Memorial Tribute to Leo J. Ryan May 5, 1925-November 18, 1978

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Memorial Tribute to Leo J. Ryan May 5, 1925-November 18, 1978 November 18, 2003 Foster City, California Leo J. Ryan Leo Joseph Ryan was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, May 5, 1925 to Leo Joseph Ryan, Sr. and Autumn Mead Ryan. He attended schools in Illinois, New York, Florida, Massachusetts and Wisconsin. He served in the United States Navy in ComSubPac, Pacific Theater from 1943-46. He received his B.A. from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 1949, and received his M.S. in Elizabethan Literature from the same University in 1951. A high school teacher, he became the youngest Superintendent of Schools in Davenport, Nebraska in 1952. He moved to California in 1953, teaching high school at Capuchino High School in San Bruno. He was elected to the South San Francisco City Council in 1956, and served as mayor in 1962. He was elected to the State Assembly in 1962, where he served for 10 years. He served as a delegate to the California State Democratic Conventions from 1956-1972 and was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1964 and 1968. He was elected to the 93rd Congress on Nov. 7, 1972 and re-elected to the three succeeding Congresses. He served in Congress until November 18, 1978 when he was assassinated in an ambush at the air strip of Port Kaituma, Guyana. He is survived by five children with his former wife Margaret Mary (Peg) Ryan (deceased): Christopher, Jasmine, Patricia, Kevin and Erin. He is interred at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California. Tribute to Leo J. Ryan WELCOME: Erin M. Ryan PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS: San Mateo Police Department lNVOCATION: Father Dan Keohane VIDEO RETROSPECTIVE OF LEO J. RYAN Prepared by Greg Lyon, KRON TV PERSONAL REMARKS: State Senator Jackie Speier INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS: Patricia Ryan Evelyn Szelenyi, Congressman Tom Lantos Assemblyman Gene Mullin Grace (Stoen) Jones Tony Tarlock Bud Harrison Al Teglia Joe Holsinger OTHER GUESTS INVITED TO SHARE MEMORIES WREATH LAYING-- LEOJ. RYAN PARK: Patricia Ryan Kevin Ryan Erin Ryan Senator Jackie Speier Leo J. Ryan Legacy Fund Contributions to the Leo J. Ryan Legacy Fund will be used to expand the permanent memorial to Leo Ryan at the Foster City park bearing his name, including information about his distinguished career and accomplislunents as a public servant, so that current and future residents of Foster City and San Mateo County will understand who he was and why he is deserving of such a memorial. Those who contribute at least $100 to the Fund will be recognized on a permanent marker that will be placed in the remodeled Leo J. Ryan Plaza. Contributions should be made out to the Leo J. Ryan Legacy Fund and should be sent in care of Erin Ryan at 7340 Hamden Place #110, Sacramento, CA 95842. Contributions are tax deductible. .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

The Death of Representative Leo J. Ryan, People's Temple, And- Jonestown: Understanding a Tragedy
