Yvonne Gillham Jentzsch's life story

[SanDiegoMember]

Yvonne was born in 1927 and passed away in 1978, along the way she became one of the most well liked people in Scientology. Her legacy is Celebrity Center as she was it's founder. I got to know her in February of 1973 and have held her in high regard since.

There is currently a project underway to write Yvonne's life story. I originally started off creating her biography, but with the excellent help from her family this project has become more of a story of her life.

I originally wanted to complete her story before announcing the project, but with Emma now retiring I decided to post this today. So far her story is written up until late 1965. It may be a couple of more months before the story goes live on the internet though.

I would welcome your stories, pictures regarding Yvonne to be included in her story. I can be reached at BlkC5vette@aol.com.

Howard Dickman

[SanDiegoMember]

I am pleased that so many people have viewed this post. Tonight I worked an additional three hours on Yvonne's life story and have it now written up to October of 1967. There are many facts about Yvonne that has never seen the light of day outside of her immediate family. Stayed tuned for further updates!

Howard Dickman

[SanDiegoMember]

Yvonne's life history goes hand in hand with the history of the Sea Org, as she was one of the original members. As such, we have taken great care to document some of the events of the Sea Org. It took some time to document, for example, the dates of the infamous Liability Cruise.

As of today I have Yvonne's life written up to June of 1968, getting closer and closer to when she started Celebrity Center. There will be some facts in her bio that dispel some commonly accepted stories of CC.

Stayed tuned!

Howard Dickman

[SanDiegoMember]

Flag Order #232, dated October 10, 1967 implemented the Sea Org's "billion year" contracts. For the historians out there, I have obtained a digital copy of the 6th Sea Org signed contract dated October 14, 1967 from the actual owner of the document. I plan on displaying this historical document on Yvonne's Bio website.

With all the stories of Celebrity Center on the internet I thought that this part of her bio would be the easiest. Was I wrong, this is going to take some time to set the story straight!

Howard Dickman

[SweetnessandLight]

Hi Howard! Good luck with your project. I think it's very worthwhile to make an accurate record of the history of the Scientology movement and it's early workers. :thumbsup:

I remember reading quite a lot of stories on the Aboard the Apollo thread about her...and there are other posts scattered throughout ESMB. I hope you have done a search of them.

I know there are other members and lurkers here who worked with her.

I encourage you to go for full inclusion...of all the stories and memories and events, not just the flattering ones, or the ones her family and close friends remember. :thumbsup: You can be honest and be kind at the same time.

Anything that we can do to counter COS and RTC revisionist history is to the good! :)

For instance, I refer you to this thread: http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?24219-Death-by-Devotion-Tragic-Tale-of-Scientology-Celeb.-Cntr.-Brainchild-Yvonne-Jentzsch

Referring to this article by Skip Press: http://www.themortonreport.com/discoveries/stranger/death-by-devotion/

I think all of his writing is worth reading, but especially on this subject.

Good luck Howard! Writing projects sometimes do take on lives of their own, so try not to put any time limits on it, or yourself. The work will be less frustrating that way.

[lkwdblds]

I am very pleased that Howard is writing the whole story of Yvonne's life. I began reading the internet about Scientology specifically because I noticed in Celebrity Centre's 30th and 35th anniversary magazines in 2000 and 2005, Yvonne's name was not even mentioned one time in either magazine.

I was still in C of S in 2000 and remember asking Kathy Garcia, the head registrar at CC if Yvonne had done anything bad that put her in disrepute. Kathy was already on staff at CCLA when I joined staff there in 1971 and she is still therein 2012. Kathy said that Yvonne was still highly though of but that few people were still around the Orgs who had ever heard of her. That did not make sense. Kathy said she would make certain that Yvonne's name would appear in any future anniversary mags.

When her name was left out of the 2005 mag then I knew that it was not just an oversight but it was politics. She was purposely being left out. History was being rewritten by the DM regime. Mary Sue Hubbard had already been written out and no Yvonne was written out of their history.

I quit going into the Orgs in 2002, routing out on a routing form for a medical problem. By 2005 I decided I was never going back but still did not want to go against church policy about reading the Internet. The Yvonne omission really got me angry and I went onto the internet and read everything I could find about Scn.

I wish Howard the best of luck writing his story of Yvonne's life. She was an exceptional woman and deserves to have her biography fully chronicled.
Lakey

[SanDiegoMember]

Due to the incredible amount of support from the family of Yvonne her story is growing and growing. I have several pages of notes about the early days of CC that I will be drawing from when I write that part of her story.

The family has many many contacts in their network and it is from this that many heretofore unpublished stories about Scientology have come to light. The latest is the reason for the Class VIII course and the story leading up to LRH's decision to create it!

Hang in there, I'm working on this bio of Yvonne's as fast as I can. But I have to substantiate the facts before I write.

