much longer. The conversation about “going to Russia” considers some of the issues they have discussed before: would the Soviet Union allow Jones to function as their leader; how would it respond to its use of White Nights; and how would they fit in with the new society. Full summary of the recording available at Alternative Considerations of Jonestown website, along with the tape transcript.

Rights Statement Note

The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine.  Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.

Physical Description Note

Original audio cassette tape recording digitized and made available as .mp3 audio file.

Publisher Note

Publisher: The Jonestown Institute

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections & University Archives Repository

Contact:
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego CA 92182-8050 US
619-594-6791