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There are many ways to search the collections of the Freedom Archives. Below is a brief guide that will help you conduct effective searches. Note, anytime you search for anything in the Freedom Archives, the first results that appear will be our digitized items. Information for items that have yet to be scanned or yet to be digitized can still be viewed, but only by clicking on the show link that will display the hidden (non-digitized) items. If you are interested in accessing these non-digitized materials, please email info@freedomarchives.org.
Exploring the Collections without the Search Bar
Under the heading Browse By Collection, you’ll notice most of the Freedom Archives’ major collections. These collections have an image as well as a short description of what you’ll find in that collection. Click on that image to instantly explore that specific collection.
Basic Searching
You can always type what you’re looking for into the search bar. Certain searches may generate hundreds of results, so sometimes it will help to use quotation marks to help narrow down your results. For instance, searching for the phrase Black Liberation will generate all of our holdings that contain the words Black and Liberation, while searching for “Black Liberation” (in quotation marks) will only generate our records that have those two words next to each other.
Advanced Searching
The Freedom Archives search site also understands Boolean search logic. Click on this link for a brief tutorial on how to use Boolean search logic. Our search function also understands “fuzzy searches.” Fuzzy searches utilize the (*) and will find matches even when users misspell words or enter in only partial words for the search. For example, searching for liber* will produce results for liberation/liberate/liberates/etc.
Keyword Searches
You’ll notice that under the heading KEYWORDS, there are a number of words, phrases or names that describe content. Sometimes these are also called “tags.” Clicking on these words is essentially the same as conducting a basic search.

Search Results

Filmacion Esteli Heroico 1/16/90 Ediciones Tisey Filmacion Esteli Heroico 1/16/90 Ediciones Tisey
Date: 1/16/1990Call Number: V 242Format: VHSCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Interviews with female workers of Community-run Women's Day Care Center Collective in Nicaragua serving infants to children 6 years old.
Guatemala: Carmen Camey Guatemala: Carmen Camey
Date: 1/1/1991Call Number: V 383Format: VHSProducers: Trella LaughlinCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Interview with Carmen Camey of the Guatemala’s Human Rights Commission. She appeals to the world to put an end to the huge number of assassinations and disappearances which have taken place in her country since 1954. This genocide/ethnocide is part of a military strategy to remove the base of support for the popular guerilla movement. She also discusses the terrible working and living conditions of poor Guatemalans.
The Iran - Contra Affair: and when did you first know? The Iran - Contra Affair: and when did you first know?
Date: 3/1/1992Call Number: V 384Format: VHSProducers: Trella LaughlinCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Sissy Farenthold and John C. Mattes discuss the Iran-Contra affair, a political scandal in the US which came to light in 1986. It involved President Reagan and his administration which organized and financed an armed opposition group (the Contras) who waged war against Nicaragua to overthrow their government.
Gay and Lesbian Anti-Recruiters Gay and Lesbian Anti-Recruiters
Date: 9/25/1987Call Number: V 423Format: VHSCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Gay and Lesbian anti recruiters protest outside of the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in downtown SF. Carrying banners stating “No Contra Aid” and “No US Intervention in Latin America” and chanting “We’re Dykes and Fags and we’re here to say: Down with the army and CIA” The protesters smear the door and windows of the recruitment center with yellow and red paint protesting US intervention in El Salvador and Honduras. G/L anti recruiters momentarily block the recruitment centers door, but they disperse as SFPD arrive.
Gay and Lesbian Anti-Recruiters - Raw Material Gay and Lesbian Anti-Recruiters - Raw Material
Date: 9/25/1987Call Number: V 425Format: VHSCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Gay and Lesbian anti recruiters protest outside of the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in downtown SF. Carrying banners stating “No Contra Aid” and “No US Intervention in Latin America” and chanting “We’re Dykes and Fags and we’re here to say: Down with the army and CIA” The protesters smear the door and windows of the recruitment center with yellow and red paint protesting US intervention in El Salvador and Honduras. G/L anti recruiters momentarily block the recruitment centers door, but they disperse as SFPD arrive.
Gay and Lesbian Anti-Recruiters - Long Version Gay and Lesbian Anti-Recruiters - Long Version
Date: 9/25/1987Call Number: V 426Format: VHSCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Gay and Lesbian anti recruiters protest outside of the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in downtown SF. Carrying banners stating “No Contra Aid” and “No US Intervention in Latin America” and chanting “We’re Dykes and Fags and we’re here to say: Down with the army and CIA” The protesters smear the door and windows of the recruitment center with yellow and red paint protesting US intervention in El Salvador and Honduras. G/L anti recruiters momentarily block the recruitment centers door, but they disperse as SFPD arrive.
Demos Against US Troops to Honduras - ACT UP/SF Demos Against US Troops to Honduras - ACT UP/SF
Date: 3/16/1988Call Number: V 430Format: VHSCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
News coverage of speak out in Union Square opposing US military intervention in Central America. Features interviews with members of the Nicarauga Information Center and speech by Catherine Cusick of NIC. Members of Pledge of Action occupy Coit Tower attempting to hang a banner. Due to Wind they are not able to finish the action. Protests in 1988 are documented, ranging from speak outs in Union Square, protests outside of the Armed Forces Recruitment Office, marches and police violence in downtown SF. CISPES, Pledge of Resistance, Nicarauga Information Center, and supporters of FSLN protest US troops in the Honduras. Footage of Anti-Contra Aid protestors blocking the federal building met with police violence. Pledge of Action’s peaceful march from the Castro to the Mission District in SF. Calls for an end to US intervention in Central America and funding for AIDS research. Coverage of ACT UP/SF’s direct action protest at St. Mary’s Cathedral in SF. Part of ACT UP’s “Stop the Church” campaign. Stickers stating “No More War on Women” are visible as are “bloody” hand prints on the wall.
Women Against Imperialism-Demos Actions etc. Women Against Imperialism-Demos Actions etc.
Date: 1/1/1992Call Number: V 431Format: VHSCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Mixture of edited pieces shown on cable news media. Coverage of demos/actions and raw footage. 1984 International Women's Day 700 women march connecting abortion rights to US intervention in Central America and the Phillipines and political prisoners. International Day to Stop Violence Against Women. Protest in Union Square chanting "Stop the silence no more violence women fight back!" Rallying support for FSLN and lesbian safe space. International Womens Day 1988 at Pleasanton Prison calling for the release of women political prisoners and all prisoners. Raw footage of arrests outside Armed Forces Recruitment Center in San Francisco. Protesting US intervention in Central America and the Phillipines. International Women's Day 1991 "Wall of Women Against War." Raw footage of women protesting US support of Israel and war in Iraq and Kuwait. International Women's Day 1992-"500 years of Resistance." March down Columbus Ave. in San Francisco to protest "Christopher Columbus Day."
No Pasaran - You Have Struck a Rock No Pasaran - You Have Struck a Rock
Date: 1/1/1985Call Number: V 434Format: VHSCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Anti-Imperialism struggles and Anti-Apartheid protests in Chicago. Links women's Anti-Pass movement in South Africa to struggles in Central America and the "No Pasaran" protests. Also contains recording of 1985 International Women's Day.
Flashpoint Flashpoint
Date: 6/18/1988Call Number: V 440Format: UmaticProducers: LootersCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
The Looters, a Bay-area music group, tour Nicaragua.