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

Henry Cisneros Speech Henry Cisneros Speech
Date: 5/2/1990Call Number: CV 018Format: CassetteProducers: Chuy VarelaCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Henry Cisneros delivers a speech on the merging of Latin and American culture for immigrant populations and how that merging will prepare people for positions of leadership. *Note: This tape contains only part 2 of speech.
Zapatista Support Rally Zapatista Support Rally
Date: 5/20/1994Call Number: CV 019Format: Cass A & BProducers: Chuy VarelaCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
This rally in SF is part of a tour to support the EZLN approx. Five months after their Jan 1 uprising. Zapatista representatives Manuel Miron and Pedro Castillo give speeches and answer questions on the necessity of the Zapatistas' movement and their purpose, especially in response to structural violence against Chiapas, indigenous peoples and campesinos in the form of undemocratic rule since the 1910 revolution and neoliberal policies like NAFTA. Other poetry and music is also performed, including a statement issued by Leonard Peltier to the EZLN (05/09/94) in solidarity with their struggles.
Henry Cisneros: United States Demographic Explosion (Part 1 of 2) Henry Cisneros: United States Demographic Explosion (Part 1 of 2)
Date: 5/1/1990Call Number: CV 015Format: Cass A & BCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Henry Cisneros speaks on four interrelated issues: the reality of the U.S. demographic changes, economics, immigration and the need for local leadership to promote local changes. He encouraged especially Latino students, to be leaders and to get involved in public service.
500 Years of Chicano History 500 Years of Chicano History
Call Number: CV 033Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: KPFACollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Interview with Elizabeth Martinez in 1992 about her book "500 Years of Chicano History". Themes are "what is Chicano?" and positive images of Chicanos.
Interview with Jim Gonzalez Interview with Jim Gonzalez
Date: 10/24/1989Call Number: CV 040AFormat: Cass AProducers: Chuy VarelaProgram: KPFACollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Interview with Jim Gonzalez on issues concerning the Latino community such as the grape boycott, INS raids, immigration rights, affordable housing in San Francisco, sponsorship for Latino community events and police brutality, specifically the beating of Dolores Huerta.
Latino Alcohol Policy and Advocacy Action in California: Keynote Presentation by Jerry Tello Latino Alcohol Policy and Advocacy Action in California: Keynote Presentation by Jerry Tello
Date: 7/20/1994Call Number: CV 050Format: Cass A & BCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Jerry Tello uses storytelling and humor to talk about issues such as alcohol and drugs in the Latino community.
Latino Alcohol Policy and Advocacy Action in California Latino Alcohol Policy and Advocacy Action in California
Date: 7/19/1994Call Number: CV 051Format: Cass A & BCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Speech by Sylvia Castillo on the importance of being a policymaker, even without a credential. Castillo encourages people to use their history to become effective policymakers as well as teach others in their community to do the same. (First part same as CV 048) Presentation by William Vega from his study on "Perinatal Substance Exposure in California," which examines the drug and alcohol used before delivery by women. Vega explains the results of his research and answers questions.
Fuerza Unida Boycotts Levis Fuerza Unida Boycotts Levis
Call Number: CV 060AFormat: Cass AProducers: Chuy VarelaCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Workers demand Levis to stop sending jobs overseas, monetary compensation from Levis for loss of jobs, and to meet Levis' Chief Executive director Bob Haus.
Guillermo Gomez-Peña Performance and Interview 1991 Guillermo Gomez-Peña Performance and Interview 1991
Date: 11/8/1991Call Number: CV 064AFormat: Cass AProgram: Cal PerformancesCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Guillermo Gomez-Peña stages a performance art piece focusing on shifting and paradoxical cultural, social and economic borders in the 1990's. Legacy of Columbus for the 1992 quincentenary. Performance followed by interview with Chuy Varela on immigration, divisions among Latinos, and economic support for multiculturalism and art.
Watsonville Earthquake Victims and Relief Watsonville Earthquake Victims and Relief
Date: 10/22/1989Call Number: CV 072Format: Cass A & BCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Chuy Varela interviews victims, volunteers, and city officials in Watsonville one week after the earthquake turned thousands homeless and in need of disaster relief. Includes interview with Oscar Rios, farmworkers advocates, community health organization workers, and victims living in Tent Cities. Interviews in Spanish and English.