The Victor Atiyeh Papers contain materials from his business, political, and personal activities, dating from 1923-2012, as well as collected materials and family papers predating the primary body of the collection. The bulk of the materials pertain to his campaigns for and his service in political office, particularly his two terms as Governor of Oregon, 1979-1987, and to the international consulting business he established after leaving office in 1987. Collection materials include appointment books, audio cassettes, awards, budgets, campaign materials, certificates, correspondence, directories, memoranda, memorabilia, notes, photographs, poll results, posters, press clippings, publications, receipts, reports, schedules, scrapbooks, speeches, and video tapes.
An eight-page set of public records requests from the Rajneesh Legal Services Corporation to the Governor's Office, dated June 25 and June 28, 1985. The requests seek access to records including calendars, telephone bills, telephone logs, correspondence with Representative Paul Hanneman, a letter concerning the "influx of followers of the Bhagwan," and documents involving the Governor's Office, the Department of Commerce, the Attorney General's Office, Rancho Rajneesh, Rajneeshpuram, Rajneesh/Antelope, and related corporations or residents.
A three-page August 7, 1985 letter from Bob Oliver to The Rajneesh Legal Services, Inc. regarding a public records request for materials in the Governor's Office file titled "Department of Justice." Oliver served as the legal counsel to Governor Atiyeh. Oliver states that most documents in the file were being made available for inspection and copying, but that several documents were being withheld under attorney-client privilege. The letter lists the withheld documents and notes that they did not appear to have an obvious connection to the plaintiffs in pending federal litigation involving Rajneeshpuram.
A five-page August 13, 1985 letter from Jeffrey S. Merrick, Assistant Attorney General, to the Rajneesh Legal Services Corporation regarding public records requests addressed to the Governor's Office. The letter provides a status report on numerous requests, including requests for written public records requests, fee policies, correspondence, meeting notes, telephone bills and logs, calendars, Governor's Office file #101-3, and records relating to Rajneeshpuram, Rajneesh/Antelope, Rancho Rajneesh, and related state agency contacts.
A five-page August 16, 1985 letter from Assistant Attorneys General Scott McAlister and Linda R. Rodgers to Governor Victor Atiyeh regarding State of Oregon et al. v. City of Rajneeshpuram et al. The letter discusses a federal district court discovery order requiring named state agencies to search for documents relevant to the case. The letter outlines subject areas for the search, including named defendants, alleged religious control of governmental functions in Rajneeshpuram, the religious purpose of the city, excessive entanglement of government and religion, and possible sources of information.
A seven-page set of September 16, 1985 letters from Robert W. Oliver, Assistant to the Governor, to the Rajneesh Legal Services Corporation. The letters respond to several public records requests concerning meetings and briefing sessions involving Governor Atiyeh, Gerry Thompson, Bob Oliver, John Mathis, Bob Lamb, John Williams, and others; writings involving the Rajneeshpuram School District; authorization for Attorney General investigations; access to Governor Atiyeh's personal calendar; and handwritten notes or memoranda from Governor's cabinet meetings.
A four-page set of documents beginning with a September 11, 1985 letter from Robert W. Oliver, Assistant to the Governor, to the Rajneesh Legal Services Corporation. The letter concerns two enclosed public records requests dated August 12 and August 26, 1985, which sought a response to a February 23, 1983 letter from Al Davidson to Oliver. Oliver states that searches of the Governor's Office and Department of Education files had not located the requested response. The enclosed public records requests from Rajneesh Legal Services are included in the scan.
A four-page January 31, 1986 joint statement by United States Attorney Charles H. Turner and Oregon Attorney General Dave Frohnmayer regarding extradition proceedings against Sheela Silverman (a.k.a. Ma Anand Sheela), Diane Ivonne Onang (a.k.a. Ma Anand Puja), and Catherine Jane Elsea (a.k.a. Ma Shanti Bhadra). The statement says that the three former disciples of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh would be extradited from Germany to Oregon to face criminal charges. It discusses federal and state charges, including immigration-related charges, attempted murder, assault, conspiracy, wiretapping, arson, and burglary, as well as limitations and procedures under the extradition treaty between the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany.