THE DEATH OF REPRESENTATIVE LEO J. RYAN, PEOPLE'S TEMPLE, AND- JONESTOWN: UNDERSTANDING A TRAGEDY HEARING 3M1 THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-SIXTH CONGRESS'' FIRST SESSION MAY 15, 1979 Printed for the use of the Committee on Forelgu Aftra U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 46420 WASHINGTON : 1979 H3/I1-7 COMMITTEE 014' FOREIGN AFFAIRS CLEMENT 3. ZABLOCKI, Wisconsin, Chairman 1,. I. FOUNTAIN, North Carolina WILLIAM S. BROOMFIELD, Michigan DANTE B. FASCELL, Florida EDWARD J. DERWINSKI, Illinois CHARLES C. DIGGS, JR., Michigan PAUL FINDLEY, Illinois BENJAMIN S. ROSENTHAL, New York JOHN H. BUCHANAN, JR., Alabama LEE ff. HAMILTON, Indiana LARRY WINN, Ja., Kansas LESTER L WOLFF, New York BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, New York JONATHAN B. BINGHAM, New York TENNYSON GUYSR, Ohio GUS YATRON, Pennsylvania ROBERT J. LAGOMARSINO, California CARDISS COLLINS, Illinois WILLIAM F. GOODLINO, Pennsylvania STEPHEN J. SOLARZ, New York JOEL PRITCHARD, Washington DON BONKER, Washington MILLICENT FENWICK, New Jersey GERRY R. STUDDS, Massachusetts DAN QUAYLE, Indiana ANDY IRELAND, Florida DONALD :. PEASE, Ohio DAN MICA, Florida MICHAEL D. BARNES, Maryland WILLIAM H. GRAVE II, Pennsylvania TONY P. HALL, Ohio HOWARD WOLPE, Michigan DAVID R. BOWEN, Mississippi FLOYD J. FITHIAN, Indiana JOHN J. BaDr, Jr., Ohief of Staff RoxAxxN PasuGixo, Staff Assetant NAxcy SHUSA, Minotity Staff Aesstant STAFI INVESTIOATIVE GROUP GEOROz R. BRDzs, Staff ConsuItant Ivo J. SPALATIN, Subcommittee Staff Direetor THOMAS R. SxzzTom, Minority Staff Consultant/Spe~oal I'roleots it -CONTENTS WITNESSES Page May 15, 1979: Tuesday, -.- 10 George R. Berdes, staff consultant, Committee on Foreign Affairs- Subcommittee on International Security Ivo J. Spalatin, staff director, 33 and Scientific Affairs, Committee on Foreign Affairs ------------ Thomas R.
[Show full text]
Peoples Temple Miscellany, 1951-2013, MS 4126
http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt9j49s3fd No online items Finding aid to Peoples Temple miscellany, 1951-2013, MS 4126 Finding aid prepared by Frances Wratten Kaplan California Historical Society 2011 678 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94105 [email protected] URL: http://californiahistoricalsociety.org/ Finding aid to Peoples Temple MS 4126 1 miscellany, 1951-2013, MS 4126 Contributing Institution: California Historical Society Title: Peoples Temple miscellany Identifier/Call Number: MS 4126 Physical Description: 17.0 boxes Date (inclusive): 1951-2013 Collection is stored onsite. Language of Material: Collection materials are in English. Abstract: Peoples Temple miscellany consists of miscellaneous materials about Peoples Temple arranged by California Historical Society staff into a single, ongoing collection. Acquired at different times from a variety of donors, materials in the collection include correspondence, notes, scrapbooks, journals, clippings, publications, audio recordings, realia and television documentaries about Peoples Temple and Jonestown, its agricultural mission in Guyana. Access Collection is open for research. Publication Rights All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Library and Archives, North Baker Research Library, California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Consent is given on behalf of the California Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Peoples Temple miscellany, MS 4126, California Historical Society Separated Materials Photographs have been removed and transferred to Photographs from Peoples Temple miscellany, 1966-1978, MSP 4126.
[Show full text]
The Assassination of Representative Leo J. Ryan and the Jonestown, Guyana Tragedy
