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

Radio report of Lolita's arrest in 1954, including her statement Radio report of Lolita's arrest in 1954, including her statement
Publisher: Freedom ArchivesCollection: La Lucha Continua: a talking mural in San Francisco
Interview with Lebron after her arrest for the shooting of US Congressman Alvin Bentley in 1954.
Excerpt from "A Litany for Survival" Excerpt from "A Litany for Survival"
Publisher: Freedom ArchivesCollection: La Lucha Continua: a talking mural in San Francisco
Audrey Lorde reads her poem, "A litany for survival" from "The Black Unicorn".
Patrice Lumumba Speaks Patrice Lumumba Speaks
Patrice Emery Lumumba was born July 2, 1925, Onalua, Belgian Congo [now Congo (Kinshasa)] and was killed on January 1961, in the Katanga province. He was an African nationalist leader and the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (June -- September 1960). Forced out of office during a political crisis, he was assassinated a short time later.
Archbishop Oscar Romero Archbishop Oscar Romero
Publisher: Freedom ArchivesCollection: La Lucha Continua: a talking mural in San Francisco
Oscar romero speaks on involving himself as clergy in the people's struggle.
A Vast Prison A Vast Prison
Publisher: Freedom ArchivesCollection: La Lucha Continua: a talking mural in San Francisco
Said likens the pervasive Israeli occupation in Palestine to a "vast prison".
Legacy of Torture: Trailer Legacy of Torture: Trailer
Publisher: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Freedom Archives Productions
In 2005 several former members of the Black Panther were held in contempt and jailed for refusing to testify before a San Francisco Grand Jury investigating a police shooting that took place in 1971. The government alleged that Black radical groups were involved in the 34-year old case in which two men armed with shotguns attacked the Ingleside Police Station resulting in the death of a police sergeant and the injuring of a civilian clerk. In 1973, thirteen alleged "Black militants" were arrested in New Orleans, purportedly in connection with the San Francisco events. Some of them were tortured for several days by law enforcement authorities, in striking similarity to the horrors visited upon detainees in Guant�namo and Abu Ghraib. In 1975, a Federal Court in San Francisco threw out all of the evidence obtained in New Orleans. The two lead San Francisco Police Department investigators from over 30 years ago, along with FBI agents, have re-opened the case. Rather than submit to proceedings they felt were abusive of the law and the Constitution, five men chose to stand in contempt of court and were sent to jail. They were released when the Grand Jury term expired, but have been told by prosecutors that "it isn't over yet."
Chile: Promise of Freedom - pt. 1 Chile: Promise of Freedom - pt. 1
Publisher: AK Press, Chile 30 Collective, The Freedom ArchivesCollection: Freedom Archives Productions
A documentary and audio reflection on the September 11, 1973 military coup against the democratically-elected government of Salvador Allende. It features the voices of historic participants - including Isabel Allende, Ariel Dorfman, Isabel Letelier, Rene Castro and Joan Jara - who chronicle events surrounding the rise of the Allende-led government, its violent overthrow by US-backed Chilean military forces, and the coup's aftermath. Archival recordings the attack on the presidential palace, Allende's speech at the UN, as well as remarks by Richard Nixon and Henry Kissenger. Chilean music and historic sound recordings bring this story to life for today's listeners.
Chile: Promise of Freedom - pt. 2 Chile: Promise of Freedom - pt. 2
Publisher: AK Press, Chile 30 Collective, The Freedom ArchivesCollection: Freedom Archives Productions
A documentary and audio reflection on the September 11, 1973 military coup against the democratically-elected government of Salvador Allende. It features the voices of historic participants - including Isabel Allende, Ariel Dorfman, Isabel Letelier, Rene Castro and Joan Jara - who chronicle events surrounding the rise of the Allende-led government, its violent overthrow by US-backed Chilean military forces, and the coup's aftermath. Archival recordings the attack on the presidential palace, Allende's speech at the UN, as well as remarks by Richard Nixon and Henry Kissenger. Chilean music and historic sound recordings bring this story to life for today's listeners.
Promotional Clip for Chile: Promise of Freedom Promotional Clip for Chile: Promise of Freedom
Publisher: AK Press, Chile 30 Collective, The Freedom ArchivesCollection: Freedom Archives Productions
A documentary and audio reflection on the September 11, 1973 military coup against the democratically-elected government of Salvador Allende. It features the voices of historic participants - including Isabel Allende, Ariel Dorfman, Isabel Letelier, Rene Castro and Joan Jara - who chronicle events surrounding the rise of the Allende-led government, its violent overthrow by US-backed Chilean military forces, and the coup's aftermath. Archival recordings the attack on the presidential palace, Allende's speech at the UN, as well as remarks by Richard Nixon and Henry Kissenger. Chilean music and historic sound recordings bring this story to life for today's listeners.
George Jackson: 30 years later George Jackson: 30 years later
Publisher: Freedom ArchivesProgram: Prisons on FireCollection: Freedom Archives Productions
30 Years After the Murder of George Jackson: A 29-minute documentary about the origins of the modern anti-prison movement Master Mix for Prisons on Fire CD August 21st, 2001 marked the 30th anniversary of the murder of George Jackson in San Quentin prison. Through his writings and leadership inside, George Jackson embodies the legacy of the prison movement. Who was George Jackson? Why was he targeted by the prison administration? What makes him important to the anti-prison movement today? Featuring historical materials, including George Jackson, from the Freedom Archives. Other voices include: Angela Davis, UC Santa Cruz professor, who supported George & Jonathan Jackson David Hilliard, former Black Panther Party leader Ruchell Magee, prison activist and leader, still in prison for his political activities Georgia Jackson, mother of George and Jonathan Jackson Harry Belafonte, performer and human rights activist James Baldwin, outspoken writer and social activist David Johnson, Hugo Pinell, Luis Talamantez and Sundiata Tate, all charged with the San Quentin rebellion following the murder of George Jackson Narrated by Jonathan Jackson, Jr. Knowing what happened in the early 1970s prison movement is essential for youth, communities of color and progressives to effectively confront today's unprecedented prison growth. We bring you this history through the voices of the people who were there - taking young people back to a time that, in today's context, seems unimaginable.