Howard Dickman

[SanDiegoMember]

Progress update:

In 1971 there was a record produced called "My Philosophy" which consisted of three tracks recorded by Yvonne. The next year there was another record produced that had two tracks recorded by Yvonne.

I have purchased those records and it took me all of July to digitize and edit (for pops and hums) both of these records. All five of these tracks will be on Yvonne's bio web page.

Right now I am reorganizing my research into a time line of who said what etc. so that if challenged as to the veracity of her story I will have references to back her story up. Plus by creating this time line, statements made by those who knew her, but lack dating, fall into place.

I had no idea the extent of this project when I first started it this past February, but I'm determined to get it right.

Thanks for all of the views that this thread has been getting.

Howard Dickman

[Auditor's Toad]

Her story certainly deserves to be told - she was a remarkable presence !

[SanDiegoMember]

Initially I envisioned Yvonne's bio to be a summary of her life. But as the project went forward, and more and more of her friends shared their memories, this effort has turned into a story of her life, interspersed with lots of the history of the Sea Org and of course Celebrity Centre.

Just recently I had to start over and create a Word document which lists, in chronological order, events in her life. Things like pictures, Flag Orders, memories from friends and her family, etc. This document is now 95 pages in length!

I've had to break her life down into sections. For example, Yvonne was born into a wealthy, prominent family in Australia; so the first section deals with her ancestry. The notes to this section are 5 pages long. This section is now complete.

As I get the other sections finished I will be using this medium for the updates.

Thank you;

Howard Dickman

[Infinite]

..

Thank you for doing all this research. Sounds kinda a bit like when I decided to knock-out a couple of cupboards - five years, new kitchen, bathroom, and laundry later I finally got the job done.

Is your website up and running and/or are there any links to the DOX you have collected thus far?

[SanDiegoMember]

..

Thank you for doing all this research. Sounds kinda a bit like when I decided to knock-out a couple of cupboards - five years, new kitchen, bathroom, and laundry later I finally got the job done.

Is your website up and running and/or are there any links to the DOX you have collected thus far?

Right now its all in Word. Once I get the project done I will paste it to a website. I'm doing it this way so that I can correct my mistakes before someone catches them for me! I've rewritten the sections several times already as new information arrived. I'm about done though, maybe just a few more months.

[Dulloldfart]

Howard, have you looked at Scrivener? (http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php)

It's quite nifty for putting together a book or something similarly lengthy with lots of research involved. Much easier than Word or similar word-processing apps, although Word will come in useful for the final product with proper fonts and Outline headings etc.

I really hope you don't intend to use Word's internal HTML-export function! I can't believe MS have never fixed that. Maybe it's because of back-compatibility issues.

Paul

[SanDiegoMember]

Howard, have you looked at Scrivener? (http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php)

It's quite nifty for putting together a book or something similarly lengthy with lots of research involved. Much easier than Word or similar word-processing apps, although Word will come in useful for the final product with proper fonts and Outline headings etc.

I really hope you don't intend to use Word's internal HTML-export function! I can't believe MS have never fixed that. Maybe it's because of back-compatibility issues.

Paul

Thanks Paul! I wish I had had this product in February when I first started this project.

[SanDiegoMember]

I just spent 5 hours working on Yvonne's bio this morning. The section dealing with her early life, before Scientology (1927 to 1953), has now been rewritten and is ready for publishing. In my Word document it is 4 pages long, complete with 13 pictures.

As you read about her early life you will get an idea of how her heritage helped when she created Celebrity Centre!

Now on to the next section.

Howard Dickman

[SanDiegoMember]

Progress report;

This weekend I spent over 20 hours rewriting 2 more sections of Yvonne's bio.

I now have her section done regarding her introduction and involvement with Scientology while still in Australia, 1953 to 1965. In my word document this section is 4 pages long, complete with 12 pictures.

I also have her section done regarding her involvement in Scientology while in England, 1965 to 1966. In my word document this section is 2 pages long, complete with 2 pictures.

I am being assisted by 3 very competent and wonderful editors. So this bio should be a very good one.

Now onto the next chapter!

Howard Dickman

[SanDiegoMember]

Progress report;

I had already had Yvonne's chapter written about her involvement with the Sea Org, 1966 to the founding of Celebrity Centre. But due to the amount of new information that I had to hand it took me two weeks to rewrite this section of her biography. It is now done and off to the editors. In my Word document this section is 12 pages long.

The final chapter of her life, and her most memorable, that of Celebrity Centre is now being written. I have 24 pages of notes to draw from, including the grand opening party for CC.

Please stay tuned for further updates;

Howard Dickman

[SweetnessandLight]

Thanks Howard, keep up the good work! :thumbsup:

[SanDiegoMember]

I am currently working on Yvonne's time with Celebrity Centre.

