Rebecca Moore Papers MS-0521

Taylor de Klerk
Special Collections & University Archives
03/17/2015
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego, CA 92182-8050
askscua@sdsu.edu


Contributing Institution: Special Collections & University Archives
Title: Rebecca Moore Papers
Creator: Moore, Rebecca
Identifier/Call Number: MS-0521
Physical Description: 4.37 Linear Feet
Date: 1951-2013
Date (bulk): 1951-1989
Language of Material: English .

Scope and Contents

The Rebecca Moore Papers (1951-2013) consist of correspondence, drawings, school records, news clippings, research materials, research papers, publications, and audiovisual materials. The collection is divided into six series, which are organized alphabetically unless otherwise noted: Correspondence; Professional Materials; Miscellaneous Family Documents, Cards, and Clippings; John Moore Papers; Collected Publications; and Audiovisual Materials.
The Correspondence series (1952-2002) is divided into three sub-series: Letters from Rebecca Moore to John and Barbara Moore, Family Correspondence, and Professional Correspondence. The Letters from Rebecca Moore to John and Barbara Moore sub-series (1962-1989) contains correspondence from Rebecca (Becky) Moore to her parents, and is organized chronologically. Noteworthy letters include those written in 1979 in the wake of the tragedy at Jonestown. Family Correspondence (1952-2002) is comprised of letters from various members of Rebecca Moore's family including her sisters Carolyn and Annie. The Professional Correspondence sub-series (1995-2011) is made up of letters to or from Rebecca Moore, written in a professional setting. Letters of recommendation written for students are also included.
The Professional Materials series (1980-2013) consists of lectures, research materials and research papers. Highlights include Dr. Moore's collected research on varying religious organizations and her research papers written throughout her academic career.
The Miscellaneous Family Documents, Cards, and Clippings series (1951-2011) contains drawings, school records, writings, and manuscript chapters. One noteworthy item is a birthday card for John Moore illustrated by Annie Moore and signed by her, Jim Jones, and Carolyn Moore Layton.
The John Moore Papers series (1974-1995) is made up of materials that belonged to John Moore, Rebecca Moore's father. Most of the files contain documents relating to Peoples Temple and Jonestown and some collected family materials are also included.
The Collected Publications series (1966-2009) consists of books, pamphlets, newsletters and journals. Materials pertain to religious studies and the study of new or alternative religious movements, as well as Washington, D.C. television and theatre journals for which Moore (then "Moore Clary") worked as an editor.
The Audiovisual Materials series (2002-2011) contains DVDs, cassette tapes, a CD-ROM, and a floppy disk. Notable items include video recordings of the Toward a Reasonable World conference in 2011.

Arrangement Note

I. Correspondence
    1. Letters from Rebecca Moore to John and Barbara Moore
    2. Family Correspondence
    3. Professional Correspondence
II. Professional Materials
III. Miscellaneous Family Documents, Cards, and Clippings
IV. John Moore Papers
V. Collected Publications
VI. Audiovisual Materials

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in some of these materials have been transferred to or belong to San Diego State University. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections means that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. 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.

Source of Acquisition

Rebecca Moore via the Jonestown Institute

Accruals and Additions

2010-027, 2014-033, 2015-021

Related Materials

Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple  , sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies at San Diego State University.
Peoples Temple Collection, 1972-1990
Barbara C. Moore Correspondence Collection

Related Publications

Rebecca Moore has published several books about Jonestown. For a list of these works, click http://libpac.sdsu.edu/search?/amoore%2C+rebecca/amoore+rebecca/1%2C3%2C16%2CB/exact&FF=amoore+rebecca+1951&1%2C11%2C'

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, folder title, box number, Rebecca Moore Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, San Diego State University Library.

