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

Song for Cesar Song for Cesar
Date: 1/1/2006Call Number: V 565Format: DVDProducers: Andres AlegriaCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Features interviews with Dolores Huerta, Co-founder of the UFW; Arturo Rodriguez, UFW President; Cesar's brother, Richard Chavez; Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Program Director CECF and Paul Chavez, President of the National Farmworkers Service Center. Music recorded by The Prophets with Jorge Santana and Abel Sanchez.
Farmworkers Show for Children Farmworkers Show for Children
Call Number: KP 309Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Nina Serrano, Andres AlegriaProgram: Reflecciones de la Raza specialCollection: Latin@
First a story about a boy whose family are cotton workers in the California valley, then farm worker general strike song, then bio of Cesar Chavez, and another full song (Linda Raza),
UFW Rally UFW Rally
Date: 10/19/1988Call Number: CV 274Format: Cass A & BProducers: Chuy VarelaCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Protesting the failure of the grand jury to investigate Dolores Huerta’s case against the police. Also discusses the second UFW grape boycott and nonviolent methods referencing Cesar Chavez’s 36-day hunger strike. Unions of agricultural workers outside of the US like the Jamaican Sugar Cane Workers are also discussed.
The immigration wars (Prop 187) The immigration wars (Prop 187)
Date: 1/1/1994Call Number: CV 306Format: Cass A & BCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Introduction to the debate about Proposition 187, also known by the political right as the “Save our State” initiative, which mainly prohibits “illegal immigrants” from using health care, public education, and social services in California. Interview of the music band “Puro Bandido” from the Mission District, SF, whose inspiration comes from Carlos Santana. Interviews about Cesar Chavez and the UFW to commemorate his birthday.
Grape Boycott Grape Boycott
Date: 7/22/1987Call Number: CV 310Format: CassetteProducers: Chuy VarelaCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
United Farm Workers organized a table grape boycott in Berkeley because of the use of pesticides and chemicals. Proponents of the boycott spoke to the Berkeley City Council and the resolution was passed. Also, homelessness in Berkeley was discussed.
Dolores Huerta Tribute Dolores Huerta Tribute
Date: 8/29/1995Call Number: CV 311Format: CassetteProducers: Chuy VarelaCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
KPFA radio show and tribute to Dolores Huerta; music is in English and Spanish. Some songs praise Dolores while others explore political messages about the United Farm Workers. Following the music is a short interview with Dolores, reflecting upon her work, leadership and accomplishments.