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

20th Anniversary of the Takeover of Alcatraz 20th Anniversary of the Takeover of Alcatraz
Call Number: CD 597Format: CDProducers: Chuy VarelaCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
This is a recording from the 20th Anniversary of the Native American takeover of Alcatraz. Chuy Varela interviews various people at this event on their perspectives of this non-traditional Thanksgiving event and the continued Native American struggle. Also includes Native American prayers, chants and flute music.
Out of Control Lesbian Committee Out of Control Lesbian Committee
Date: 8/28/1995Call Number: CD 791Format: CDProducers: Prison Activist Resource CenterProgram: On The OutsideCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Rita Brown and Jane Segal discuss the Out of Control Lesbian Committee to Support Women Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War. They organize to support women political prisoners, publish a newsletter and are organizing a grassroots movement. The interview includes a discussion of their lives as political activists.
Pelican Bay Prisoners Pelican Bay Prisoners
Date: 1/15/1996Call Number: CD 792Format: CDProducers: Prison Activist Resource CenterProgram: On The OutsideCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Corey Weinstein and Leslie DiBenedetto discuss the Pelican Bay Information Project (PBIP) and its efforts to end prisoner abuse. Also includes an interview with a prisoner who speaks about prisoner resistance, human rights and conditions.
Mass Incarceration and Control Units in Prisons: Mind Control or Social Control? Mass Incarceration and Control Units in Prisons: Mind Control or Social Control?
Date: 10/21/1995Call Number: CD 794Format: CDProducers: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown (CEML)Collection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
About closing the control units at Marion Prison. Nancy Kurshan of CEML (Committee to End the Marion Lockdown), Dr. Alan Berkman who has provided medical care for Black Liberation Army and Panther members as well as AIM activists at Wounded Knee in the 1970s. Berkman also speaks about being a former political prisoner, the prison system and control units as forms of social control which target revolutionary movements. Film segments about former LA gang member and Pelican Bay prisoner Sanyika Shakur. Transcript available for download.