Biographical Note

Rebecca Moore was born in February 1951 to Reverend John Moore and Barbara Moore. She had an older sister, Carolyn, and a younger one named Annie. Much of Rebecca's early life was spent in California, in Hayward, Chico, Davis, and Berkeley. She moved to Washington D.C. in 1971 after marrying Patrick Clary but the couple divorced a few years later. Moore graduated from Antioch College in 1974 and continued to work in Washington. She married Fielding (Mac) McGehee III and moved to South Dakota shortly afterward. Moore and McGehee adopted three children: December, Hillary and Tim. Rebecca and Fielding settled in San Diego in 1999. At San Diego State University, Dr. Rebecca Moore taught in the Department of Religious Studies, which she chaired from 2006 to 2011. Her expertise includes the study of early Christianity as well as new religious movements in America. Dr. Moore retired in May 2015.
Dr. Moore lost both of her sisters and a nephew in the tragedy at Jonestown and consequently devotes much of her time to ensuring that multiple perspectives of Peoples Temple and Jonestown are available to the public. Moore, along with husband Fielding McGehee, manage Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple, a website hosted by the Jonestown Institute in the Department of Religious Studies that is devoted to providing varying and alternative perspectives on Peoples Temple and the events in Jonestown.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Peoples Temple--History--Sources
Jonestown Mass Suicide, Jonestown, Guyana, 1978--Sources
Jones, Jim, 1931-1978

 

Correspondence Series 1 1952-2011

 

Letters from Rebecca Moore to John and Barbara Moore Sub-Series 1 1962-1989

box 1, folder 1

Folder 1 1962-1968

box 1, folder 2

Folder 2 1969

box 1, folder 3

Folder 3 1970

box 1, folder 4

Folder 4 1971

box 1, folder 5

Folder 5 1972

box 1, folder 6

Folder 6 1973

box 1, folder 7

Folder 7 1974

box 1, folder 8

Folder 8 1975

box 1, folder 9

Folder 9 1976

box 1, folder 10

Folder 10 1977

box 1, folder 11

Folder 11 1978

box 1, folder 12

Folder 12 1979

box 1, folder 13

Folder 13 1980

box 2, folder 1

Folder 1 1981

box 2, folder 2

Folder 2 1982

box 2, folder 3

Folder 3 1983

box 2, folder 4

Folder 4 1984

box 2, folder 5

Folder 5 1985

box 2, folder 6

Folder 6 1986

box 2, folder 7

Folder 7 1987

box 2, folder 8

Folder 8 1988-1989

box 2, folder 9

Folder 9 Undated

 

Family Correspondence Sub-Series 2 1952-2002

box 2, folder 10

General Correspondence Folder 10 1979-1993, n.d.

box 2, folder 11

John Moore's Correspondence Folder 11 1979-1997

box 2, folder 12

Letters from Annie Moore to Family Folder 12 1961-1974

box 3, folder 1

Letters from Carolyn Moore Layton to Family Folder 1 1952-1974

box 3, folder 2

Letters from December and Hillary Moore to John and Barbara Moore Folder 2 1983-1988

box 3, folder 3

Letters from Fielding (Mac) McGehee to John and Barbara Moore Folder 3 1980-1983

box 3, folder 4

Letters from Fielding (Mac) McGehee to John and Barbara Moore Folder 4 1984-1985

box 3, folder 5

Letters from Fielding (Mac) McGehee to John and Barbara Moore Folder 5 1986-1989, 1999

box 3, folder 6

Letters from John Moore to Rebecca Moore and Fielding (Mac) McGehee Folder 6 1979-1980

box 3, folder 7

Letters from Larry Layton to Rebecca Moore and Fielding (Mac) McGehee Folder 7 1994-2002

box 3, folder 8

Letters from Rebecca, Mac, Tim, December, and Hillary Moore to John and Barbara Moore Folder 8 1980-1989

box 3, folder 10

Letters to Barbara Moore Folder 10 1959, n.d.

box 3, folder 11

Letters to Mary Sawyer Folder 11 1993-1996

box 3

Professional Correspondence Sub-Series 3 1995-2011

box 3, folder 12

Letters from Rebecca Moore Folder 12 1995-2003

box 3, folder 13

Letters of Recommendation Folder 13 1998-2003

box 3, folder 14

Letters to Rebecca Moore Folder 14 1995-2011

 

