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

Report on the High Security Unit for Women Federal Correctional Institution Lexington, Kentucky Report on the High Security Unit for Women Federal Correctional Institution Lexington, Kentucky
Publisher: National Prison Project of the ACLU FoundationDate: 8/25/1987Volume Number: 25-AugFormat: ReportCollection: Lexington Control Unit for Women
Report written from experiences of two National Prison Project Staff attorneys and a correctional psychologist and criminalogist who undertook a tour of Lexington Prison.
The Geneva Conference The Geneva Conference
Publisher: International Indian Treaty CouncilDate: 9/1977Volume Number: SeptemberFormat: ReportCollection: Native Americans
International Indigenous Conference to address the needs and the issues of Natives that are oppressed by the system in the USA.
Fact Sheet: Closs Supervision Unit Fact Sheet: Closs Supervision Unit
Format: ReportCollection: Control Units
Fact sheet by 50+ prisoners involved in a lockdown protest challenging conditions within the Closs Supervision Unit (CSU). This fact sheet is meant to inform supporters and counter the distortions put forward by the New York Department of Correctional Services.
Report on the International Indian Treaty Conference Report on the International Indian Treaty Conference
Author: Miles PustinPublisher: Native American Committee SolidarityFormat: ReportCollection: Native Americans
Reports talks about ceremonies and celebrations of various Native American Tribes. It also addresses issues that Natives are facing today. The major thrust of the the conference was internationalism.
Report on the High Security Unit for Women Federal Correctional Institution Lexington, Kentucky Report on the High Security Unit for Women Federal Correctional Institution Lexington, Kentucky
Author: National Prison Project of the ACLU FoundationPublisher: American Civil Liberties UnionDate: 8/25/1987Volume Number: August 25Format: ReportCollection: Marianna Penitentiary
Reproduction of report on tour by Alexa Freeman and Adjoa A. Aiyetoro
Report of October 13, 1988, Visit to Marianna FCI Women's Unit Report of October 13, 1988, Visit to Marianna FCI Women's Unit
Author: Sue SturtzYear: 1988Format: ReportCollection: Marianna Penitentiary
Update on visit to marion. Attached envelope indicates sent from S. Sturts to Marilyn Kalman
Breaking the Chains: People of Color and the War on Drugs Conference Press Clips Breaking the Chains: People of Color and the War on Drugs Conference Press Clips
Publisher: Drug Policy AllianceYear: 2002Format: ReportCollection: Drugs in Prisons
Reproduction of newspaper clippings related to the conference
Security Threat Groups in Prisons Security Threat Groups in Prisons
Publisher: Department of Justice, Bureau of JusticeYear: 1997Format: ReportCollection: Control Units
Reproduction. Alleged membership in a security threat group legitimizes one being thrown into a control unit, often without an impartial review process. This packet contains information on security threat groups listed state by state.
Activist Mentorship/Resource Program Proposal (2) Activist Mentorship/Resource Program Proposal (2)
Publisher: Josh MacPhee, National Campaign to Stop Control Unit PrisonsYear: 1997Format: ReportCollection: American Friends Service Committee
Proposal for Chicago summer institute for young people interested in involvement in the program. Part of 3/1997 mailing.
Proposal for fall 1997 National Campaign to Stop Control unit Prisons (NCSCUP) gathering. Proposal for fall 1997 National Campaign to Stop Control unit Prisons (NCSCUP) gathering.
Publisher: Barbara Huber, Michelle FoyYear: 1997Format: ReportCollection: American Friends Service Committee
Plan for 11/7/1997 demonstration at Colorado College. Part of 3/1997 mailing.