l I 96th Congress, 1st Session - - . - . Houlle Document No. 96- " . , THE ASSASSINATION OF REPRESENTATIVE LEO J. RYAN AND THE JONESTOWN, GUYANA TRAGEDY REPORT OF A STAFF INVESTIGATIVE GROUP TO THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY Hi, 1979 Printed for the use ot the Committee on Foreign Affairs COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS CLlllllrflllNT 1. ZABLOCKI, Wiaconllln, Oh.f'MGtl L. B. B'OUNTAIN, Nortb Carolina WILLIAM S. BROOMFIELD. Mleblgo DANTE B. FASCELL, I'lortda EDWARD J. DERWINSKI, IIlinol. CBARLIllS C. DIGGS, Ja., M!eb1p.n PAUL FINDLIllY. Illinol. BIllNJAMIN S. ROSIllNTBAL, New York 10BN B. BUCBANAN, J8.. Alabama Lllllll B. HAMILTON, In41aDa LARRY WINN, Ja.• XlUlu. LIllSTIllR L. WOLFF, New York BEN1AMIN A. GILMAN, New York JONATBAN B. BINGHAM. New York ',fENN"SON GUYER, Oblo GUS YATRON, Pennqlvanla ROBERT 1. LAGOMARSINO, Cal1tornla CARDISS COLLINS, Dllnol. WILLIAM F. GOODLING, PennB7lvanla STIllPBlDN 1. SOLARZ, New York JOEL PRITCHARD, WaBbtngton DON BONxma, Wublngton MILLICENT FENWICK, New Jerse, GERRY E. STUDDS, M....ebusetta DA.N QUAYLE, Indloa ANDY IRELAND, I'lortda DONALD 1. PEABB, Ohio DAN MICA, I'lortda MICBAEL D. BARNlIlS, Marrlod WILLIAM B. ORAY III, Penn.,lvlUl!a TONY P. BALL, Oblo BOWARD WOLPE, Mlcll1pD DAVID R. BOWBN. M1alIIlppl FLOYD J. FITmAN, Indiana los. 1. BUDY, lr•• ·07t4e1 01 S,01/ DouaT T. BtnIU, S'o1/ OOMII"G." Box••". Pllauouro, Sea1/ ,., SSdO" M. WILLCOS, 8'01/ ri"OfI' STAJ'I' I5VE8TIGATIVB GBOUP Gaoao. R. BIIIlD••, S'.1/ 0_"0," Ivo 1. SP.UTI". SII/)eo",,,,.Ulle S'G1/ DwfIC'or Tao... R. S".TO", ,Inflori'll S,01/ O_le"'IS,,,,, ProJ«nl IU) FOREWORD HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, CoMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, WashingtOn, D.O., May 15, 1979.
[Show full text]
The Death of Representative Leo J. Ryan
THE DEATH OF REPRESENTATIVE LEO J. RYAN, '-'1. PEOPLE'S TEMPLE, AND JONESTOWN: UNDERSTANDING ATRAGEDY MAY lIS, 1979 u.s. GOVERNMENT PRn~TING OFlI'ICE W.&8BDfGTON : 1919 r"' ". COMMrhEE FOREIG :A.FFAmS CLEMENT J. Z~n8ln,Ohalrman I,. H. FOUNTAIN, North Carolina WILLIAM, S. ,BROOMFIELD. ,Michigan DANTE B. FASCELL, Florida EDWARD J. DERWINSKI, Illinoi8 , CHARLES C. DIGGS. Ja., Michigan PAUL FINDLEY. DIlnols BENJAMIN SrRQSIllNTJIALt ,~'W You JOHN B. BUCHANAN, Ja.. Alabama LEE H. HAJOtJ.rON,lndlana LARRY WJ~ .JB.; Kansas LESTER L. WOLll'F. N'ewYork ~BENJAHIN A. GILMAN, ew York JONATHAN B. BINGHAM. New York , T»NNYSON GUYER, Ohio GUS YATRON. PenDsylvaDta n~ J ROB'lIlRT J. LAGOMARSINO, California CARDISS COLLINS. Illlnoi8 WILLIAM F. GOODLING, Pennsylvania STEPHEN J. SOLARZ, New York 'l)lJOEL PRiTcHARD, Washington DON BONDR, Washington MILLICENT FENWICK. New Jersey GERRY E. STUDDS. Massachusetts - UD'"'QUAYLE, Indiana ANDY IRELAND. Florida 1\-"1' ~ 1'1' DONALD J. PEASE, Ohio • ." DAN MICA. Florida MICHAEL D. BARNES. Maryland WILLIAM :a. cm.A1: til ~~J'lY'lgllJ..'mIn< H6 !lIlT IlOl' .~ TONY P. HALL, Ohio HOWARD WOLFE, MIchigan DAYlD R. BOWEN, Mlsslsslppi FLOYD J. FITHIAN. Indiana JOHN J. 8lWlY, lr., Oh~1 01 BtaJ/ BoUlnlJl Pllau.INO, B"J/ A.mtant NANCY SHUB•• Mmorlty BtaJ/ A.n.taftt STAFF INVESTIGATIVE GROUP GEORGIIl R. BIlBD.8, Staff Oon.ultaftt 1\'0 .T. SPALATIN. Subeo'mtMttee Staff D'reotor THOMAS R. SMIlIlTON, M'norltv Stad Oon.ullaftt/Bptlmal l'ro!tlCte II .U CONTENTS WITNESSES Tuesday, May 15, 1979: Palfe George R. Berdes, staff consultant, Committee on Foreign Affalrs____ 10 Ivo J.
