Alexandra Leah Prince (they/them) is a U.S. cultural historian of American religions and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. They are currently working on a book project on the history of the children of Peoples Temple and Jonestown. Their article-length treatment on this subject appears below. They may be reached at aprince@skidmore.edu.
“If you don’t love children, you don’t understand socialism”: The Children of Peoples Temple (2025)
Since 2022, Prof. Prince has engaged Skidmore College students in transcription work in support of the Jonestown Institute. You can see samples of their work below:
• FBI Section 77 • C-11 • Administrative Functions
• FBI Section 128 • EE-1 • Letters to Dad (K-M)
• FBI Section 129 • EE-1 • Letters to Dad (N-Z)
In the Spring of 2025, Prof. Prince taught a class in the department of Religious Studies at Skidmore College that focused on Peoples Temple and Jonestown. As one of the class assignments, student transcribed letters that were written by Jonestown residents in 1977 and 1978 and that were released to this site under the Freedom of Information Act. Students also wrote short papers reflecting on the experience of the transcription work and what they had learned about the Temple. They also wrote more substantive papers on different aspects of Temple life.
Selected term papers appear below.
The C Word: The Dynamic Relationship Between Peoples Temple History and the Term Cult, by David Guo and Lucien Rosado-Soto
Peoples Temple in Print: The Role of Print Media in Shaping the Peoples Temple Narrative prior to November 18th, 1978, by Connor Rustin
The Seniors of Peoples Temple: Capitalism, Ageism, and The Draw of a Communal-Socialist Movement for Older Americans, by Ella Stuccio
Peoples Temple and Media: A Feedback Loop for Generations, by Landon Weber
Selected reflections on the transcription work appear below.
Jonestown Transcription – Willow Forbes
Jonestown Transcription – David Guo
Jonestown Transcription – Jack Rovillard
Jonestown Transcription – Connor Rustin
Jonestown Transcription – Jane Schmucki
Jonestown Transcription – Ella Stuccio
Jonestown Transcription – Euale Tekley