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

Joyce Kangai of the ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) Women’s League Joyce Kangai of the ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) Women’s League
Date: 1/11/1980Call Number: AFR 010AFormat: Cass ACollection: Zimbabwe
Joyce Kangai of the ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) Women’s League speaks about the Zimbabwean people losing their land, outside forces imposing their power, and the oppressive nature of colonialism on language and culture. She calls the women to fight for liberation, and explains how they can be part of the struggle.
Event celebrating 40 years of African independence. Event celebrating 40 years of African independence.
Call Number: AFR 042AFormat: Cass AProducers: WBAIProgram: WBAI Special Program: Southern Africa - Africa at 40Collection: African liberation movements
1997 “Africa at 40” event celebrating 40 years of African independence. Mozambique President Chisano speaks about the African goals of unity of purpose, perseverance, awareness of identity, and becoming masters of own destiny. He acknowledges the continued oppression and marginalization, but talks about how African organizations are developing towards justice through new solutions. A member of the Pan Africanist Movement speaks about Kwame Nkrumah, leader of Ghana, and his vision of a united Africa.
Independence of Angola Independence of Angola
Date: 11/15/1975Call Number: AFR 083AFormat: Cass ACollection: Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique
Radio News Program on the independence of Angola. About the newly won independence of Angola (11/11/1975), ending violence between the Angolan people and their Portuguese colonizers. The MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) is recognized for its strong Leadership of the struggle for independence. Augustino Neto, leader of the FNLA (National Front for the LIberation of Angola) and UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola - led by Jonas Savimbi). He speaks about the cooperation he saw between the different African countries, and celebrates Angolan independence. Also discussed are the problems in Rwanda between the different racial groups and the negotiations among colonizers and the people of Rwanda. Also various people speak about Vietnam, Chile, and world events.
Bill Crossman on Puerto Rican Prisoners of War Bill Crossman on Puerto Rican Prisoners of War
Call Number: JG/ 098AFormat: Cass AProducers: Judy GerberProgram: A Defiant HeartCollection: Programs produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms
Bill Crossman speaks about Puerto Rican Prisoners of War in the US, a petition for their amnesty to the Justice Dept. under President Clinton. Puerto Rican support for these prisoners. The 16 prisoners’ sentences, convictions, and conditions are discussed. Crossman also gives historical background about US occupation of Puerto Rico, and military strategy and plans to control the southern hemisphere.
Four Puerto Rican Political Prisoners Four Puerto Rican Political Prisoners
Call Number: PM 238AFormat: Cass ACollection: Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican Political Prisoners Alicia and Ida Luz Rodriguez explain the 1898 US military invasion of Puerto Rico, stripped the island of its independence, continue to maintain Puerto Rico as a colony. As Puerto Rican Revolutionary women, they stress the importance of family, describe the violent US military presence with 11 military bases on the island. They defend the use of arms as essential in protecting life when threatened with colonial violence. They explain how these conditions create the need for a clandestine struggle. They explain how the fight is against multinational corporations, not the people of the US. They expose the torturous realities of prison life for them as Puerto Rican women imprisoned for their political beliefs. They discuss torture units, known as "control units" where they were held.
Amanuel Tecle on Eritrean Independence Amanuel Tecle on Eritrean Independence
Date: 7/12/1991Call Number: JG/ 130AFormat: Cass ACollection: Programs produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms
Discussion on colonial history of Eritrea and the EPLF's (Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front) creation, motives, actions, and victories.
Dan Connell on Eritrea Dan Connell on Eritrea
Date: 3/25/1992Call Number: JG/ 141AFormat: Cass AProducers: Judy GerberCollection: Programs produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms
Describes Eritrea’s 30-year fight for independence from Ethiopia and the political and social changes that the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front has made. Discusses how US and UN aid is used to oppose and destabilize Eritrean independence.