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

The San Quentin Six The San Quentin Six
Date: 6/17/1974Call Number: PM 001Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Claude Marks, Mark SchwartzProgram: Nothing Is More Precious Than/SpecialCollection: San Quentin Six
Update on civil suit filed against California prison system by the San Quentin 6. Program features background on the 6 as well as George Jackson. Actuality of Jackson, Fania Jordan, Johnny Larry Spain, James “Doc” Holiday, Luis “Bato” Talamantez, Hugo Pinell, Michael Burgener, Fleeta Drumgo, and David Johnson. Ends with Johnny Cash song denouncing San Quentin.
Luis Talamantez interview Luis Talamantez interview
Call Number: PM 014Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProgram: Nothing Is More Precious ThanCollection: San Quentin Six
Interview with several long inserts with Luis Talamantez/one of San Quentin 6, interviewer may be Fania Jordan. Talamantez mentions Mark Merin as good defense attorney.
The San Quentin Six Sue the Prison System The San Quentin Six Sue the Prison System
Date: 6/17/1974Call Number: PM 269Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Claude Marks, Mark SchwartzProgram: Nothing Is More Precious Than/SpecialCollection: San Quentin Six
Some of the San Quentin Six and others speak about their upcoming suit on brutality within the California prison system. They describe prisoner treatment-including shackles, tear gas, degradation, and specifically the Adjustment Center Unit. Includes Johnny Larry Spain, Luis "Bato" Talamantez, James "Doc" Holiday, Hugo Pinell, Michael Burgener, Fleeta Drumgo, David Johnson. Interspersed is commentary from lawyer Fania Davis Jordan. George Jackson's voice opens and closes the program.
Court Minutes from the San Quentin Six Trial Court Minutes from the San Quentin Six Trial
Format: CompilationCollection: San Quentin Six
Court Minutes from March 1975 pre-trial to December 29, 1975.