Jones Family Memorabilia Collection MS-0516

Taylor de Klerk
Special Collections & University Archives
02/11/2015
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego, CA 92182-8050
askscua@sdsu.edu


Contributing Institution: Special Collections & University Archives
Title: Jones Family Memorabilia Collection
Creator: Jones Family
Identifier/Call Number: MS-0516
Physical Description: 1.26 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1948-2002
Date (bulk): 1965-1978
Language of Material: English .

Scope and Contents

The Jones Family Memorabilia Collection  (1948-2002) contains photographs, correspondence, and school records collected by Stephan Jones. The collection consists chiefly of photographs originally housed in photo albums and scrapbooks. There are photos of the Jones family as well as of Jim Jones and his work with Peoples Temple. Notable family items include drawings by Stephan when he was young, a letter from his mother, photos of the family, and poetry written by his grandmother. The collection also includes photographs of Jim Jones in the context of working with Peoples Temple and the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project (Jonestown).
Of particular note are two intact, original photo albums of snapshots of Jones and his family and the activities of Peoples Temple - one titled / labeled "Healings" and the other titled "Father and animals, Father and children, Political People, Enemies, Other Speakers." Photos from these albums have been digitized and are available at the Library's Digital Collections site .

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

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

Stephan Jones via the Jonestown Institute

Related Materials

Peoples Temple Collection, 1972-1990
Alternative Considerations of Jonestown and Peoples Temple, sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies at San Diego State University: http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/'

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, folder title, box number, Jones Family Memorabilia Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, San Diego State University Library.

Biographical Note

Jim Jones was born in Lynn, Indiana in 1931 to parents James and Lynetta Jones. He was a passionate reader, interested in a wide range of religious beliefs. Jim Jones married Marceline (Marcie) Mae Baldwin in 1949 and they moved to Indianapolis the following year. A charismatic preacher, Jones founded Peoples Temple in the 1950s, a church based on principles of biblical preaching, racial equality, and apostolic socialism. In 1965, he relocated his family and Peoples Temple to Ukiah, California. Jim and Marcie had one biological child, Stephan Gandhi, and also adopted seven more: Jim Jr., Stephanie, Lew Eric, Suzanne, Agnes Pauline, John Moss, and Timothy Glen. Jim referred to his children as his "rainbow family."
The Jones family is memorable because of Jim Jones, his creation of Peoples Temple, and the tragedy that occurred in Jonestown, Guyana, on November 18th, 1978. Construction of the community formally known as the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, but better known as Jonestown, began in 1974. The population reached its peak in 1977. Three of Jones' sons (Stephan, Jim Jr., and Tim) survived the tragedy at Jonestown due to participation in a basketball tournament with the Guyanese national team in Georgetown.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Jonestown (Guyana)
Jonestown Mass Suicide, Jonestown, Guyana, 1978--Sources
Peoples Temple--History--Sources
Photograph albums
Jones, Jim, 1931-1978

box 1, folder 1

Correspondence to Stephan, Drawing, Poetry by Lynetta Jones Folder 1 1967-1977

box 1, folder 2

Indiana University Transcript for Jim Jones Folder 2 1948-1960

box 1, folder 3

Loose Family Photos and General Photos Folder 3 1966-1973

box 1, folder 4

Loose Photos of Jim Jones Folder 4 1971-1974

box 1, folder 5

Loose Photos of Peoples Temple Agricultural Project (Jonestown) Folder 5 1976-1978

box 1, folder 6

Photo Album: Congregations, Family, Jones Preaching, Louisiana, Unidentified Communities Folder 6 1971-1974

box 1, folder 7

Photo Album: Congregations, Family, Jones Preaching, Louisiana, Unidentified Communities Folder 7 1971-1974

box 1, folder 8

Scrapbook: Certificates, Commencement Program, Drawings, Family Photos, Progress Reports, School Portraits, Writings Folder 8 1964-1985

box 1, folder 9

Scrapbook: Family Photos, News Clipping, Vacation Photos Folder 9 1962-2002

box 1, folder 10

Stephan's Award Ribbons Folder 10 1969-1973

box 2, item 1

Photo album: "Healings" Item 1

box 2, item 2

Photo album: "Father and animals, Father and children, Political People, Enemies, Other Speakers." Item 2

box 3, folder 1

Photo Album: Untitled Album of Peoples Temple Agricultural Project (Jonestown) Folder 1 1970s

Scope and Contents

[url=https://digital.sdsu.edu/quick-search?q=This+photograph+is+part+of+an+untitled+album+in+the+Jones+Family+collection.+&WINID=1576175382458]Digital photos[/url]
box 3, folder 2

Loose Photographs of Peoples Temple Agricultural Project (Jonestown) Folder 2 1970s

Scope and Contents

[url=https://digital.sdsu.edu/index.php?a=QuickSearch&q=%22Loose%20photographs%20of%20Peoples%20Temple%20Agricultural%20Project%20(Jonestown)%22&WINID=1576175382458]Digital photos[/url]
box 3, folder 3

Loose Photographs of Peoples Temple Agricultural Project (Jonestown) Folder 3 1970s

Scope and Contents

[url=https://digital.sdsu.edu/index.php?a=QuickSearch&q=%22Loose%20photographs%20of%20Peoples%20Temple%20Agricultural%20Project%20(Jonestown)-2%22&WINID=1576176251126]Digital photos[/url]
box 3, folder 4

Loose Photographs of Peoples and Church Activities Folder 4

Scope and Contents

[url=https://digital.sdsu.edu/index.php?a=QuickSearch&q=%22Loose%20photographs%20of%20People%20and%20Church%20Activities%22&WINID=1576175382458]Digital photos[/url]
box 3, folder 5

Loose Photographs of Peoples Temple Activities Folder 5 1972 - 1977

Scope and Contents

[url=https://digital.sdsu.edu/index.php?a=QuickSearch&q=%22Loose%20photographs%20of%20Peoples%20Temple%20Activities%22&WINID=1576176251126]Digital photos[/url]
box 3, folder 6

Loose Photographs of Jim Jones with Politicians Folder 6 1972 - 1976

Scope and Contents

[url=https://digital.sdsu.edu/index.php?a=QuickSearch&q=%22Loose%20photographs%20of%20Jim%20Jones%20with%20Politicians%22&WINID=1576176251126]Digital photos[/url]