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

Huey Says Panthers are Not Parties to Extortion Huey Says Panthers are Not Parties to Extortion
Author: Huey NewtonPublisher: The Black Panther PartyDate: 2/14/1974Volume Number: 14-FebFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
A letter from Huey P. Newton of the Black Panther Party to Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Hearst. The letter volunteers the Black Panthers to distribute the food as part of the bargain from the SLA to return Patricia Hearst to her family.
Revolution? -- Or Education Through the Media Revolution? -- Or Education Through the Media
Author: Bernard R. SmallwoodDate: 2/19/1974Volume Number: 19-FebFormat: ArticleCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This article comments on the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst and the role of mass media in meeting the left's demands.
Weather Underground February 20, 1974 Weather Underground February 20, 1974
Author: Bernadine DohrnPublisher: Weather UndergroundDate: 2/20/1974Volume Number: 20-FebFormat: PamphletCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This pamphlet is from the Weather Underground and commends the SLA for kidnapping Patricia Hearst in order to give food to the poor people. Bernadine Dohrn offers four points in response to the war between the rich and the poor.
BGF solidarity with SLA open letter BGF solidarity with SLA open letter
Publisher: BGFDate: 3/1974Volume Number: MarchFormat: CommuniqueCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This communique is from the Black Guerrilla Family that calls for an end of sufferng and the oppression of the people. It outlines what oppression looks like, supports the SLA in their movement, and calls for action against oppression to be taken, but to be objective when taking action.
Political Prisoners of California Letter to SLA Political Prisoners of California Letter to SLA
Author: Political Prisoners of CaliforniaDate: 3/1/1974Volume Number: 1-MarFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
A letter from Poltical Prisoners of California that thanks the SLA taking action and kidnapping Patricia Hearst because it resulted in food being given to the poor.
Text of Debray letter to Patty Text of Debray letter to Patty
Author: Regis DebrayDate: 4/12/1974Volume Number: 12-AprFormat: ArticleCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This letter written by Regis Debray addresses Patricia Hearst's decision to take on the name of Tania and honors the real Tania who died fighting for revolution in Bolivia.
Patty Hearst communique Patty Hearst communique
Author: Patty Hearst/TaniaPublisher: SLAYear: 1974Format: CommuniqueCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This communique was written by Patricia Hearst, Teko, Fahizah, and Cinque. Hearst announces her joining the Symbionese Liberation Army to fight for the freedom of oppressed people and her decision to take up the name Tania. Teko discusses the need for white men to join the revolution and to stop opressing. Fahizah gives background on their General Field Marshall Cinque. Finally, Cinque calls for people to take up arms in the revolution and talks about the Hearst operations.
The Last SLA Statement: an interview with Russ Joe Bill & Emily The Last SLA Statement: an interview with Russ Joe Bill & Emily
Authors: Emily Harris, Bill Harris, Russell Little, Joseph RemiroPublisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveYear: 1976Format: PamphletCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
An interview with Emily Harris, Bill Harris, Russell Little and Joseph Remiro who were all members of the Symbionese Liberation Army. The interview follows the history of the SLA from the formation of the group in August 1973 until its declared end in 1976. The interview comments on the assassination of Marcus Foster, the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst, the Hibernia Bank Robbery, and the shootout on May 17th, 1974. The members also comment on their views of future revolutionary movements.
Free Patricia! Vigil for the Release of Patricia Hearst Free Patricia! Vigil for the Release of Patricia Hearst
Format: FlyerCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
A flyer for a vigil demanding the release of Patricia Hearst.
Communique from the United People's Liberation Army (Transcript) Communique from the United People's Liberation Army (Transcript)
Authors: Chunga Abdul Asad and ChakaFormat: CommuniqueCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This communique indicates that the Symbionese Liberation Army has joined with the Guerrilla Organizations to create the United People's Liberation Army in response to the killing of the six SLA members. Also, it commemorates those six slain SLA members and also honors Patricia Hearst.