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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.
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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

International Hotel KPFA Broadcast International Hotel KPFA Broadcast
Call Number: CD 327Format: CDProducers: Norman Jayo with Third World News ProductionCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
April 1977 pre-eviction broadcast of KPFA audio documentary on the International Hotel struggle. Fully produced and edited program with narration, music, interviews and recorded speeches. Detailed chronological account of the events leading to the eviction which discusses the involvement of Milton Meyer, Walter Shorenstein, Sherrif Richard Hongisto, Mayor George Moscone, The Four Seas Investment Corporation and Judge Ira Brown. Includes interviews and/or audio of tenants Emil de Guzman, Nita Rader, Wahat Tampao and Felix Ayson and city officials Moscone and Hongisto. Discusses the affordable housing struggle, the "Buy-Back" plan that was proposed to the tenants, how the power of Eminent Domain was used for the first time to try and prevent an eviction, Hongisto's contempt of court, and how the greater progressive community joined by the thousands to support the tenants by creating human chains around the building. Program ends asking listeners to support the struggle of the I-Hotel tenants.
Who’s Who in Asia America: The I-Hotel Tenants (EH) Who’s Who in Asia America: The I-Hotel Tenants (EH)
Date: 8/13/1978Call Number: CD 442Format: CDProducers: KFRCProgram: Who’s Who in Asia AmericaCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Edited radio retrospective of the 1977 International Hotel Eviction in San Francisco. Three former tenants, Fred Dela Cruz, Mary Lai, and Mr. Yip reflect on their eviction night experiences and speak of their continuing affordable housing struggle, now in its 10th year. Ends with a male, accompanied by music, reading a poem about the I-Hotel Eviction.
I Hotel 2nd edit 30 files (ED) I Hotel 2nd edit 30 files (ED)
Call Number: IH 032Format: CDCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Thirty digitized photograph files in jpg format of photographs taken during and after the August 4, 1977 eviction of the tenants of the International Hotel. CD format.
SF [San Francisco] City Hall Protest Hearing Rev. Cecil Williams Legislative Chambers (ED) SF [San Francisco] City Hall Protest Hearing Rev. Cecil Williams Legislative Chambers (ED)
Call Number: IH 033Format: CDCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Twenty-one digitized photograph files in jpg format of photographs taken during a San Francisco City Hall protest concerning the I-Hotel eviction. Photographs include the Reverend Cecil Williams speaking at a hearing held in the legislative chambers. Photographs taken during the late 1970s. CD format.
International Hotel KPFA Broadcast (EH) International Hotel KPFA Broadcast (EH)
April 1977 pre-eviction broadcast of the International Hotel struggle (KPFA). Program contains narration, music, interviews and recorded speeches with detailed chronological account of the events leading to the eviction. Discusses the involvement of the Milton Meyer Company, Walter Shorenstein, Sheriff Richard Hongisto, Mayor George Moscone, The Four Seas Investment Corporation, and Judge Ira Brown. Audio documentation of tenants Emil de Guzman, Nita Rader, Wahat Tampao, Felix Ayson, and city officials Moscone and Hongisto. Topics of the affordable housing struggle are explained, such as the "Buy-Back" plan that was proposed to the tenants, the Power of Eminent Domain to prevent eviction, Hongisto's contempt of court, and the progressive community joining to created a human barricade around the building. Program ends asking listeners to support the struggle of the I-Hotel tenants. Discusses the affordable housing struggle, the "Buy-Back" plan that was proposed to the tenants, how the power of Eminent Domain was used for the first time to try and prevent an eviction, Hongisto's contempt of court, and how the greater progressive community joined by the thousands to support the tenants by creating human chains around the building. Program ends asking listeners to support the struggle of the I-Hotel tenants. On the night of the 1977 International Hotel eviction, a reporter following Sheriff Richard Hongisto made recordings documenting the breaking down of doors. As a sledgehammer is used to break doors down, the reporter comments on the sheriff's refusal to warn tenants to vacate their rooms. Field recording includes verbal exchanges between the sheriff, the reporter, and Estella Habal.
Art Sato Jazz International Hotel Announcement EH Week (EH), Manilatown Heritage: Ben, Fred, Estella Habal. 1930s-1940s, and Who’s Who in Asia America: The I-Hotel Tenants (EH). Art Sato Jazz International Hotel Announcement EH Week (EH), Manilatown Heritage: Ben, Fred, Estella Habal. 1930s-1940s, and Who’s Who in Asia America: The I-Hotel Tenants (EH).
Call Number: CD 496Format: CDProducers: UnknownCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
A recording of Estella Habal's radio announcement of events that commemorate the 20th anniversary celebration. As she commemorates the 1977 International Hotel eviction, Estella Habal provides historical background of the International Hotel eviction. Panel discussion on issues pertaining to Manilatown and the Filipino Community during the 1977 International Hotel Eviction. As Emil deGuzman moderates the Manilatown Heritage Foundation, Estella Habal, and Manilatown residents Fred Basconcillio & Ben Abarca speak. Ben Abarca explains I Hotel's 10-block Kearny Street area and past lives of the many family oriented Filipinos living in the district (1930s to present). Next, Fred Basconcillio explains his childhood as being the son of the New Luneta Café owner. Living amongst severe discrimination, Fred witnessed the exploitation of runaway farm workers. Abarca adds that he witnessed a Filipino lynching incident in San Francisco that was a result of a Filipino man dating a white woman. In result of discrimination, Filipinos got involved in creating the Agricultural Workers Union of America (Larry Itliong) . Next, Estella Habal explains the I-Hotel Eviction era's youth and compares them to past and present generations. For the first generation Manongs it was a crime to be Filipino, the second generation was extremely conservative, the third generation was radical and today's fourth generation is still looking for their identity. Fred Basconcillio ends with recalling personal discrimination in the Ironworkers Union. Eventually, he became the first Filipino President of the Ironworkers Union. Edited radio retrospective of the 1977 International Hotel Eviction in San Francisco. Three former tenants, Fred Dela Cruz, Mary Lai, and Mr. Yip reflect on their eviction night experiences and speak of their continuing affordable housing struggle, now in its 10th year. Ends with a male, accompanied by music, reading a poem about the I-Hotel Eviction.
