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Peoples Temple Records http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt2t1nf3xr No online items Peoples Temple Records Finding aid prepared by Sandra McCoy Larson in 1985; revised by Frances Wratten Kaplan and Tanya Hollis in 2010 and 2011. Funding for processing this collection was provided by the Peoples Temple/Jonestown Fund at the California Historical Society. California Historical Society 678 Mission Street San Francisco, CA, 94105 415-357-1848 [email protected] 1985, revised 2010-2011 Peoples Temple Records MS 3800 1 Title: Peoples Temple records Date (inclusive): 1922-1984 Creator: Peoples Temple Collection Number: MS 3800 Physical Description: Extent: 145 linear feet Repository: California Historical Society 678 Mission Street San Francisco, CA, 94105 415-357-1848 [email protected] URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/ Physical Location: Collection is stored onsite. Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English. Abstract: Consists of materials collected by court receiver Robert H. Fabian in his efforts to identify and locate Peoples Temple assets and settle the more than 750 claims that arose from the events of November 18, 1978, when Congressman Leo Ryan, three journalists, and 914 Peoples Temple members died by murder or suicide in Port Kaituma, Jonestown, and Georgetown, Guyana. The collection includes manuscripts, realia, photographs, ephemera, legal documents, court depositions, financial documents, newspaper and magazine articles, and research materials. The first eight series comprise records removed by Fabian from the Peoples Temple offices on Geary Boulevard in San Francisco in the early days of the receivership. The bulk of these records document Peoples Temple operations in California and Guyana between 1965 and 1978, with some materials from the years before 1965, when the church was located in Indiana. The records reflect the church's involvement in all aspects of its membership, including maintenance of housing, medical, car and life insurance; real estate holdings and transfers; divorce, adoption, and custody cases; documents related to various corporations run by Peoples Temple; and materials generated in the procurement and settlement of Peoples Temple Agricultural Mission in Guyana, known as Jonestown. Series 9, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, and series 10, Federal Bureau of Investigation, include records obtained by the receiver from these agencies to aid in his investigation. Series 11, Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ v. Attorney General of California, and series 12, United States v. Peoples Temple, include documents generated from the receiver's office during operations to dissolve Peoples Temple. The materials generated by the reciever date from February 1979 to March 1984, though many files contain earlier materials used as supporting evidence for claims. Restrictions on Access All researchers must sign the Access Agreement form, confirming that they have read and understood the restrictions outlined in the document Restricted Materials in the Peoples Temple Records, MS 3800. This document, and the Access Agreement form, are available at the reference desk or can be sent electronically. Restricted Materials in the Peoples Temple Records, MS 3800 Open but subject to restrictions on disclosure: Records throughout the collection contain personally identifiable information of a personal or confidential nature such as social security numbers and bank account information. Publication or disclosure of such information is strictly prohibited, unless researcher can show proof that the person is deceased, or has provided proof of permission by the party named to CHS. Require advance review by CHS reference librarian or archivist: Personal Records, Boxes 66-74, folders 1078-1196, and Box 112, folders 2007-2013. These files contain information about each member traveling to Guyana, including application forms, liability releases, birth and marriage certificates, passport applications, and medical information. The medical forms and any supporting documentation such as doctor's correspondence, medical bills, etc., are closed. All other documents pertaining to former members that are still living require the permission of that person to be released. The researcher must locate the individual and present CHS with proof of permission, either by email or written letter. Members' Legal Papers, Boxes 123-125, folders 2195-2244. Legal restrictions on former members' legal papers may be reevaluated, if a researcher can show proof that the person is deceased, or has provided proof of permission by the party named to CHS. The researcher must locate the individual and present CHS with proof of permission, either by email or written letter. Peoples Temple Records MS 3800 2 Permanently sealed and closed: Medical records listed have been permanently closed and sealed, in accordance with federal law: Beck medical records, Box 9, folder 122; Member's medical records, Box 17, folders 294-297; Box 18, folders 298-300; Speier medical records, Boxes 116-117 Legal documents can be found throughout the collection, but are permanently closed and sealed in the following files: Kay Rosas file, Box 10, folder 140 [sealed in envelope]; Advice Correspondence, Boxes 121-122, folders 2160-2186 [Note: These files contain correspondence from the public at large to Peoples Temple attorneys, requesting legal assistance]. Payroll documents are permanently closed and sealed in the following files: Box 121, folders 2146, 2153 Sealed and closed until 2085: Personal notes are sealed and closed until 2085 in the following files: Tim Stoen Files, Box 8, folder 87 [sealed in envelope]. Publication Rights CHS is the lawful owner of 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. All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials, and all digital representations of these original 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. Restrictions on Reproduction Reproduction of collection materials may be restricted at the discretion of CHS library staff. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Peoples Temple Records, MS 3800, California Historical Society. Peoples Temple Collection Manuscript Collections: Federal Bureau of Investigation Collection of Peoples Temple Papers from Jonestown, Guyana, 1931-1978, MS 3801 Moore Family Papers, 1968-1988, MS 3802 John R. Hall Research Materials on Peoples Temple, 1954-2003, MS 3803 Ross E. Case Collection pertaining to Peoples Temple, 1961-1984, MS 4062 Margaret T. Singer Materials on Peoples Temple, 1956-1998, MS 4123 Peoples Temple Ephemera and Publications, 1959-1979, MS 4124 Newspaper Clippings on Peoples Temple: photocopies, 1953-1978, MS 4125 Peoples Temple Miscellany Collection, 1951-[ongoing], MS 4126 Photography Collections: Photographs from Peoples Temple Records, 1941-1983, MSP 3800 Photographs of Peoples Temple in the United States and Guyana, 1967-1978, PC 010 Separated Material Printed materials have been transferred to the book collection. Books received with the collection, but not retained, are listed in the 1983 publication of the Guide to Peoples Temple Records, available at the Reference Desk of the North Baker Research Library, 678 Mission St., San Francisco. Some ephemera items have been transferred to Peoples Temple Ephemera and Publications, MS 4124. Photographs have been transferred to the Photography Collection, shelved as MSP 3800. Alternative Forms Available There are no alternate forms of this collection. Acquisition Information The Peoples Temple Records were given to the California Historical Society by orders of the California Superior Court and of the Guyana High Court, facilitated by Robert H. Fabian in June 1983. Additions were made in May 1986. Processing Information Peoples Temple Records MS 3800 3 Processed by Sandra McCoy Larson in 1985. Before processing, records were stored in metal file cabinets with location numbers on each drawer such as 1A, lB, etc. These numbers have been transferred to the upper, right corner of most records. The collection was rehoused in 2006 by Denice Stephenson; box numbers have been changed from earlier processing. Otherwise, order of collection has been maintained. Custodial History The documents that together comprise the Peoples Temple records were gathered by Robert H. Fabian, the court-appointed receiver, from a number of locations: Records in the first eight series were removed from the Peoples Temple offices on Geary Boulevard during the beginning of the receiver's operations. The offices and the church building on Geary Boulevard continued to be used by surviving members without restriction until February 1979. Many records were removed from the offices during this interim period. Many records were taken to Jonestown during the resettlement; these, and other documents, were confiscated by the FBI for the investigation into the death of Congressman Leo Ryan and trial of Laurence Layton. The originals of these documents are now held by the FBI. A complete set of photocopies of these documents can be found in MS 3801.
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