Engaging in a new space is always a daunting task, at least it typically is for me. It is why my very first moments at The Freedom Archives as an intern during summer of 2024 were filled with an abundance of nerves. I had been opting for something less caffeinated than my usual cup of coffee during my initial mornings in the space as I knew it would lead to jitters otherwise. Such nerves were part of my usual bodily reactions, but something that slowly melted away. This is especially after a couple of weeks of orientation where I grasped onto a much needed foundation of what the remainder of the internship would look like: becoming accustomed to the publicly available online database, getting familiar with the archive’s collections as well as aisle contents, and understanding the mechanisms of audio materials from cassettes to reel to reels. Listening to audio materials was an especially important process for me as such tactile encounters would have been slim to learn about elsewhere. Not just listening to reel to reel tapes for example, but preserving them to ensure their presence exceeds our very own.
Having spent about a year working at a university library prior to Freedom Archives it has been fun to observe the distinctions as well as similarities between the two. My consensus after interning for a few months is this: no library or archival space is the same. Freedom Archives advertises itself as a community space, and rings true by experience. There is something magical about the daily bustle of folks (researchers, volunteers, community members) working elbow to elbow with materials that too emulate a certain community essence. This is due to the fact that most of the materials found in the archive are created in solidarity with neighboring, international movements for and by the people.
There are substantive, wide-ranging resources for any and every interest with materials dated from the 1960s through the 90s. There is always room for expansion of one’s comprehension of certain points in history, in addition to the occasional rabbit hole. Every five hour shift I was frequently learning more working directly with primary sources such as 1974 Women: A Journal of Liberation and The Looter’s return from Nicaragua. The Women periodical is housed in the archive’s Feminism and Women’s Liberation collection on androgyny detailing personal narratives of queer women including images and poetry. I had never seen anything like it, and it felt comforting knowing that there is a history of women coming to terms with androgyny and queerness — much like the present day. The Looter’s Back From Nicaragua tapes were just as exciting as it was a learning experience for me. This five-part video series was interesting, especially considering that it led to a dive into the Nicaragua collection learning more about the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) as well as a conversation with Nina Serrano, one of the founders of The Freedom Archives.
In fact, such conversations are welcomed with open arms. In an environment where such is encouraged, this hub of knowledge and community building always keeps things tender. I am very grateful for my time here, and hope to continue volunteering it far after this internship meets its end. There is still so much to learn as it relates to archiving accounts of resistance across the collections housed here. In addition, to continue growing in an environment that is friendly, light, and supportive. So, it is safe to say that I have been able to comfortably return to my usual morning brew in a space that appreciates their coffee just as they do their political work.
— Anyssa T.