A four-page set of Oregon State Police Rajneeshpuram investigation notes dated December 18-23, 1985. The notes discuss conditions at the ranch after the departure of many Rajneeshees, including buyers looking at remaining property, the sale of vehicles and equipment, estimated remaining population, daily buses leaving the ranch, FBI agents serving papers related to wiretapping, and information from Herb Koenig, identified as a court-appointed trustee for Rajneeshpuram. The final page discusses plans to reduce the ranch population to caretakers and corporation personnel under a court order.
An October 3, 1984 State of Oregon interoffice memo from Jeff Lewis (Citizen's Representative in the Governor's Office) to Gerry Thompson (Governor Atiyeh's Chief of Staff) regarding Rajneesh telephone calls. The memo states that, although the hotline had helped with calls from concerned citizens about the Rajneeshees, Lewis was still receiving about ten to twenty calls a day from Oregonians who were not satisfied speaking with the hotline. Lewis states that these callers were extremely irate and did not believe the Governor was doing enough.
A one-page Oregon State Police Rajneeshpuram investigation report by Sergeant M. A. Searcey for the week of December 22-29, 1985. The report discusses the sale of Golden West mobile homes, reports of game violations and coyote hunting, negotiations by a group called Youth of America to purchase Rancho Rajneesh, possible plans for a juvenile offender work camp, the estimated remaining population at the ranch, the status of the caretaker force, and uncertainty about the disposition of the man camp in Antelope.
A September 20, 1984 State of Oregon interoffice memo from Bill Young, Director of Water Resources, to Pat Amedeo in the Governor's Office regarding Application 68110. The memo states that the Rajneesh Neo-Sannyas International Commune had submitted an application to appropriate water from the John Day River to irrigate 10.7 acres. Young notes that the section of river was within the Scenic Waterway established in 1971 and that staff were working with the Director of State Parks on required findings before the permit could be issued.
A September 26, 1984 Mental Health Division memorandum from J. H. Treleaven, M.D., Assistant Director of Human Resources and Administrator for Mental Health, to Bob Oliver regarding mental health and Rajneeshpuram. Oliver served as the legal counsel to Oregon's Governor Atiyeh. The memo states that community mental health program directors in The Dalles and Bend had reported no problems resulting from the influx of "street people" (i.e. homeless people) at Rajneeshpuram, while the director in Madras had helped with two people left at the hospital there. The memo also notes an upcoming meeting in The Dalles to discuss contingency planning with local officials.
A September 28, 1984 letter from Governor Victor Atiyeh to Bedelia Thomas of The Dalles, Oregon, regarding public fears about the Rajneesh movement. Thomas was a concerned citizen. Atiyeh states that the Oregon State Police and other agencies were watching Rajneesh activities, and that the Secretary of State was looking into voter registration issues. The letter emphasizes that public officials had to treat all people equally under the law and that the same standards had to be applied to all people who registered to vote.
A three-page October 1, 1984 Oregon State Police information report regarding Rajneeshpuram. The report records Detective Dale A. Rutledge's interview with Billy Raymond Morse, who had recently traveled from Sacramento, California, to Rajneeshpuram through the Share-A-Home Program and left several days later. The program had aimed to bring homeless people to the Rajneesh community in order to register them to vote in local elections. Morse's statement describes recruitment, arrival procedures, searches, clothing and housing assignments, separation of "street people" from residents, orientation, voter registration, work expectations, people leaving Rajneeshpuram, and his belief that the program was connected to the upcoming election.
An October 4, 1984 Oregon State Police memorandum from Major K. L. Lamkin to Superintendent John C. Williams regarding a meeting of Concerned Oregonians of Wasco County held at The Dalles High School on October 2, 1984. The memo states that approximately 1,500 to 2,000 people attended the meeting, which concerned what participants viewed as the Rajneesh threat. Speakers discussed voting laws, firearms, "street people," law enforcement, and concerns about state and federal responses to the Rajneesh situation.