"Growing Up on Kearny Street" Tape 1 (EH), "Growing Up on Kearny Street" Tape 2 (EH) "Growing Up on Kearny Street" Tape 1 (EH), "Growing Up on Kearny Street" Tape 2 (EH)
The first part recording of a symposium titled, "Growing Up on Kearny Street" hosted by unknown woman. Three elderly speakers recount their experiences growing up on Kearny Street. The first speaker, an unidentified male, talks about how the Filipino American community was like an extended family where everyone knew each other and helped each other out. He remembers different bars, clubs, and restaurants in the neighborhood, including Tino's Barbershop and Arabian Nights nightclub. Ocampo, the second male, similarly recounts his childhood experience in the neighborhood. He remembers many different dialects of Tagalog spoken everywhere. Kearny street was home to many Filipino businesses, and a place where unemployed Filipinos could go to find work. The third speaker is Joe San Felipe. He explains that Kearny street was a bachelor community, with few women and thus few families. Briefly talks about discrimination against Filipinos and other Asian Americans. The fourth speaker, an unidentified man, is cut off very shortly after he begins talking. Ocampo is member of the Board of the Manilatown Heritage Foundation as of 2005. This recording is only on side A, and is fairly clear sounding. Second part of a symposium named "Growing Up on Kearny Street". Contains an unidentified man recollecting his experiences on Kearney Street and his history in the army (WWII). He briefly reflects on the racial climate in the armed forces. Tony Robles, the nephew of Al Robles, recites poetry and reminisces about his experience growing up in San Francisco. To conclude the symposium, a unidentified woman tells of her family history and their journey to America throughout the 1920s and 1940s. Also sheds light on the social ills such as conditions of Kearny Street and surrounding areas during her years as a child and teenager. The biggest social ill was women not being allowed to live on Kearny street and the dangers women and children face.
Frank Celada [Part 2] (EH) Frank Celada [Part 2] (EH)
Date: 12/21/1997Call Number: CD 503Format: CDCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Discussion between Estella Habal, Frank Celada, and Harvey Dong about various student groups that were involved with the I-Hotel. One of which eventually created the Asian studies department at Berkeley. They explain the AAPA organization. This student organization had connections with the anti-war movement, SNCC and the farm worker movement. All three participants concluded that they got involved with activism due to the third world strike and the I-hotel. They also discussed the AAPA [Asian American Political Alliance?] and it's founders: Bob Rita, who was a member of the UFW, Richard Aoki, [sic] who was an internee, Yuji Ichioka and his wife, and Lillian Fabros. AAPA was a political student organization, who had connections with the anti-war movement, SNCC and the farmworker movement. All three participants concluded they got involved with activism due to the third world strike and the I-hotel. They ended the conversation by discussing the various reasons people say the I-Hotel movement failed. One reason is because the movement opened up to non-Asians, due to the lack of support from Filipinos. Estella makes the point that the movement would not have lasted as long without the outreach. Estella then talks about Peter Bacho, who taught at Davis, and said that the radicals and disunity ruined the movement, because each emphasized the flaws, and not the larger picture. Finally, it was added by Estella that the division, attacks and infiltration by the FBI through cointelpro, the FBI's counter-intelligence program, brought about the disillusion of those involved.
Mrs. Dela Cruz (1) [Part 1] (EH) Mrs. Dela Cruz (1) [Part 1] (EH)
Date: 3/8/1993Call Number: CD 504Format: CDCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Informal oral history interview of Mrs. de la Cruz conducted by Estella Habal. During the interview, Mrs. de la Cruz recalls her family history and her experience living in the I-Hotel. Part 1 of the interview contains Mrs. de la Cruz recollecting her family history, which includes their experience during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II. Mrs. de la Cruz also recalls how she became involved with the I-Hotel and the relations amongst the tenants and the volunteers or activists of the I-Hotel. One highlight of the interview is her recollection of the fire that broke out at the I-Hotel.
Mrs. Dela Cruz (1) [Part 1] (EH) Cont., Mrs. Dela Cruz (2) [Part 2] (EH) Mrs. Dela Cruz (1) [Part 1] (EH) Cont., Mrs. Dela Cruz (2) [Part 2] (EH)
Informal oral history interview of Mrs. de la Cruz conducted by Estella Habal. During the interview, Mrs. de la Cruz recalls her family history and her experience living in the I-Hotel. Part 1 of the interview contains Mrs. de la Cruz recollecting her family history, which includes their experience during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II. Mrs. de la Cruz also recalls how she became involved with the I-Hotel and the relations amongst the tenants and the volunteers or activists of the I-Hotel. One highlight of the interview is her recollection of the fire that broke out at the I-Hotel. (3/8/1993) Estella Habal's interview of Mrs. de la Cruz covers the tenants and volunteers of the International Hotel. Issues such as their past and current status of the tenants and activists are raised. (3/8/1993)