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

From "We Shall Overcome" to Nicaragua From "We Shall Overcome" to Nicaragua
Date: 5/11/1985Call Number: FI 055Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Lincoln Bergman, EEProgram: Freedom Is A Constant StruggleCollection: Freedom is a Constant Struggle
The childhood influence of "We Shall Overcome," on Lincoln Bergman, Report on Nicaragua with songs No Pasaran and El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido.
The Life of Fannie Lou Hamer The Life of Fannie Lou Hamer
Date: 1/5/1979Call Number: KP 018Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProgram: Life of Fannie Lou HamerCollection: Voices from the South
This recording focuses on Fannie Lou Hamer, known as the lady who was "sick and tired of being sick and tired." This is a tribute to her life and work with Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and the struggls she engaged in throughout her life.
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.
Nothing is More Precious Than Nothing is More Precious Than
Date: 11/29/1975Call Number: NI 090Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Lincoln Bergman, Claude MarksProgram: Nothing Is More Precious ThanCollection: “Nothing is More Precious Than…” a news magazine including music and poetry
Dino Butler, Bob Robideau, James Eagle, and Leonard Peltier indicted in death of FBI agents. Alcatraz occupation anniversary tribute, with Richard Oakes, John Trudell. Shooting death of Richard Oakes. Tribute to Rosa Parks.
Richard Dhoruba (Bin Wahad) Moore - Tape 1 of 2 Richard Dhoruba (Bin Wahad) Moore - Tape 1 of 2
Date: 6/16/1973Call Number: PM 143Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Marc SchwartzProgram: KPFACollection: Dhoruba Bin Wahad
Part one (part two - PM 145) of a two-part interview with Richard Dharuba (Bin Wahad) Moore from prison at the House of Detention in New York. Moore speaks in defense of the Black Liberation Army and the revolutionaries who have been imprisoned or killed in the struggle. The role of the New York police department is highlighted in the killing of Frank Fields, Anthony White and others. The media portrayal of Sam Napier’s death as the result of a feud between rival Panther factions is examined. Without validating this claim Moore discusses his perception of the strengths and weaknesses of the movement on the East and West coasts. Moore criticizes the Rx Program, a “behavioral modification” prison experiment which among other things prescribes the liberal usage of methadone. He relates this to the effects of drug addiction in the black community and what the proper response should be. Throughout the interview the ideology of the Black Liberation Army, Black Liberation Army, and it’s influence on other progressive movements is elucidated.
Albert Thrasher on the status of the Dawson 5 Albert Thrasher on the status of the Dawson 5
Call Number: PM 180Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Heber DrayerCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
Albert Thrasher, from the Support Committee for the Dawson 5 on a tour to gain supporters, discusses the details of the case and trial in January 1976 of JD Davenport, Roosevelt Watson, Henderson Watson, Johnny Jackson, and James Jackson, Jr., five young Black men from Dawson, Georgia accused of robbing and murdering a white foreman.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Last Speech Martin Luther King Jr.’s Last Speech
Date: 4/5/1968Call Number: KP 052Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr.,’s last speech was given in Memphis, Tennessee. He starts by saying, “Something is happening in Memphis, something is happening in the world!” He goes on to explain how lucky he is that God allowed him to be in the world in the 1960’s, and how he with God’s grace will rally the people and bring justice to Negroes in America. He is not afraid for the people will get to the promised land and his eyes have “Seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!”
Malcolm X Speech Malcolm X Speech
Call Number: KP 053Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Malcolm X
This speech delivered by Malcolm X calls on African-Americans to create a sense of black nationalism among themselves. He claims that there will be no help from Democrats, Republicans or Americans, and that African- Americans should proceed with their revolution, “Freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody.” The ballot or the bullet, liberty or death. (This record was edited a bit, with two snippets of other speeches interjected, in the same vein as Malcolm X’s speech.)
Dick Elman interviews Malcolm X in 1961 Dick Elman interviews Malcolm X in 1961
Call Number: KP 054Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Malcolm X
Dick Elman interviews Malcolm X in 1961 on police brutality in Los Angeles, CA. Malcolm X explains what happened the previous Friday, when police entered a Mosque with their guns flaring, severely injuring 7 men, and killing an official of the Mosque. He calls on the FBI to stop investigating outside the country, and to start paying attention to the “Gestapo tactics used by police officers in the United States of America.”
Paul Robeson sings Paul Robeson sings
Call Number: KP 057Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson, sings “Joe Hill”.