Oral history interview with Jerry L., 1981

Biographical Note

Jerry L. was born September 12, 1906 in Stamford, Connecticut. He is the second of three children. His father was a baker, and his mother was a coat maker. Early in his childhood, his family moved to Brooklyn, New York. Jerry was educated through the fourth grade, and spent time at two Catolic homes: St. John's Home in Brooklyn and Mount Loretto Home in Staten Island. He used heroin for the first time at thirteen years of age. His mother found out Jerry was using heroin and sent him to Rikers Island for the "hundred day cure," and then onto the House of Refuge reformatory school where he stayed from age seventeen to twenty-one. It was in this reformatory school where he learned many skills such as how to play various instruments, nursing, and sewing. Upon leaving reformatory, Jerry continued to use heroin, and began playing gigs as a jazz trumpeter, eventually becoming a bandleader. During World War II he and his band toured the United States playing shows. In 1961, Jerry quit heroin and joined a methadone program. He was married and divorced twice in his life. Jerry L. was interviewed for the project that led to the book Addicts Who Survived. The name is likely a pseudonym for the project

Scope and Contents

In this interview, Jerry L. discusses his life in New York, paying special attention to his drug use, and career as a professional jazz musician. He describes his experience at various Catholic homes including St. John's Home in Brooklyn and Mount Loretto Home in Staten Island, as well as his experience at The House of Refuge reformatory school. He explains his exposure to heroin, which began at age thirteen. He explains how he learned to play instruments at a young age, and went on to become a professional jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He discusses the jazz scene in NYC and his experience touring the United States with his band. He also describes his visits at Lexington, Kentucky for treatment. He also delves into his ten-year experience in being on a methadone program. He discusses the relative prices and forms of heroin including caps, bags, and packages. Jerry's counselor at the methadone clinic, Ms. Barnett, is briefly interviewed as well

Subjects

• Drug addicts--United States.
• Drug traffic--United States--History--20th century.
• Heroin abuse--United States--History--20th century.
• Interviews.
• Jazz--New York (State)--New York.
• Jazz musicians.
• Joseph, Herman, 1931- interviewer.
• L., Jerry--Interviews.
• Methadone maintenance--United States--History--20th century.
• Narcotic Farm.
• Oral histories (literary works)

Access Conditions

Copyright by David Courtwright