Professional Materials Series 2 1979-2013

box 4, folder 1

Alternative/New Religious Movements Research Materials Folder 1 1980-2004

box 4, folder 2

Alternative/New Religious Movements Research Materials Folder 2 1980-2004

box 4, folder 3

Alternative/New Religious Movements Research Materials Folder 3 1980-2004

box 4, folder 4

Alternative/New Religious Movements Research Materials: Activated Ministries Folder 4 2000, 2008

box 4, folder 5

Alternative/New Religious Movements Research Materials: Deer Park Monastery Folder 5 2003, n.d.

box 4, folder 6

Alternative/New Religious Movements Research Materials: Falun Gong Folder 6 2001-2003

box 4, folder 7

Alternative/New Religious Movements Research Materials: The Family International Folder 7 1994-2009

box 4, folder 8

Alternative/New Religious Movements Research Materials: Heaven's Gate Folder 8 1997

box 4, folder 9

Alternative/New Religious Movements Research Materials: Scientology Folder 9 2004-2007

box 4, folder 10

Alternative/New Religious Movements Research Materials: The Twelve Tribes Folder 10 2006-2008

box 4, folder 11

Alternative/New Religious Movements Research Materials: Unarius Academy of Science Folder 11 2001, n.d.

box 5, folder 1

Alternative/New Religious Movements Research Materials: Waco Folder 1 1993-2003

box 5, folder 2

Lectures Folder 2 1997-2000

box 5, folder 3

Lectures Folder 3 2001-2005

box 5, folder 4

Lectures Folder 4 2006-2008

box 5, folder 5

Lectures Folder 5 2009

box 5, folder 6

Lectures Folder 6 2010, 2013

box 5, folder 7

Religious Movements Research Materials: Atheism Folder 7 2010-2011

box 5, folder 8

Religious Movements Research Materials: Buddhism Folder 8 1992-2008

box 5, folder 9

Religious Movements Research Materials: Christianity Folder 9 1979-2009

box 6, folder 1

Religious Movements Research Materials: Hinduism Folder 1 1997-2008

box 6, folder 2

Religious Movements Research Materials: Islam Folder 2 n.d.

box 6, folder 3

Religious Movements Research Materials: Judaism Folder 3 2000-2009

box 6, folder 4

Research Materials: The Apocalypse Folder 4 1998-1999

box 6, folder 5

Research Materials: Cults Folder 5 1985-1986, 1994

box 6, folder 6

Research Materials: Fundamentalism Folder 6 1990-2000

box 6, folder 7

Research Materials: Homosexuality Folder 7 1992-2011

box 6, folder 8

Research Materials: Homosexuality Folder 8 1992-2011

box 6, folder 9

Research Papers Folder 9 1991-1993

box 6, folder 10

Research Papers Folder 10 1995-2004

box 7, folder 1

Research Papers Folder 1 n.d.

box 7, folder 2

San Diego State University (SDSU) Metropolitan Area Pluralism Study (MAPS) Folder 2 2009-2010

box 7, folder 3

San Diego State University (SDSU) Religious Studies Department Events Folder 3 2000, n.d.

box 7, folder 4

San Diego State University (SDSU) Student Work Folder 4 2000, n.d.

box 7, folder 5

San Diego State University (SDSU) Student Work: Messianic Judaism Binder Folder 5 2003

box 7, folder 6

San Diego State University (SDSU) Student Work: Seaside Church Binder Folder 6 2004

box 7, folder 7

San Diego State University (SDSU) Student Work: Seaside Church Binder Folder 7 2004

box 7, folder 8

San Diego State University (SDSU) Student Work: Unarius Academy of Science Binder Folder 8 2003

box 7, folder 9

Toward a Reasonable World Conference: Planning Materials Folder 9 2010-2011

flat_file 1

Flat File 1 Flat File 1

flat_file 1, item 3

San Diego Union-Tribune front page featuring Heaven's Gate Item 3 March 28, 1997

 