In early 1971 CC moved to a mansion on Iverness Drive and only stayed there for about 3 months. I was wondering if anyone might know the address of this building? It would be great history for Yvonne's bio.

Thanks;

Howard Dickman
BlkC5vette@aol.com

[SanDiegoMember]

The grand opening ceremonies for Celebrity Centre occurred on July 15, 1969. The building was packed with people. I would love some pictures of this event. Please spread the word.

Thanks;

Howard Dickman

[SanDiegoMember]

A new request:

I'm working very diligently on Yvonne's life during her time at CC. I have 2 great pictures of the original CC building. They are of the outside only. I was hoping that I might get some pictures showing activities inside of the building. Please spread the word.

Howard Dickman
BlkC5vette@aol.com

[SanDiegoMember]

Progress update on Yvonne Gillham Jentzsch's on-line biography:

It's been a while since I posted about her bio. The Sea Org chapter of Yvonne's bio, (7,876 words), is now at the editor. This chapter contains a lot of documentation of the early days of the Sea Org, starting with the Sea Project in August 1966.

The Celebrity Centre chapter (5,632 words) is mostly written and awaiting some information from a few more sources.

When this biography is finished it will be on a website, free for all to read. Stay tuned for further updates!

Howard Dickman

[Valerim9]

Progress update on Yvonne Gillham Jentzsch's on-line biography:

It's been a while since I posted about her bio. The Sea Org chapter of Yvonne's bio, (7,876 words), is now at the editor. This chapter contains a lot of documentation of the early days of the Sea Org, starting with the Sea Project in August 1966.

The Celebrity Centre chapter (5,632 words) is mostly written and awaiting some information from a few more sources.

When this biography is finished it will be on a website, free for all to read. Stay tuned for further updates!

Howard Dickman

i knew Yvonne near the end of her life and am so looking forward to this bio. Thank you so much for tackling this project.

[SanDiegoMember]

News update:

Just today a source sent me the OODs (Orders of the day) from the OTL LA starting with # 7 dated May 12, 1969 to #29 dated July 9, 1969. I also received CC first OOD, dated July 11, 1969. I just spent the last 2 hours pouring over these documents for inclusion in Yvonne's bio.

Here are the salient points;


1. When others write something about CC the spelling of Center is in the American version. When Yvonne writes something in the OOD's she spells it Centre. To me, this is just one more piece of proof that Yvonne named CC and not LRH.


2. OOD #24 July 4, 1969 notes that Yvonne and CC have moved to a new home. The document which tells about CC's move mentions July 11th as to when they acquired the lease at 8th street. The OOD's properly document the real date.


3. Finally (I saved the best for last), CC's first OOD gives us the date, the time and agenda of the dedication! Peter Gillham is on the agenda the day before and after the dedication. Even though they were separated, he was there supporting Yvonne, one hell of a man!

Based on this new information I will now have to rewrite portions of Yvonne's CC days. Her Sea Org chapter is now finished, which leaves her CC chapter, her PR Org chapter and then her final days. I've worked on this project for nearly a year now and am close to going live with it. I'm glad I've taken my time, as information has slowly filtered in which has made the bio that much better.

Thanks;
Howard Dickman

[SanDiegoMember]

Update on Yvonne's bio;

So many wonderful people have contributed documents and first hand accounts of Yvonne during her time at Celebrity Centre. I have finally finished her CC chapter with nineteen paragraphs and lots of pictures. Unfortunately, for me, the person who was doing the editing for me has had to take a break due to personal reasons, so I am now tasked with editing my own writing.

Time to buckle down and get to work, only eighteen paragraphs left to edit!

Thanks;

Howard Dickman

[SanDiegoMember]

One year ago I wrote to Yvonne Gillham Jentzsch's family and asked if I could write a bio about their mother. They gave me their blessing and have since been forthright with my many requests and questions. Her bio contains many chapters with a picture gallery at the end of each. I am pleased to let everyone know as to my progress;
Chapter 1 deals with her lineage - who her parents, grandparents, great grandparents were. This chapter is done.
Chapter 2 deals with her early years 1927 to 1953, before she read the book Dianetics. This chapter is done.
Chapter 3 deals with her involvement with Scientology in Australia to 1965. This chapter is done.
Chapter 4 deals with her involvement with Scientology in England to 1966. This chapter is done.
Chapter 5 deals with her days in the Sea Org, before Celebrity Centre, 1966 to 1969. This is a long chapter and it is done.
Chapter 6 deals with her days at Celebrity Centre, 1969 to 1977. This is also a long chapter and it is done.
Chapter 6 deals with her days at the PR Org in 1977 and still needs some work.
Chapter 7 deals with her final days. I am waiting for some more information before I write this one.
Chapter 8 deals with her legacy. This chapter is done.

