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.
A two-page November 1, 1984 State of Oregon Department of Commerce interoffice memo from Fred W. Heard to Bob Oliver regarding Rajneesh electrical permits. The memo discusses Building Codes Division procedures for issuing electrical permits in Rajneeshpuram and Antelope, including the effect of court orders on permits within the alleged city limits, communication with the Wasco County Planning Department, and electrical permit issues involving prefabricated buildings moved into the City of Rajneesh. Heard states that electrical permits would be issued in the standard manner except where affected by court orders. The memo refers to attachments, but they are not included in this scan.
A two-page set of correspondence between the Oregon State Police and the Rajneeshpuram Peace Force. The first page is a November 1, 1984 letter from Oregon State Police Superintendent John C. Williams to Ma Deva Barkha, Chief of Police for the Rajneeshpuram Peace Force, with attention to Ma Prem Sono, Assistant Chief. Williams emphasizes the importance of mutual trust and professional communication between agencies. The second page is an October 31, 1984 letter from Ma Prem Sono to Williams regarding recent communication problems between the Rajneeshpuram Peace Force and Oregon State Police, including an upsetting telephone call, an unannounced flight over downtown Rajneeshpuram, and concerns following a reported threat against the city.
A two-page November 5, 1984 State of Oregon interoffice memo from Bob Oliver to Governor Atiyeh regarding "'Man Camp' Code Compliance." Oliver served as Atiyeh's legal counsel. The memo discusses information from state agencies about alleged code violations involving installations brought to Antelope from Idaho. Topics include the man camp's connection to the City of Antelope's water supply, an additional well, foundations for the buildings, electrical permits, inspection records, and Building Codes Division procedures. Oliver states that the main issue involved electrical permits and that a copy of Fred Heard's memorandum and other materials were attached.
An interview of Michael Glenn Thorne and his wife, Jill Thorne, regarding Oregon's Governor Victor Atiyeh. This interview was recorded on June 23, 2015. The Thornes had known Atiyeh through several government roles. Mike Thorne served as a Democrat in the Oregon State Senate from 1973-1991, and later as the Director of the Port of Portland from 1991-2001. Jill Thorne worked as her husband's campaign manager and later, was on the staff of Gov. Neil Goldschmidt, who succeeded Atiyeh. The interviewer, James Moore, was as professor of political science at Pacific University and was Atiyeh's biographer.
An interview of Gerry Thompson on the topic of Oregon Governor Victor Atiyeh, recorded on Aug. 8, 2017. Thompson was Atiyeh's Chief of Staff during most of his governorship. The interviewer, James Moore, was as professor of political science at Pacific University and was Atiyeh's biographer. This is one of several recorded interviews between Moore and Thompson.
An interview of Gerry Thompson on the topic of Oregon Governor Victor Atiyeh, recorded on Jan. 19, 2016. Thompson was Atiyeh's Chief of Staff during most of his governorship. The interviewer, James Moore, was as professor of political science at Pacific University and was Atiyeh's biographer. This is one of several recorded interviews between Moore and Thompson.
An interview of Judge Michael Sullivan regarding Oregon's Governor Victor Atiyeh, recorded on Sep. 8, 2015. Sullivan was the District Attorney of Jefferson County during the Rajneesh Crisis of the 1980s. The interviewer, James Moore, was as professor of political science at Pacific University and was Atiyeh's biographer.
An interview of David Sarasohn regarding Oregon's Governor Victor Atiyeh, recorded on Feb. 17, 2015. Sarasohn was a former history professor who became the Opinion Editor for The Oregonian newspaper in 1983. The interviewer, James Moore, was as professor of political science at Pacific University and was Atiyeh's biographer.
The second part of an interview of Denny Miles regarding Oregon's Governor Victor Atiyeh, recorded on Apr. 5, 2016. Miles was Atiyeh's Press Secretary during most of his governorship. The interviewer, James Moore, was as professor of political science at Pacific University and was Atiyeh's biographer. This is one of several recorded interviews between Moore and Miles.
An interview of Denny Miles regarding Oregon's Governor Victor Atiyeh, recorded on July 31, 2014. Miles was Atiyeh's Press Secretary during most of his governorship. The interviewer, James Moore, was as professor of political science at Pacific University and was Atiyeh's biographer. This is one of several recorded interviews between Moore and Miles.
An interview of Judge Robert E. Jones (1927-2025) regarding Oregon's Governor Victor Atiyeh, recorded on July 21, 2015. Jones served briefly as a Republican in the Oregon House of Representatives alongside Atiyeh in 1963, and was later appointed by Atiyeh as an Oregon Supreme Court Justice. The interviewer, James Moore, was as professor of political science at Pacific University and was Atiyeh's biographer.
An interview of Lon Holbrook regarding Oregon's Governor Victor Atiyeh, recorded on June 6, 2017. Holbrook was a member of the State Police, was part of Atiyeh's security team, and often served as his driver. The interviewer, James Moore, was as professor of political science at Pacific University and was Atiyeh's biographer.