Miscellaneous Family Documents, Cards, and Clippings Series 3 1951-2011

box 7, folder 10

A Second Look: Personal Reflections on Jonestown Manuscript Chapters Folder 10 1988

box 7, folder 11

American Academy of Religion (AAR) Grant Project Folder 11 2000

box 7, folder 12

Annie and Rebecca's School Records Folder 12 1966-1967

box 7, folder 13

Artistic Expressions of Jonestown Folder 13 1996, 2000

box 7, folder 14

Barbara Moore's Writings Folder 14 n.d.

box 7, folder 15

Birthday Card for John Moore from Annie Moore, Carolyn Moore Layton, and Jim Jones Folder 15 circa 1978

box 7, folder 16

California Historical Society Agreement Folder 16 1990

box 7, folder 17

Carolyn Moore Layton's Probate Document Folder 17 1979

box 7, folder 18

Committee for Justice in Jonestown Folder 18 1983

box 7, folder 19

Cult Awareness Network (CAN) Folder 19 1987-1998

box 8, folder 1

Drawings by Annie and Carolyn Moore Folder 1 1951, n.d.

box 8, folder 2

Ezra Schacht's Triptych Folder 2 1983

box 8, folder 3

First United Methodist Church Folder 3 2010

box 8, folder 4

Jonestown Memorial Service Groundbreaking Ceremony Program and Correspondence Folder 4 1994

box 8, folder 5

Jonestown Memorial Service of Dedication Program Folder 5 May 29, 2011

box 8, folder 6

News Clipping Folder 6 n.d.

box 8, folder 7

News Reports about Jonestown Folder 7 1980, 1984

box 8, folder 8

Painting by Unknown Artist of Locale Near Georgetown, Guyana Folder 8 May 1979

box 8, folder 9

Papers by Catherine Wessinger Folder 9 1997, 2001

box 8, folder 10

Papers by J. Gordon Melton Folder 10 2000-2003

box 8, folder 11

Robert B. Moore's talk to Kiwanis Folder 11 1979

box 8, folder 12

Roman Catholic Women Priests (RCWP) Folder 12 2011

box 8, folder 13

Unidentified Drawings Folder 13 n.d.

flat_file 1

Flat File 1 Flat File 1

flat_file 1, item 1

Revelation Revealed Timeline Poster Item 1 n.d.

flat_file 1, item 2

Original Political Cartoon Given by Dennis Renault Item 2 March 14, 1983

Scope and Contents

Given to Reverend John Moore, Pastor of the 1st United Methodist Church in Sacramento, after speaking at the California State Legislature before Willie Brown.
Inscribed: "To John Moore, for your perceptive invocation at the Legislature 3/14/83. Was Willie listening? Cordially, Dennis Renault"
box 8

John Moore's Papers Series 4 1974-1995

box 8, folder 14

Articles, Talks, and Sermons Folder 14 1978-1980

Scope and Contents

Includes audio cassette recording of [url=https://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/nas/streaming/dept/scuastaf/collections/peoplestemple/MP3/JohnMooreSermonNov26-1978-edit.mp3]John V. Moore's Sermon and Jonestown Memorial Service[/url] of November 26, 1978 at First United Methodist Church of Reno, Nevada.
box 8, folder 15

John V. Moore v. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Folder 15 1980-1983

box 8, folder 16

Jonestown Materials Folder 16 1979

box 8, folder 17

Lester Kinsolving: Chronology and Correspondence Folder 17 1975-1979

box 8, folder 18

Materials Regarding Hillary Moore Folder 18 1994-1995

box 8, folder 19

New Religious Movements (NRM) Research Materials Folder 19 1974-1985

box 8, folder 20

Notes from Phone Call with Tim Stoen Folder 20 1977-1978

box 8, folder 21

Papers by John Moore Folder 21 1989, 1993

box 8, folder 22

Power of Attorney Folder 22 1978

box 8, folder 23

United Methodist Church Press Release Folder 23 1978

 

