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

Statements by James Baldwin, Jean Genet, Philippe Sollers Statements by James Baldwin, Jean Genet, Philippe Sollers
Date: 1/1/1971Call Number: PM 060Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProgram: French film companyCollection: George Jackson
Statements after the murder of George Jackson in French and English. Baldwin is stunning!
James Baldwin on Angela Davis James Baldwin on Angela Davis
Call Number: KP 071Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProgram: Pacific of Program ServicesCollection: Angela Davis
Interview with James Baldwin on the issues surrounding Angela Davis' case. Baldwin explains Europeans' views on this case and the connection between the Civil Rights Movement to the larger international human struggle against colonialism. He shares his own opinions on America and its relationship to the world. The interview ends with Baldwin reading "An Open Letter to My Sister, Angela Y. Davis."
Black Writers - Horace Cayton, LeRoi Jones, and Ossie Davis Black Writers - Horace Cayton, LeRoi Jones, and Ossie Davis
Date: 1/1/1967Call Number: CE 124Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
Interviews with Horace Cayton, LeRoi Jones, and Ossie Davis discussing the conditions of Blacks in relation to white power, liberalism, socialism and war. Also distinction between violent and nonviolent approaches to organizing, and the impact of Black writers on social movements.
Horace Cayton Address - Part 2 Horace Cayton Address - Part 2
Date: 8/9/1964Call Number: CE 139Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
On the identity of Blacks in America, also the ability to seek out a new identity through struggle and hardship. Also a historical analysis of Black identity, including the Back to Africa Movement.
Horace Cayton Horace Cayton
Date: 8/9/1964Call Number: CE 140Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
About the subjugation of Blacks, the role of the church in the Black community, and the stereotypes Blacks face in America. Also about the psychology of shame, phobia of Blacks, and the importance of mass social movements towards improving Black conditions. A historical analysis of Black identity, including the Back to Africa Movement.
Arna Bontemps and Kenneth Rexroth - Writers Panel - Part 1 Arna Bontemps and Kenneth Rexroth - Writers Panel - Part 1
Date: 12/20/1964Call Number: CE 149Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
The meaning of Black literature and literary tradition to the literary community in 1964 - a discussion with four young Black writers.
Arna Bontemps and Kenneth Rexroth - Writers Panel - Part 2 Arna Bontemps and Kenneth Rexroth - Writers Panel - Part 2
Date: 12/20/1964Call Number: CE 150Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
The meaning of Black literature and literary tradition to the literary community in 1964 - a discussion with four young Black writers.
Arna Bontemps and Kenneth Rexroth - Writers Panel - Part 3 Arna Bontemps and Kenneth Rexroth - Writers Panel - Part 3
Date: 12/20/1964Call Number: CE 151Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
The meaning of Black literature and literary tradition to the literary community in 1964 - a discussion with four young Black writers.
Hughes and Blues 1 (Fifth Saturday) Hughes and Blues 1 (Fifth Saturday)
Date: 7/30/1988Call Number: FI 259Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Lincoln Bergman, Emiliano Echeverria, Chuy VarelaProgram: Hughes and BluesCollection: Freedom is a Constant Struggle
First in a series on Langston Hughes. Includes oetry as well as excerpts from prose pieces, including one on "how I became a writer." Pays tribute to James Baldwin and John Oliver Killens, both of whom had died recently.
Hughes and Blues 3 Hughes and Blues 3
Date: 1/30/1988Call Number: FI 262Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Lincoln Bergman, Chuy VarelaProgram: Freedom Is A Constant StruggleCollection: Freedom is a Constant Struggle
Tribute. not only to Langston Hughes--also James Baldwin and John Oliver Killens, both of whom had recently died. Narrator reads Baldwin's "Letter to My Nephew." and comments on novels of Killens. He also reads Hughes' poem, "Mother to Son" (life for me ain't been no crystal stair) and a piece from Simple Speaks His Mind on the idea of a "Negro President."