An October 4, 1984 Department of Commerce Insurance Division report to Bob Oliver regarding agency contacts with Rajneeshpuram representatives. The report discusses the Rajneesh Medical Corporation's application for a Certificate of Authority as a health care service contractor, Rajneesh Legal Services Corporation's request for a legal services contractor application, insurance policy forms submitted by the Rajneesh Medical Corporation, and insurance licenses connected to Ma Anand Apara and the Rajneesh Financial Trust.
An October 10, 1984 State of Oregon interoffice memo from Dick Grant to Bob Oliver regarding Rajneeshpuram. The memo refers to attached correspondence from John B. Olin, Superintendent of Banks, about a recent visit to Rajneeshpuram. Olin's letter discusses earlier inquiries from Rajneesh representatives about banking, consumer finance, sale of checks, and financial services, as well as his personal visit to Rajneeshpuram as an unannounced tourist.
An eight-page October 16, 1984 information sheet from the Office of the Governor regarding the Rajneesh. The document states that it was intended to respond to common rumors and questions surrounding the Rajneesh, based on information believed to be correct at the time. Topics include the origins of Rajneeshpuram, Antelope, the annual festival, the Rajneeshpuram Peace Force, "street people," elections, immigration, land use litigation, taxes, public safety, firearms, state revenue sharing, and the state's lawsuit challenging Rajneeshpuram's status as a city.
A four-page set of documents including an October 17, 1984 letter from Governor Victor Atiyeh to H. B. Courtney of Dallas, Oregon, responding to Courtney's concerns about events in Central Oregon and the Rajneesh. Courtney was apparently a concerned private citizen. Atiyeh states that public officials must proceed according to the law and that the State of Oregon could not evict the Rajneesh so long as they did not violate the law. The set also includes Courtney's October 7, 1984 handwritten letter to the Governor, which expresses concerns about the Rajneesh and other groups, and an undated draft or copy of a letter addressed to the Rajneesh Legal Services Corporation regarding public records requests, litigation involving the Governor and other state officials, and rules concerning communication with represented parties. Handwritten edits and notes are visible on the documents.
An October 25, 1984 State of Oregon interoffice memo from Bob Oliver to Gerry Thompson regarding "Rajneesh Sentiments." Oliver served as the legal counsel to Oregon's Governor Atiyeh. He recounts a telephone conversation with his daughter Linda, who described comments made by the father of a friend from India. According to the memo, the father described Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh as "a fraud and a charlatan" and expressed mixed feelings about possible deportation because it would return Rajneesh to India.
A six-page set of typed interview notes dated October 15, 1985 concerning statements by Ma Ava (a.k.a. Ava Kay Avalos), a former follower of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. She cooperated with authorities in their investigation of the community. The notes discuss an approximate chronology of events involving the Rajneesh, including alleged arson, telephone tapping, poisoning attempts, election-related activities, the Share-A-Home program, activities in Australia, surveillance, and the Rajneesh security force. The notes also describe Ma Ava's statements about guards, weapons, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, and security practices at the ranch.
An October 16, 1984 letter from Ma Deva Barkha, Commissioner of the Rajneeshpuram Peace Force, to Major Kenneth Lamkin of the Oregon State Police. The letter reports threatening letters and telephone calls received by members of the Rajneesh community, including threats connected to a Democratic Convention fundraising event in The Dalles. Attachments include copies of telephone call report forms, handwritten threatening or hostile letters, and related materials.
An October 19, 1984 Oregon State Police officer's report labeled "Intelligence Information" regarding Rajneeshpuram. The report, prepared by Detective John P. McCafferty, summarizes information from a confidential informant concerning Rajneesh disciples Ma Anand Sheela and Ma Durga. Topics include alleged late-night telephone calls from Sheela, statements about possible bloodshed, claims about pills and stress, the use of Rajneesh corporation money for "street people," and the informant's impressions of conditions at the ranch.
An October 24, 1984 letter from Judson Baptist College in The Dalles regarding possible emergency assistance if "Plan C" went into effect. The letter states that the college was prepared to provide kitchen facilities, volunteer assistance from faculty, staff, or students, and public relations support if 2,000 or more "street people" (i.e. homeless people) were brought into The Dalles from Rajneeshpuram. The letter includes contact names and phone numbers for college personnel.
