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

Angela Davis Benefit Angela Davis Benefit
Date: 2/25/1972Call Number: PM 003Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Angela Davis
Franklin Alexander, head of Angela Defense. Introduced by Maya Angelou who then does some poems, Harlem Hopscotch, Times Square Shoe Shine Composition, great one on Harriet Tubman/and For My People by Margaret Walker.
Ruchell Magee Ruchell Magee
Date: 8/18/1971Call Number: PM 075Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Dave StevensCollection: Ruchell Magee
Prison interview with Ruchell Magee 3 days before assassination of George Jackson conducted by Dave Stevens of KPFK-Los Angeles. Discusses his original case and appeals. Then goes to what happened on the day of the Marin County courthouse rebellion but he mostly declines to comment. Speaks on why his and Angela’s case were separated, on being his own attorney. His case to Reagan for a pardon (Ruchell Magee vs. Ronald Reagan.) Good quote re Panthers on UNITY. More on Angela--need unity not “stars,” but the gun---Mention of Nixon and Vietnam. “No pleasure in San Quentin.” What would you do if you were on the outside? (organize, bring people in to show them the real conditions). When did you first begin to feel like a “slave?” Talks about his early background. Discusses 1963 conviction briefly 19:04 "These dogs have kept me in prison all this time… these dogs have one leg to stand on, racism." 22:27 "Those appointed by the court are shysters and buzzards, they work for the state." (Referring to the attorneys) 28:10 "I file a case and it sits in a drawer for 3 or 4 years." 29:30 "We (Black people) are going thorough hell, it's time to unite, no time to fight one-and-other." 31:24 "That's the pigs, they use confusion to divide us." 34:35 "The contradictions, the dogs are compelling people to pick up guns." 35:10 "There is no pleasure in prison." 36:10 "As soon as they let one go, here go another one, it's how prison is designed, tap dancing and actin' the fool won't help if you on the list to do some time it don't matter." "What I would do on the outside is organize the people." 42:25"You don't put no MF? Fool as a king." 42:55 "It's me today, it's you tomorrow." 48:00 "the government will destroy the people and itself too." 49:40 "I would help the Viet Cong fight."
Interview with George Jackson’s lawyer and former fellow inmate/comrade Interview with George Jackson’s lawyer and former fellow inmate/comrade
Call Number: PM 104Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: George Jackson
Track 1: Interview with John Thorne, George Jackson’s lawyer, about his relationship with George. Describes George as a selfless leader, always bringing in lawyers to discuss the cases of fellow inmates. Talks about George’s solidarity with other movements, his dedication to struggle for freedom, his ultimate discipline and preparedness for attack. Discusses some of the letters between George and Angela Davis about fascism within the United States. Track 2: Interview of Popeye Jackson, former fellow prisoner of George’s in San Quentin and Soledad prisons, discussing the impossibility of the State’s case for assassinating George Jackson. Discusses the repressive conditions of the adjustment center and the many revolutionaries abused within solitary confinement. Reads a letter from Fleeta Drumgo about his treatment in the case of his death.
Black Panther Party Political Education Garage School Black Panther Party Political Education Garage School
Date: 9/8/1971Call Number: PM 109Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: BBC - GranadaCollection: Black Panther Party general
Black Panther Party kids singing free political prisoners, free David Hilliard, free Angela Davis, free Ruchell Magee, free all our people. Panther woman (name unknown) leads a class discussing definition of political prisoners and the criminal justice system. If someone can’t feed/clothe their family, doesn’t that make them a political prisoner? Talk about racism in the courtroom, all white juries, how the law doesn’t serve the people, how many people personally know prisoners.
Black Panther Party garage school Black Panther Party garage school
Date: 9/8/1971Call Number: PM 127Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Black Panther Party general
Singing by Black Panther Party sister and lots of kids at the garage school about George Jackson, “George Jackson, your spirit lives in the youth”. Black Panther Party sister asking more questions about political prisoners. Kids discuss their correspondence with specific Black Panther Party political prisoners. Talked about going to court and watching pigs surround George when he went to reach for his mother, Georgia Jackson, after she fainted.
