Search Help

How does this work?
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

Peace by Piece: Youth Take Action Peace by Piece: Youth Take Action
Date: 5/14/2001Call Number: V 055Format: VHSProducers: Green Fire ProductionsCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
A compilation of the stories of six remarkable young people from Oregon who have transcended violence, racism or stereotyping in their own lives and who made a decision not only to help themselves, but also to help others break the cycles of anger and violence.
Paul Robeson, The First 100 Years: A Celebration of His Life and Legacy Paul Robeson, The First 100 Years: A Celebration of His Life and Legacy
Date: 4/5/1998Call Number: V 146Format: VHSProducers: WBAI Radio-NYCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Begins with a video montage with narration on Robeson’s life, including excerpts from his speeches and interviews, historic film footage. Followed by speakers who pay tribute to Robeson; musical performances. Concludes with a panel discussion and questions from audience. Dr. Charles Wright is seated on the stage but is not shown speaking.
Paul Robeson, The First 100 Years: A Celebration of His Life and Legacy Paul Robeson, The First 100 Years: A Celebration of His Life and Legacy
Date: 4/5/1998Call Number: V 147Format: VHSProducers: WBAI Radio-NYCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Begins with a video montage with narration on Robeson’s life, including excerpts from his speeches and interviews, historic film footage. Followed by speakers who pay tribute to Robeson; musical performances. Concludes with a panel discussion and questions from audience. Dr. Charles Wright is seated on the stage but is not shown speaking.
Brian Wilson Train Incident Brian Wilson Train Incident
Date: 9/1/1987Call Number: V 189Collection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
WARNING!! THIS TAPE CONTAINS GRUESOME IMAGERY!! This video contains footage of the Brian Wilson Incident. On September 1, 1987, nonviolent activists, primarily from the religious community and Veterans For Peace, gathered at the Concord Naval Weapons Station to announce the commencement of a fast and to attempt to block a train shipment of arms headed for Central America. The train, which was notified of their presence does not stop and runs over activist Brian Wilson. It was later determined that the train was ordered not stop. Brian Wilson survived the incident, suffering the loss of his legs and severe skull fracture. He continues his antiwar activism. This video contains gruesome imagery of the incident and its immediate aftermath.
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.
Red Dragons protest war toys - Geronimo Pratt Parade and Press Conference Red Dragons protest war toys - Geronimo Pratt Parade and Press Conference
Date: 12/1/1986Call Number: V 529Format: Hi-8Producers: David SternCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Red Dragons, a children's group, protest against the selling of war toys like Rambo and GI Joe because they promote war as normal and fun. They attempt to go into a toy store to show the owners their petition and the owners then call San Francisco police to break up the demonstration. The Committee to Free Geronimo Pratt picket outside San Francisco's World Trade Center where the California Parole Board hears cases. Press conference held afterwards features actor Danny Glover, Pratt's attorney Stuart Hanlon, Pratt's wife Ashaki Pratt, and various activists from prisoner rights organizations, all calling for the release of Geronimo.