[Show full text]
Understanding Jonestown Whitney Fosu Junior Division Historical
1 Understanding Jonestown Whitney Fosu Junior Division Historical Paper Paper Length: 2,019 Words 2 The 1960s and 1970s were a bleak and uncertain time for many. During these decades, both the Civil Rights movement and the Women's Liberation movement were transpiring. Overall, this period was a difficult time for people everywhere. During the 1970s, Jim Jones' church, Peoples Temple, was a momentous accomplishment for welcoming all genders, races, and ages, yet this is where the triumph ends. In addition to his instability, and the members' mindless compliance, the criticisms and the political powers of outsiders ignited the tragedy of mass suicide. This remains a cautionary tale for everyday life, as it could very much occur again. Introduction into Jim Jones’ Life Jim Warren Jones was born on May 31, 1931, to James Thurman Jones and Lynetta Putnam Jones in Crete, Indiana. When he was born, his mother was working as a factory worker, while his dad was in a poor state of health due to his exposure to poisonous gasses during World War I. Growing up, he became more and more cognizant of the distinctions between his life and that of other children around him. It can be said that he was somewhat neglected during his youth as a result of his mother having to work all day leaving him with no one to care for him, and his father barely spending any time with him because of his involvement in the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group. His first encounter with religion came from his neighbor, Myrtle Kennedy, who cared for him during his childhood.
[Show full text]
Drinking the Kool-Aid March 2012
Drinking the Kool-Aid March 2012 Be careful not to drink the Kool-Aid. A former consulting colleague. It’s interesting how a word or phrase can be recycled many years later to mean something completely different than it did originally. Take for example the word gay which used to mean merry or artificial which originally meant full of artistic or technical skill or awful which meant full of awe. I thought the name, adman and product Kool-Aid went out of style a long time ago. The product still exists on the bottom shelf of your grocery store but the concept has morphed in meaning and re-entered our contemporary nomenclature to mean something different. When I was a kid drinking the Kool-Aid simply meant joy and great enthusiasm like the Kool-Aid Man shows above. It was an early, inexpensive, convenience drink. You just needed to add a ton of sugar and water to create a very sweet drink with little or no real nutritional value. By today’s standards, it was probably unhealthy, as it is basically sugar, dyes and chemicals. The last time I came across it was when high school kids used it as a quick and cheap hair dye. The first time I heard the phrase used in this newer and negative way was during a consulting assignment a number of years ago. I was invited to a cocktail hour with the senior management team of a firm. Dennis (the colleague) had been working with the team clarifying their strategy. I was to begin the change implementation portion of the engagement.
[Show full text]
Was Jonestown a CIA Medical Experiment? a Review of the Evidence
Was Jonestown A CIA Medical Experiment? A Review of the Evidence Michael Meiers Studies in American Religion Volume 35 The Edwin Mellen Press Lewiston/Queenston/Lampeter Library of Congress Cataloging-inPublication Data Meiers, Michael. Was Jonestown a CIA experiment?: a review of the evidence/ Michael Meiers. p. cm. — (Studies in American religion ; v. 35) Bibliography: p. Includes index. ISBN 0-88946-013-2 1. Jonestown Mass Suicide, Jonestown, Guyana, 1978. 2. Jones, Jim, 1931-1978. 3. United States. Central Intelligence Agency. 4. Brainwashing. I. Title. II. Series. BP605.P46M44 1989 988* .11—dcl9 88-30698 CIP © 1988 Michael Meiers. All rights reserved. FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: THE EDWIN MELLEN PRESS P.O. Box 450 Box 67 Lewiston, New York Queenston, Ontario U.S.A. 14092 CANADA LOS 1L0 Mellen House Lampeter, Dyfed, Wales UNITED KINGDOM SA48 7DY Printed in the United States of America LIBRARY CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ELLENSBURG. WASHINGTON TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page Acknowledgement Prologue I 1 Heil Hitler! 1 2 Deep Cover 25 3 From the Cradle to the Company 103 4 Three Countries, Three Commissions 127 5 A California Concentration Camp 167 6 The 'H' File Homicides 195 7 Moscone, Milk and Murder 277 8 Publicity, Provocateuring and Political Power 333 9 Of Dogs and Monkeys 351 10 It's a Jungle Out There 363 11 The Experiment 385 12 One Cookie 407 13 The White Night 415 14 Various Villains and Victims 459 15 The Phantom Preacher 519 Renegade Faction 539 Epilogue 551 Footnotes 553 Selected Bibliography 563 Index 569 "You have to put fear aside and do what you think is right.” — Leo Ryan on the eve of his visit to Jonestown.