So many people have come forward with so much good information about Yvonne. The project is well worth the effort that I have put into it. Just recently lkwdblds and a few of us were actually able to pin down the location of CC during the move to the mansion in the hills, and I thank him for his wonderful help.

I am close to wrapping this project up. When done, it will be on a website, free for the whole world to see!

Thanks;
Howard Dickman

[DartSmohen]

Progress update on Yvonne Gillham Jentzsch's on-line biography:

It's been a while since I posted about her bio. The Sea Org chapter of Yvonne's bio, (7,876 words), is now at the editor. This chapter contains a lot of documentation of the early days of the Sea Org, starting with the Sea Project in August 1966.

The Celebrity Centre chapter (5,632 words) is mostly written and awaiting some information from a few more sources.

When this biography is finished it will be on a website, free for all to read. Stay tuned for further updates!

Howard Dickman

The Sea Project did not start until about October/November 1966. The first intimation was a notice put on the reception board asking for volunteers with sea-going experience. This was quickly taken down.
There was an OT Committee set up in in late summer 1966, which met in secret. Yvonne may well have been involved with this. I know Joan Thomas was the Chair of it. The Enchanter yacht was purchased and in November set sail for Las Palmas. Bill Robertson, George & Julia Galpin and Peggy Bankstrom were the crew.

John Lawrence and Ron Pook were tasked with finding a vessel, Avon River, during the early months of 1967. They bought the vessel from Aberdeen where she was to be disposed of. They also toured defunct naval vessels to buy equipment and solid watertight doors. These were stored in the hold. The crew did not start arriving on board until March when the Avon River was docked at Hull. However several of the proposed crew were already getting prepared (in secret) to depart for the ship at a moments notice (literally). I am sure Yvonne was one of those in preparation as she already on board as part of the crew by the time I arrived in May 1967.

I hope this helps.

Dart

[SanDiegoMember]

The Sea Project did not start until about October/November 1966. The first intimation was a notice put on the reception board asking for volunteers with sea-going experience. This was quickly taken down.
There was an OT Committee set up in in late summer 1966, which met in secret. Yvonne may well have been involved with this. I know Joan Thomas was the Chair of it. The Enchanter yacht was purchased and in November set sail for Las Palmas. Bill Robertson, George & Julia Galpin and Peggy Bankstrom were the crew.

John Lawrence and Ron Pook were tasked with finding a vessel, Avon River, during the early months of 1967. They bought the vessel from Aberdeen where she was to be disposed of. They also toured defunct naval vessels to buy equipment and solid watertight doors. These were stored in the hold. The crew did not start arriving on board until March when the Avon River was docked at Hull. However several of the proposed crew were already getting prepared (in secret) to depart for the ship at a moments notice (literally). I am sure Yvonne was one of those in preparation as she already on board as part of the crew by the time I arrived in May 1967.

I hope this helps.

Dart

Dart:

I have read and reread your stories, from which I have pulled a lot of information. The first Ships Order that I found is #1, dated August 24, 1966. I have an e-mail that states that LRH was not happy with the first batch of recruits and felt that SH was sending him DB's. Thus the posting on the board at SH. Yvonne did spend time with her family, Christmas of 1966, but was gone before her sons birthday, March of 1967.

Your input has been extremely helpful and I hope I have researched your stories well for Yvonne's bio.

Thanks so much;

Howard

[SanDiegoMember]

I have researched the life of Yvonne Gillham Jentzsch for over 15 months now. I am currently working on the last chapter of her life, a very tough section to write. Initially I thought that this biography would only take a couple of months, but with the excellent input from so many of Yvonne's friends this bio has expanded to well over 26,000 words and over 100 pictures. Along the way the history of Scientology, the Sea Project, the Sea Org and Celebrity Centre has been carefully documented as to time, place, form and event.

Her bio is not ready for public viewing as there is a lot of work yet to be done on the site as well as finishing her last chapter. However I can at this point make two announcements;

1. Despite what Lakey has repeatedly stated I am NOT writing a book about Yvonne. Her bio will appear on a web page and be free for the whole world to read. This is my donation to the memory of the wonderful lady that I had the pleasure to meet.

During the research for Yvonne Gillham Jentzsch’s biography, February, 2012 to May, 2013, many people, who personally knew Yvonne, had contributed excellent stories about her. However, some of those stories could not have been properly integrated into Yvonne's life story. In order to properly preserve Yvonne's personality, it was decided to create a separate page just for personal anecdotes about her. This very special page can now be viewed at SCIENTOLiPEDIA.

This page is located at - http://scientolipedia.org/info/Remembrances_of_Yvonne

Please enjoy this addendum to the upcoming bio of Yvonne!

Thanks;

Howard Dickman