The bulk of the collection consists of printed materials generated by Peoples Temple pertaining to their activities in the United States and in Jonestown, the agricultural project started by Jim Jones in Guyana. Includes promotional materials such as periodicals, flyers, brochures, newletters, fundraising materials and issues of Peoples Forum, the Peoples Temple newspaper.

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 integration 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.

1 box, 1 oversize box (2.0 linear feet)

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