[Show full text]
But You Have to Have Been There to Know
The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Honors College Spring 5-2021 “But you have to have been there to know what we are talking about”: An Examination of the Rhetorical Environments of Cults and Other Extremist Groups and How They Lead to Violence Katherine Camille Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors Part of the Psychology Commons, and the Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons This Honors Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors College by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. “BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE BEEN THERE TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT”: AN EXAMINATION OF THE RHETORICAL ENVIRONMENTS OF CULTS AND OTHER EXTREMIST GROUPS AND HOW THEY LEAD TO VIOLENCE by Katherine Camille A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for a Degree with Honors (Communication) The Honors College University of Maine May 2021 Advisory Committee: Nathan Stormer, Professor of Rhetoric, Advisor Robert Glover, Associate Professor of Political Science & Honors Hao Hong, Assistant Professor of Philosophy Naomi Jacobs, Professor of English Jenny Rice, Associate Professor of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Media, University of Kentucky ABSTRACT Popular culture often cites charismatic leaders as the catalysts for violent acts in cults and other extremist groups. This explanation is insufficient and oversimplified, and this thesis challenges the idea that a single speech or person can move a large group to act violently and without their own best interests in mind.
[Show full text]
Probers May Call on Lane to Provide Clues to Massacre by CLARK REID Representative
The Knoxville News-Sentinel Thursday, December 14, 1918 Page 7 Probers May Call on Lane To Provide Clues to Massacre By CLARK REID Representative. Lane and another man - News-Sentinel Washington Correspondent were able to stop the attacker before WASHINGTON — Memphis lawyer Ryan was hurt. Mark Lane is expected to be called be- Less than two hours later, however, fore a House committee to testify on the Ryan and the four others were dead, ambush murder of Rep. Leo Ryan (D- murdered by several of Jones' top heti- Calif.) and four other Americans on are- tenants just -moments before the party mote airstrip near Jonestown, Guyana. was scheduled to fly to Georgetown, Rep. Edward Derwinski (R-Ill.), a Guyana's capital. member of the House International Rela- Lane and San Francisco attorney tions Committee which is looking into Charles Garry, who was also represent- Ryan's murder, said yesterday he ex- ing Jones, remained at Jonestown, only pects the hearing will be scheduled soon to find themselves in the middle of a after the 96th Congress convenes in mass suicide rite called for by Jones, fol- January. lowing the discovery that some members The Illinois Republican has more than of Ryan's party had survived the am- a casual interest in the investigation of bush. That mass suicide took the lives of the slaying of Ryan, three American 913 Jonestown residents, but Lane. and • newsmen and a disenchanted follower of Garry were able to escape. People's Temple cult leader Jim Jones. Since his return to the United States, Derwinski had been scheduled to Lane has done an about-face and is now accompany Ryan on his fateful fact-find- saying the People's Temple represents a ing tour of the People's Temple com- danger to U.S.