Collected Publications Series 5 1966-2009

box 8, folder 24

American Quarterly Volume 31, Number 3 Folder 24 1979

box 8, folder 25

American Religious History by Edwin S. Gaustad Folder 25 1966

box 8, folder 26

Building Healthy Relationships: A New Church Journey Program by David Lindrooth and Lori Odhner Folder 26 2008

box 8, folder 27

Center for Process Studies Programs Folder 27 1986-1987

box 8, folder 28

Chistian Obedience in Revolutionary Times by Richard K. MacMaster Folder 28 1976

box 8, folder 29

Daily Food for Christians Folder 29 n.d.

box 9, folder 1

Faith for All of Life: Proclaiming the Authority of God's Word Over Every Area of Life and Thought Folder 1 2008

box 9, folder 2

The Family International: Project Highlights Folder 2 2004

box 9, folder 3

The Family International: Project Highlights Folder 3 n.d.

box 9, folder 4

Foundations for Effective Men's Ministry: Seminar Workbook Folder 4 1993

box 9, folder 5

Mennonite Life by John A. Hostetler Folder 5 1968

box 9, folder 6

Open Hands Newsletter Folder 6 1997-2000

box 9, folder 7

The Plough: numbers 17 and 23 Folder 7 1987, 1989

box 9, folder 8

The Sacred Pages of Phenel Folder 8 2009

box 9, folder 9

Shakespeare Birthday Book Folder 9 n.d.

box 11, item 1

Alternative Theatre Item 1 1975-1976

box 11, item 2

Community Video Report Item 2 1973-1974

box 12, item 1

Televisions Item 1 1975-1981

box 12, item 2

The Theatre Paper Item 2 1974-1975

 

Audiovisual Materials Series 6 2002-2011

box 9, folder 10

4ER: The Four Gospels Restored: DVD Folder 10 2008

box 9, folder 11

Dorothy Day Live: VHS Folder 11 n.d.

box 9, folder 12

The Family International: Sample CD-ROM Folder 12 n.d.

box 10, folder 1

KPBS Cassette Tape: 25th Jonestown Anniversary Folder 1 November 17, 2003

Scope and Contents

[url=https://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/nas/streaming/dept/scuastaf/collections/peoplestemple/MP3/Jonestown-KPBS-Interview-SideA.mp3]Digital transfer of the cassette tape (side A) here[/url].
[url=https://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/nas/streaming/dept/scuastaf/collections/peoplestemple/MP3/Jonestown-KPBS-Interview-SideB.mp3]Digital transfer of the cassette tape (side B) here.[/url]
box 10, folder 2

KPBS Cassette Tape: Evangelism Today Folder 2 May 8, 2003

box 10, folder 3

KPBS Cassette Tape: New Religious Movements Folder 3 August 20, 2002

Scope and Contents

[url=https://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/nas/streaming/dept/scuastaf/collections/peoplestemple/MP3/KPBS-New-Religious-Movements-SideA.mp3]Digital transfer of the cassette tape (side A) here[/url].
[url=https://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/nas/streaming/dept/scuastaf/collections/peoplestemple/MP3/KPBS-New-Religious-Movements-SideB.mp3]Digital transfer of the cassette tape (side B) here.[/url]
box 10, folder 4

KPBS Cassette Tape: The Passion Folder 4 February 24, 2004

box 10, folder 5

San Diego State University (SDSU) Student Work: Messianic Judaism Tape Cassettes Folder 5 2003

box 10, folder 6

San Diego State University (SDSU) Student Work: Seaside Church DVD and Floppy Disk Folder 6 2004

box 10, folder 7

Scientology: An Overview: DVD Folder 7 2008

box 10, folder 8

Something Can Be Done About It: Scientology DVD Folder 8 2007

box 10, folder 10

Youth for Human Rights DVDs Folder 10 2004

box 10, folder 9

Toward a Reasonable World Conference DVDs Folder 9 2011