The Ashes of Waco: Negotiation Transcripts

The Ashes of Waco

The Ashes of Waco digital collection
The CONTENTdm site containing the digitized materials and the metadata records from the Dick J. Reavis Papers.
The Ashes of Waco website
Portal page to the digital collection. Includes a transcribed interview with author Dick J. Reavis, and information about the author, the book, the papers, the grant, the digital collection and the Southwestern Writers Collection.

Waco Links

An interview with Waco survivor David Thibodeau, from reasononline
from Oct. 4, 1999
Apologetics Index: Branch Davidians
Apologetics Research Resources on religious movements, cults, sects, world religions and related issues
Ashes of Waco - the book
Includes overview and reader reviews.
Evaluation of the Handling of the Branch Davidian Stand-off in Waco, Texas
Redacted version of October 8, 1993 DOJ report.
Final Report to the Deputy Attorney General: Concerning the 1993 Confrontation at the Mt. Carmel Complex, Waco, Texas (aka "Danforth Report")
Published Nov. 8, 2000. Includes links to press release, preface, exhibits and appendices.
Guide to the Dick J. Reavis Papers
Finding aid for the archives from where the Ashes of Waco research materials come. Available in PDF or EAD format. Includes biographical information on Mr. Reavis.
Introduction to the Branch Davidians
Link-heavy resource on the BD's and the incident.
List of Autopsy Reports
Autopsy reports and photographs of April 19 victims.
Memorializing Mount Carmel Center in Waco, Texas
Excellent site for photos and descriptions of the Mount Carmel property over the past eight years. Also includes photos of the Mount Carmel building model created by the author of the site, and links to other resources.
Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas
Redacted version of October 8, 1993 DOJ report.
Texas Rangers Investigative Report
September 1999 report includes numerous photographs, diagrams and other records of evidence
Waco Siege entry from Wikipedia
Information from various contributors on the raid, including its prelude and aftermath, as well as references and a bibliography.
Waco: A New Revelation
1999 documentary on the incident, which uncovers new evidence. Website includes a link to the Danforth Report. You can watch the entire documentary on the Google videos site (video.google.com).
Waco: Rules of Engagement
Probably the most famous and successful of Waco-related documentaries. You can order it from this site or rent/buy it from various sources.
Waco: The Inside Story
Website for PBS' Frontline program, with a lot of good resources, including pictures, audio clips, official documents, and a bibliography.

Negotiation Transcripts

Arguably the biggest informational treasures in the Dick J. Reavis Papers is the collection of negotiation transcripts. From the first 911 call made by Branch Davidian Wayne Martin during the height of the Feb. 28 shootout, to FBI negotiator Byron Sage's loudspeaker instructions during the fiery chaos of April 19, the drama is captured in these transcribed conversations between the adversaries.

I believe we have the full set of transcripts, which were procured by Reavis during his investigation from defense attorneys. Technically one can get them from the FBI with a Freedom of Information Act request, but from what I hear, one will have to wait a while.

Most, but not all, of these transcripts are in digital format, and many of those are already included in the digital collection. You can see what's there so far with this link: http://tinyurl.com/yeh2kmk, or by searching "negotiation transcript" in the search bar of the digital collection.

I have been working on adding these lately and will continue to do so until they are all up there. They are one of the most researcher-requested items in the collection, and I can see why. Now, they will be fully keyword searchable, making this aspect of research much quicker and more productive.

The other type of item most requested are the actual negotiation recordings. Those will all eventually be in the digital collection too, and when they are, researchers will be able to find recorded content using the transcripts, all at their own desks at home.

Posted by Joel Minor on October 02, 2009 at 02:48 PM in April 19, 1993, Archives, Audio, Branch Davidians, Dick J. Reavis, Digital Collection, Digitization, Documents, FBI, Feb. 28, 1993, Links, Negotiations | Permalink