Paul Cook, Ruchell Magee, And Justice In America Paul Cook, Ruchell Magee, And Justice In America
Date: 6/4/1971Call Number: PM 154Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Carolyn CravenCollection: Ruchell Magee
Paul Cook is interviewed by Carolyn Craven. Cook is a former cellmate of Ruchell Magee, who is at the time of the interview on trial with Angela Davis in connection with the escape attempt and shootout at the Marin Civic Center in August, 1970. Cook discusses his relationship with Ruchell Magee and his role as a member of his Defense Committee. He begins the interview by describing his being approached by police agents wanting him to testify against Ruchell Magee under threat on June 3, 1971. Topics addressed include the difficulty of organizing Magee’s defense, and the frustration working within the legal system. The growth of the California Prison Industry is analyzed, as are the conditions of prison life and their impact on prisoners’ families . He discusses George and Jonathan Jackson, Larry West and Ruchell Magee. 2:10 …While they were considering bail for Angela I was there 'cause I didn't want them to forget about Ruchell. 42:50 & 49:10 Jonathan and George Jackson
Interviews: Angela Davis, David Hilliard Interviews: Angela Davis, David Hilliard
Date: 3/19/2001Call Number: CD 037Format: CDProducers: Claude Marks, Lincoln BergmanCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Interviews with Angela Davis (3/19/01) and David Hilliard (3/22/01) for Prisons on Fire CD
Interviews: Angela Davis Interviews: Angela Davis
Date: 3/19/2001Call Number: CD 041Format: ProTools CDProducers: Claude Marks, Lincoln BergmanCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Interview with Angela Davis (3/19/01) for Prisons on Fire CD
The objectives of the Black Panther Party in the Vietnam War The objectives of the Black Panther Party in the Vietnam War
Date: 11/12/1969Call Number: KP 093Format: Cass A & BCollection: Black Panther Party general
Side A: Angela Davis, Raymond Masai Hewitt, Terrence Hallinan, and Charles Gary speak about the objectives of the Black Panther Party. They discuss the freeing of political prisoners, how the US constitution is not relevant for black people, and they call blacks to be more violent in order to make themselves known and to attain peace. Charles Gary relates Bobby Seale’s message for the people: that it is important for them to rally around the moratorium of the Vietnam war and the war in the ghettos. Side B begins with liberation music and songs. Charles Gary continues speaking on the peace movement. Angela Davis speaks about raising the level of awareness and consciousness. She speaks about using the same tactics as used in the Vietnam war in minority areas. Terrence Hallinan speaks about making demonstrations relevant to black people. He calls people to action against the struggle in Vietnam and at home.
Political Prisoner Report Political Prisoner Report
Date: 11/8/1975Call Number: CD 438Format: CDProducers: Mark SchwartzProgram: Nothing Is More Precious ThanCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Angela Davis on Ruchell Magee case, reasons for lack of coverage of Magee case, movement to free political prisoners, divisive ideas perpetrated by press, several questioners, rather hostile back & forth--”I didn’t think I would be cross-examined.” Q: … the significance of the Ruchell Magee case? AD: …"highlights the use of prisons as an oppressive tool./ Ruchell must be set free. Q: …little media coverage of Magee case versus your trial? AD: "collusion of the press with the government/ not in the interest of the government/ lack of organized movement/ it was a victory in my case there will be victories in many others to come. Q; … difference in class between you and Ruchell? "People seem to feel that Ruchell's spent his life in prison and Angela has spent her life in schools." Q:… why no active role in Ruchell's case? AD; "I have continued to work for the freedom of Ruchell." / "I have spoken…" "the only reason I am on the streets today… that same kind of movement can help free Ruchell." 21:57