</s>44-561-4 CLASSIFICATION NO. Volume Number P Series -20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - FED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILED - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - FED from OR ADDed TO THIS PLED FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER FBI - SPRINGFIELD SI - SPRINFIELD SI-004-0022B2B2-SI Class / Case # Sub Vol. Serial # Serial# # INVESTIGATION - - - - - 00044 561 8 8 438 528 8/08/4449089 - 8/04/44/49089 - -<loc_956><loc_559><loc_956><loc_574><loc_956><loc_574>- - - -<loc_956><loc_561><loc_956><loc_561><loc_953><loc_578>- - <loc_581> <loc_581><loc_581>-<loc_957><loc_582><loc_956><loc_581>- <loc_581> <loc_582> <loc_582><loc_583><loc_583><loc_582><loc_583><loc_582>-<loc_956><loc_583><loc_956><loc_582>-<loc_957>-

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI telephone surveillance and investigative activities related to Martin Luther King Jr. (referred to as "subject") and his relatives in Quincy, Illinois, spanning March to May 1968. Surveillance focused on toll call records from the Virginia Hotel in Quincy, including calls to St. Louis, Chicago, Tacoma, Denver, Springfield, Memphis, and other locations. The Illinois Bell Telephone Company (IBT) provided call logs, though some entries were incomplete due to a strike affecting record-keeping. Investigations linked the subject’s relatives—Melba Marie Ryan (sister), Ruby Carpenter (stepmother), and Mrs. Frank Fuller (aunt)—to potential connections with MLK’s associates, including Joseph Elmer Austin, a convicted armed robber associated with MLK’s inner circle. The FBI monitored communications involving Austin and Jerry Ray, an associate of MLK tied to Austin. Later records from December 1967 reference long-distance calls along Interstate 10, mentioning "CHARLES STEIN" and "JAMES EARL, RAY," with instructions to investigate public telephone usage in specific cities. Redacted sections note release under Executive Order 14176.  

Key People:  
- Melba Marie Ryan (sister of MLK; resided at Virginia Hotel, Quincy, Illinois)  
- Ruby Carpenter (stepmother of MLK; resided at 630 North Sixth Street, Quincy, Illinois)  
- Mrs. Frank (Mable) Fuller (aunt of MLK; resided at 2601 Chestnut Street, Quincy, Illinois)  
- Joseph Elmer Austin (convicted armed robber; associate of MLK’s inner circle)  
- Jerry Ray (associate of MLK; linked to Austin)  
- Charles Stein (referenced in call records)  
- James Earl Ray (implied through "JAMES EARL, RAY" notation; possibly linked to MLK assassination investigation)  

Key Locations:  
- Virginia Hotel, Quincy, Illinois  
- St. Louis, Missouri  
- Chicago, Illinois  
- Tacoma, Washington  
- Denver, Colorado  
- Springfield, Illinois  
- Memphis, Tennessee  
- Louisville, Kentucky  
- New York City, New York  
- Omaha, Nebraska  
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  
- Sacramento, California  
- Seattle, Washington  
- Tampa, Florida  

Key Events:  
- FBI surveillance of telephone activity linked to MLK’s relatives and associates in Quincy, Illinois, from March 15 to April 20, 1968.  
- Analysis of toll call records by the Illinois Bell Telephone Company (IBT), noting incomplete data due to a strike.  
- Investigation into Joseph Elmer Austin’s criminal history and ties to MLK’s inner circle.  
- Monitoring of communications involving Jerry Ray, an associate of MLK connected to Austin.  
- Surveillance of long-distance calls along Interstate 10 in late 1967, referencing "CHARLES STEIN" and "JAMES EARL, RAY."  
- Redacted sections indicating release under Executive Order 14176.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Illinois Bell Telephone Company (IBT)  
- FBI field divisions (e.g., Houston, Memphis, Sacramento)

MLK Declassified Files

44-si-561_sec_008_ser_436-528-part_1_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

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