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

Jerry Rubin's Letter to the U.S. - and SLA Jerry Rubin's Letter to the U.S. - and SLA
Author: Jerry RubinDate: 2/17/1974Volume Number: 17-FebFormat: ArticleCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This letter was written by Yippie leader Jerry Rubin addresses the people of the U.S. and the SLA. Rubin calls for the SLA to capitalize on the moment of power they had to create a mass movement towards social justice.
Big Daddy asks Cinque to Talk Big Daddy asks Cinque to Talk
Author: Big Daddy aka YajiumaDate: 3/4/1974Volume Number: 4-MarFormat: ArticleCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This is a letter directed to one of the Symbionese Liberation Army's leaders Cinque. The author blames the SLA and their actions for many black prisoners having to suffer worse consequences in prison.
An Activist Radical Views the SLA An Activist Radical Views the SLA
Author: Tom HaydenPublisher: Los Angeles TimesDate: 5/26/1974Volume Number: 26-MayFormat: ArticleCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This article appearing in the Los Angeles Times on May 26, 1974 was written by Tom Hayde and is an overview of the Symbionese Liberation Army after the shootout on May 17. Hayden gives the negatives and the positives of the SLA and his own response on the shootout.
Who Are the Real Patsies? Who Are the Real Patsies?
Author: Rex WeinerPublisher: Berkeley BarbYear: 1974Volume Number: July-AugustFormat: ArticleCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This newspaper article is featured in The Guardian and comments on those who criticize the legitimacy of the Symbionese Liberation Army. The article dissects Mae Brussell's conspiracy theories and ultimately discredits them. The article argues in opposition to the SLA "discrediting the left" presented by Mae Brussell and Paul Krassner.
The War for Patty The War for Patty
Publisher: NewsweekDate: 5/27/1974Volume Number: 27-MayFormat: ArticleCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This article by Newsweek recaps the Los Angeles shootout of six SLA members. It outlines the day of the shootout and predicts where Patty Hearst may have escaped to.
Fiery End for Six of Patty's Captors Fiery End for Six of Patty's Captors
Publisher: TimeDate: 5/27/1974Volume Number: 27-MayFormat: ArticleCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This article by Time Magazine reports about those in the SLA killed in the Los Angeles Shootout. It gives a biography about each of the known dead members and a description of the scene and shootout.
The Dragnet Spreads for Patty The Dragnet Spreads for Patty
Publisher: NewsweekDate: 6/3/1974Volume Number: 3-JunFormat: ArticleCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This article by Newsweek is an overview of the aftermath of the SLA shootout in Los Angeles.
Apocalypse for the SLA: The Revolution was Televised Apocalypse for the SLA: The Revolution was Televised
Author: Tim FindleyPublisher: Rolling StoneDate: 6/20/1974Volume Number: 20-JunFormat: ArticleCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This article was written in response to the May 17, 1974 shootings of six members of the SLA. It gives a biographical snippet of the six members who were killed, Patricia Hearst, and Bill & Emily Harris.