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

A Struggle No One Can Stop A Struggle No One Can Stop
Author: Norma ValleYear: 1975Format: TranscriptCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
Norma Valle, Coordinator of the Federation of Puerto Rican Women (FMP), made a speech at a demonstration called by the United Workers Movement which was reprinted as part of an advertisement for the organizations 10-city U.S. tour.
Gov't Network Sterilizes Workers Gov't Network Sterilizes Workers
Publisher: Committee for Puerto Rican DecolonizationFormat: ArticleCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
A continuation of an article about the history of mass sterilization in Puerto Rico but focuses on the problems with the current health system and includes the results of a 1968 study on sterilzation.
35% Puerto Rican Women Sterilized 35% Puerto Rican Women Sterilized
Publisher: Committee for Puerto Rican DecolonizationYear: 1974Volume Number: Vol. 2-5Format: ArticleCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
An article from the Committee for Puerto Rican Decolonization in New York exposing the massive sterilization program carried out by the U.S. Government and the Rockefeller Foundation in response to the "population problem" in Puerto Rico that was seen as responsible for widespread unemployment.
Women in the Colonial Society: Oppression Women in the Colonial Society: Oppression
Author: Margarita MergalFormat: ExcerptCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
An overview of the socialist revolutionary struggle in Puerto Rico but focusing on the role of women in the struggle as they experience specific forms of oppression and exploitation.
Viva el 8 de Marzo!! Viva La Mujer Revolucionaria Puertorriquena!! Viva el 8 de Marzo!! Viva La Mujer Revolucionaria Puertorriquena!!
Author: Alejandrina TorresPublisher: Que Ondee SolaYear: 1981Format: TranscriptCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
A written record of the speech by Alejandria Torres representing the National Committee to Free Puerto Rican Prisoners of War at International Women's Day made in 1981. This speech was reprinted in Que Ondee Sola, date unknown.
Puerto Rico: The Cost of Colonialism Puerto Rico: The Cost of Colonialism
Publisher: Fellowship of Reconciliation Task Force on Latin America and the CaribbeanYear: 1992Format: ReportCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
A report from the interfaith organization, the Fellowship of Reconciliation Task Force, detailing the harmful effects of colonization and militarization in Puerto Rico and attempting to inspire others to act against injustice in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico Background Information Sheet Puerto Rico Background Information Sheet
Publisher: New Movement in Solidarity with Puerto Rican IndependenceYear: 1980Format: ReportCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
An overview of the history of colonization and oppression in Puerto Rico from the New Movement in Soidarity with Puerto Rican Independence.
Puerto Rico Our People's History Puerto Rico Our People's History
Format: MonographCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
A monograph that gives a short history of the Puerto Rican people beginning with the Spanish conquest and ending with the current social ills caused by oppression. Slight damage to the back cover.
Puerto Rico A Colony of the United States Puerto Rico A Colony of the United States
Author: Puerto Rican Youth MovementPublisher: New England Free PressYear: 1969Format: MonographCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
Describes the role of colonization in Puerto Rico's history focusing on the contributions of Nationalist leaders and the consequences of their imprisonment.
Are Puerto Ricans a "National Minority" Are Puerto Ricans a "National Minority"
Author: James BlautPublisher: Journal of Contemporary Puerto Rican ThoughtYear: 1975Volume Number: Vol. 2 No. 2-3Format: ArticleCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
An essay arguing against the view of the far left in America that Puerto Ricans are a "National Minority".