During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Jim Jones and Peoples Temple ministered among the poor and disenfranchised of Indianapolis, a midwestern city that was deeply divided by race. As an integrated religious community during this era, Peoples Temple was featured in the leading African American newspaper in the state of Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Recorder began publishing in 1895 and remains one of the longest-running African American newspapers in the United States. The digital archives of the Indianapolis Recorder can be found at the Indiana University library website. Other newspapers are included in this list that are relevant.
William R. Treml, “‘Mom’s’ Help For Ragged Tramp Leads Son To Dedicate His Life To Others,” Richmond Palladium Item, March 15, 1953, p. 14 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Threaten to Burn Down New Interracial Church,” Indianapolis Recorder, October 22, 1955, p. 1 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Betty Taft’s Letter,” Indianapolis Recorder, October 22, 1955, p. 4 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Hell Can Rejoice – “No” to Christianity,” Indianapolis Recorder, October 29, 1955, p. 10 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Peoples Temple Church Weathers Hate Threats.” Indianapolis Recorder, November 12, 1955, p. 1 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Peoples Temple is Completely Interracial and Interdenominational.” Indianapolis Recorder, November 10, 1956, p 6 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Interracial Church Aids Race Relations.” Indianapolis Recorder, December 1, 1956, p. 7 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“NAACP Gets its first white member.” Indianapolis Recorder, February 16, 1957, p. 1 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Militant Pastor Wins Fight for Draft Exemption.”Indianapolis Recorder, March 2, 1957, p. 16 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Local White Pastor Makes Out Plane Ins. to NAACP,” Indianapolis Recorder, April 6, 1957, p. 3 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“People’s Temple Gives Away Toys To ‘Mixed’ Kiddies,” Indianapolis Recorder, January 3, 1959, p. 2 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
Don Reeder, “A Cross to Bear, Says Pastor,” Indianapolis Star, May 11, 1959, p. 1 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Can’t Find Integrated Burial Place for Child,” Indianapolis Recorder, May 16, 1959, p. 1, 3 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“New Nursing Home to Be Integrated,” Indianapolis Recorder, September 17, 1960, p. 3 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“White Pastor Plans Program to Increase Mixed Worship.” Indianapolis Recorder, November 12, 1960, p. 1 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Pastor Aids Fund,” Indianapolis Recorder, February 11, 1961, p. 2 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Integrationist Pastor Named to City Rights Post,” Indianapolis Recorder, February 25, 1961, p. 1, 3 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
*“Mayor Denies Telling Rights Commission Head to ‘Slow Down’,” Indianapolis Recorder, April 26, 1961, p. 1, 2 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive – incomplete
“Human Rights Secretary to Address Banquet,” Indianapolis Recorder, June 17, 1961, p. 3 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
William Alexander, “Charge of Rape Dropped Against Eastside Man,” Indianapolis Recorder, July 15, 1961, p. 1, 2 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
Peoples Temple Ad feature picture of Jones’ family, Indianapolis Recorder, September 2, 1961, p. 6 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive – incomplete
*”Worshipers Move to Football Field for Communion.” Indianapolis Recorder, September 9, 1961, p. 1 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive – improve notes
*Charles S. Preston, “Hard to Aid ‘Starving’ Woman – Eviction Easier,” Indianapolis Recorder, September 23, 1961, p. 1, 3 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive – check notes, pretty poorly done
*”Volunteer Workers of Peoples Temple Help Other Groups.” Indianapolis Recorder, September 23, 1961, p. 6- Transcript || Annotation || Archive – update and fix
Charles S. Preston, ”Rev. Jones ‘Integrates’ Hospital While a Patient,” Indianapolis Recorder, October 7, 1961, p. 1, 3 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Rev. James W. Jones Takes Vacation in British Guiana,” Indianapolis Recorder, November 4, 1961, p. 2 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“White Couple Adopt.” Indianapolis Recorder, November 18, 1961, p. 1 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Interracial Peoples Temple Receives Grant from UCMS.” Indianapolis Recorder, November 18, 1961, p. 1 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Dr. Orders Hawaiian Vacation for Mayor’s Rights Comm. Head,” Indianapolis Recorder, November 25, 1961, p. 1 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“The Recorder’s 14th Annual Human Relations Honor Roll,” Indianapolis Recorder, January 6, 1962, p. 1 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“World Crisis Conference Continues at Peoples Temple.” Indianapolis Recorder, November 17, 1962, p. 7 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
Peoples Temple Ad about Jones’ Return from Brazil, Indianapolis Recorder, December 21, 1963, p. 7 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
Peoples Temple Ad to sell church building at 10th and Delaware, Indianapolis Recorder, February 1, 1964, p. 14 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
Peoples Temple Ad for services at new location at Broadway Christian Center, Indianapolis Recorder, February 15, 1964, p. 7 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
*”Special Interracial Children’s Program.” Indianapolis Recorder, April 25, 1964, p. 7 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive – incomplete
“White Liberal Suffers Abuse from ‘Both Sides”: Still Struggles On.” Indianapolis Recorder, July 25, 1964, p. 2 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
Pat Stewart, “Rev. James Jones to return to the city for two services,” Indianapolis Recorder, July 24, 1971, p. 15 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Come-See-Hear Rev. Jim Jones at Peoples Temple.” Indianapolis Recorder, October 9, 1971, p. 7 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Ex-local pastor, Rev. James T. Jones, now leads 10,000-member church in California,” Indianapolis Recorder, March 6, 1976, p. 14 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive