Consists of 1225 original slides, and 1131 photographic print reproductions created from those slides, of the members of the Peoples Temple in Redwood Valley, San Francisco, and Guyana from 1967-1978. Included are images of church services, portraits of Peoples Temple leader Rev. Jim Jones, recreational outings, bus trips, candid portraits of members, and images of members farming, preparing food, and pursuing various forms of entertainment. Includes photographs of the construction of buildings in Redwood Valley in 1968, traveling across country to Washington, D.C. in 1976, and the establishment of the Peoples Temple Agricultural Mission known as Jonestown in Guyana from 1974-1978.

Peoples Temple began as a church founded by Jim and Marceline Jones and a small group of parishioners in Indianapolis in 1955. As pastor, Jim Jones preached to a racially integrated congregation during Pentecostal based services that included healings and sermons on communism, peace movements, and class conflicts. Peoples Temple conducted food drives; opened a "free restaurant" that served thousands of meals to the city's poor in the early 1960s; operated nursing homes; and hosted weekly television and radio programs featuring their integrated choir. The church became well known in the Indianapolis press for the members' integration activities and for their assertions of their pastor's gifts as a healer. The church became affiliated with the Disciples of Christ denomination in 1960.

8 albums (2.0 linear feet); 200 digital images

The California Historical Society (CHS) is providing access to these photos for educational and research purposes. Written permission is required for commercial use. CHS is the lawful owner of the Peoples Temple documents and photographs, by orders of the California Superior Court and of the Guyana High Court. CHS is not aware of any other copyrights or other rights associated with this material. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with any person intending to use an item.

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