Columbia Center for Oral History Portal > Oral history interview with Russ, 1980Biographical NoteRuss was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 28, 1918. He spent part of grade school in the Pennypack Park House of Corrections and the Pennsylvania Industrial School. He attended school through the eighth grade. After finishing school, he worked building the road around the Philadelphia Zoo. In 1939, he began selling heroin, and shortly after became addicted. During World War II, Russ worked in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. From 1945 to 1952 he was living in Philadelphia but commuting to NYC for heroin. In 1957, he started working for a construction firm called United Drywall. From 1958 to 1962, he managed a Muslim community in East Fishkill, New York called Medina Salaam. In 1962, he moved back to New York City, and began selling heroin again. Russ was arrested between fifteen and twenty times in his life, and spent a total of around fifteen years incarcerated, including at Rikers Island, Holmesburg County Prison, Raleigh State Prison, and a prison camp in Statesville, North Carolina. He joined a methadone program in 1972, and worked as a therapy group leader, a rap session leader, and a social worker within the program. From 1973 to 1978 he worked as the manager of multiple massage parlors in downtown Manhattan. He also worked as an unlicensed pawnbroker. Russ was interviewed for the project that led to the book Addicts Who Survived. The name is likely a pseudonym for the project. In the book, Russ was referred to by the pseudonym "Dusty"
Scope and ContentsIn this interview, Russ discusses his life in Philadelphia and New York City, with respect to his drug use. He describes his early encounters with the police, and being sent to Pennypack Park House of Corrections and the Pennsylvania Industrial School in his adolescence. He explains how the untimely death of his sister impacted him. Russ discusses how he began to sell heroin in 1939, and how dealing led him to use heroin. He describes his clientele in 1939 in terms of gender, occupation, age, and race. He estimates his average weekly income from selling heroin. He reviews his arrest history, and discusses his time spent incarcerated. Facilities included: Rikers Island, Holmesburg County Prison, Raleigh State Prison, and a prison camp in Statesville, North Carolina. Russ also describes his encounters with the FBI. He describes working at the Philadelphia Navy Yard during World War II, and how it served as a front for his drug trafficking. He discusses transporting heroin from Philadelphia to North Carolina, and compares the drug scene of New York City and North Carolina in terms of drug prices, quality, and the demographic of drug users. Russ discusses his management of a Muslim community in East Fishkill, New York called Medina Salaam from 1958 to 1962. He discusses other jobs he had, such as managing a massage parlor. He compares the quality of heroin between the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. He discusses his friendship with famous jazz musicians such as Charlie Parker, Philly Joe Jones, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, and Chet Baker. Russ concludes by describing his experience in the methadone program
SubjectsAccess ConditionsCopyright by David Courtwright
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