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

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.
For the Symbionese Liberation Army For the Symbionese Liberation Army
Author: A Sister in the WeatherundergroundDate: 3/3/1974Volume Number: 3-MarFormat: PoemCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
A poem written by "a sister in the Weather Underground" to the Symbionese Liberation Army. The poem warns of who the real terrorists are and supports revolutionary struggle.
Message from the People to the SLA Message from the People to the SLA
Author: Members of the Poor Oppressed Communities of the Bay AreaDate: 3/31/1974Volume Number: 31-MarFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This letter from the poor oppressed communities of the Bay Area was written March 31, 1974. It addresses demands from the Symbionese Liberation Army to help their communities after the Hearst donations.
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.
For the SLA For the SLA
Author: Cassie McGeeDate: 5/20/1974Volume Number: 20-MayFormat: PoemCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
A poem remembering the fallen members of the SLA: Cinque, Nancy, Angela, Willy, Camilla and Mizmoon.
Communique from Combat Unit Four Black Liberation Army Communique from Combat Unit Four Black Liberation Army
Date: 5/31/1974Volume Number: 31-MayFormat: CommuniqueCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This communique from Combat Unit Four of the Black Liberation Army calls for all revolutionary groups to unite and strike against oppressor all throughout the country.
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.