Several years ago, I began working on a project to collect Oral History recordings of Peoples Temple survivors in order to preserve this primary source information in an Archive of Peoples Temple history. I recorded the sessions, and used a backup recording device, so that we would be sure to preserve the discussion. At the beginning, we worked under a grant from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga that covered some of the initial expenses. I have continued with the recordings when possible.
At this point, we have Oral History recordings from Garry Lambrev, Don Beck, Versi Connesero, Deb Evans Harper, Hue Fortson, Lena Flowers, Vera Washington, Jordan Vilchez, and Doxie Swaney Phares, and I have three survivors who are ready for their interviews. In addition, I am delighted to report that we have started transcribing the audio recordings, and we thank Kathy Tropp Barbour for her assistance in this effort.
Unless restricted by the person giving the interview, the transcripts will be publicly available in audio and written form at the San Diego State University Peoples Temple Archives. The transcriptions will also be available on the Jonestown Institute website.
If you are a survivor who would like to participate an in-person or Skype Oral History interview, I would love to hear from you.
(Laura Johnston Kohl’s interview with Don Beck is here.
(Laura Johnston Kohl, who had lived in Jonestown but was working in Georgetown on 18 November, died on 19 November 2019 after a long battle with cancer. She was 72. Her writings for this website appear here.)