[Show full text]
Jonestown: the Life and Death of Peoples Temple Program Transcript
Page 1 Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple Program Transcript On-screen text: On November 18th, 1978, in Jonestown, Guyana, 909 members of Peoples Temple died in what has been called the largest mass suicide in modern history. Deborah Layton, Peoples Temple Member, Author, Seductive Poison: Nobody joins a cult. Nobody joins something they think is going to hurt them. You join a religious organization, you join a political movement, and you join with people that you really like. Jim Jones Jr., Peoples Temple Member: I think in everything that I tell you about Jim Jones, there is going to be a paradox. Having this vision to change the world, but having this whole undercurrent of dysfunction that was underneath that vision. Jim Jones (archival): Some people see a great deal of God in my body. They see Christ in me, a hope of glory. Hue Fortson Jr., Peoples Temple Member: He said, “If you see me as your friend, I’ll be your friend. As you see me as your father, I’ll be your father.” He said, “If you see me as your God, I’ll be your God.” Kristine Kravitz, Peoples Temple Member: Jim Jones talked about going to the Promised Land and then, pretty soon, we were seeing film footage of Jonestown. Jim Jones (archival): Rice, black-eyed peas, Kool-Aid. Kristine Kravitz, Peoples Temple Member: We all wanted to go. I wanted to go. Page 2 Grace Stoen, Peoples Temple Member: Peoples Temple truly had the potential to be something big and powerful and great, and yet for whatever reason, Jim took the other road.
[Show full text]
Drinking the Kool-Aid After Jonestown
Drinking the Kool-Aid after Jonestown: The Creation of Mass Memory in an ‘Un-American’ Tragedy, 1978-2016 Allison Zakon Department of History, Barnard College Senior Thesis Seminar Professor Jones April 20th, 2016 1 Table of Contents: Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………….…….3 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………….….4 Chapter One The Peoples Temple is Built, and Destroyed, 1931-1978…..……………….……9 Chapter Two An Understanding Shrouded, 1978-1985……………………………….……….20 Chapter Three Evolutions and Altercations, 1985-2016…………………………………………38 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………...….…….56 Bibliography………..………………………………………………………………........59 2 Acknowledgements: I owe many thanks to everyone who helped me with this project. I would like to thank my thesis advisor, Professor Jones for always steering me in the right direction and giving us all great writing advice. I would also like to thank my seminar group for the encouragement along the way and for all of the helpful editing and work sessions. Finally, I would like to thank my friends and family for supporting me throughout this process and giving me feedback on my work. 3 Introduction: 1978 Her final moments on earth were approaching, but Annie Moore picked up her pen and wrote. Hundreds of people around her were already dead. Their bodies lay in the dirt, exposed. Despite this, Annie picked up her pen. Perhaps she sensed that if she did not write this letter, the truth of what the Peoples Temple was would die with her. “I am 24 years of age right now and don’t expect to live through the end of this book. I thought I should at least make some attempt to let the world know what Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple is –-OR WAS –-all about.
[Show full text]
Is the Canon on Jonestown Closed? ______
Moore: Canon on Jonestown Is the Canon on Jonestown Closed? ______________________ Rebecca Moore he popular understanding of what happened in Jonestown, Guyana on 18 November 1978 has not changed significantly in T two decades. The basic details remain the same: a group of Peoples Temple members assassinated a U.S. Congressman and members of the media on a remote jungle airstrip, and more than 900 followers of a charismatic leader named Jim Jones died in a mass murder/suicide ritual. These facts make up the essential canon of Jonestown.1 Certainly, news coverage in 1998 of the twentieth anniversary of the deaths did little to alter, question, or update the popular version of events. The attempt by a group of scholars to secure the release of secret government documents about Peoples Temple was one of the few notable exceptions to newspaper and TV reports, which, while extensive, seem almost exclusively drawn from archives. Astonishingly or not, two decades of scholarly reflection upon the events of that day seemed to have had little impact on conventional wisdom about Jonestown or Peoples Temple. In effect the canon concerning Jonestown is closed. A publicly- accepted history of Jonestown exists which appears almost unalterable in its persistence. This poses a serious problem for historians and other researchers who may not consider the canon quite as fixed as the public does and who are, indeed, still in the process of recovering and writing the historical record. The loss of institutional memory about Peoples Temple complicates the process of recovery and, thus, of establishing a canon.
[Show full text]