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

AIDS in Focus: Women of Color with AIDS AIDS in Focus: Women of Color with AIDS
Call Number: JG/ 071Format: CassetteProducers: Judy GerberProgram: AIDS in FocusCollection: Programs produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms
This is a short recording from the Care Fair for women of color with AIDS. Black women are one of the fastest growing population of those contracting AIDS. At the time of this recording, however, much of the research on HIV and AIDS was done on men, so the differences in symptoms and signs had not been discovered. There is an interview with Dayson Dixon, a Black women living with AIDS and she speaks about the lack of services available for those with AIDS and their families. She echoes the concern that there needs to be more research done on how HIV and AIDS affects women and especially Black women. Janet Cleveland, a copy editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution speaks as well.
AIDS in Focus: Joyce and Jackie music performance AIDS in Focus: Joyce and Jackie music performance
Call Number: JG/ 072Format: CassetteProducers: Judy GerberProgram: AIDS in FocusCollection: Programs produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms
The tape begins abruptly in the middle of a lecture on AIDS. The taping is from the same conference as JG/LS 071. What is primarily on the tape is a concert performed by two feminist folk musicians Joyce and Jackie. It is about forty-five minutes of their music which such songs as “Higher Ground” and “Sisters of the World.”
HIV/AIDS in Cuba HIV/AIDS in Cuba
Call Number: JG/ 029Format: CassetteProducers: Judy GerberCollection: Programs produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms
Various voices on HIV/AIDS policies in Cuba and its past and present polices on gays and lesbians. Journalist Karen Wald discuss Venceremos' old policy of not allowing gays and lesbians to join the brigade. NOTE: This tape seems to be Part 3 continuing from JG 102 and JG 103.
Disabled Prisoners and the Prison Industrial Complex Disabled Prisoners and the Prison Industrial Complex
Call Number: PM 293Format: Cass A & BProducers: PARCCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
This is a panel discussion at a Critical Resistance conference dedicated to presenting cases and experiences of, as well as discrimination against, people with disabilities in the prison industrial complex. The panel is moderated by Janine Bertram. Jean Stewart of the Disabled Prisoners Justice Fund speaks about people with disabilities are denied necessary care and how the conditions of prisoners actually exacerbate and incur disabilities, especially mental ones. In addition, she emphasizes how disabled prisoners are not a fringe minority but make up a substantial portion (40-70% projected) of the prison population. Former prisoner and codirector of New Brighter Day Drug Ministry Beverly Johnson speaks about the experiences and marginalization of HIV-positive prisoners and their fight for class action law suits with other disbaled prisoners. Sara Norman, a staff lawyer at the Prison Law Office, presents an overview of laws that are tools for disabled prisoners such as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, section 504 and the American Disabilities Act.
Interview with Ezra Davis Interview with Ezra Davis
Date: 1/1/1996Call Number: PM 298 AFormat: Cass ACollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
Ezra Davis speaks about his experiences as an inmate with HIV/AIDS and general conditions at CMF Vacaville for inmates with medical conditions.
Medical Neglect Medical Neglect
Date: 1/1/1995Call Number: PM 302Format: Cass A & BProducers: Prison Activist Resource CenterProgram: Prison Activist RadioCollection: Medical Care In Prison
Prison Activist Radio discuss the battle for medical care and healthcare rights for prisoners. Judy Greenspan, director of HIV/AIDS in Prison Project and member of California Coalition for Women Prisoners, speaks about the lack of women's healthcare in prisons, the serious medical conditions that men and women prisoners enter the system with, and the hostility of doctors, officials, and guards towards prisoners. She also discusses prisoner-activist Joanne Walker and the effective campaign for HIV/AIDS care and medical rights. Jean Stewart, from the Disabled Prisoner's Justice Fund and ADAPT discusses the abuses suffered by prisoners with disabilities. She also discusses health care issues, including the Armstrong and Shumate cases. Stewart states that the biggest problem with medical justice is the public's ignorance of people with disabilites.
AIDS in Focus AIDS in Focus
Call Number: PM 321AFormat: Cass AProducers: Mike AlcalayProgram: AIDs in FocusCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
Mike Alcalay discusses the AIDS epidemic in America. Rebecca Ward then describes how helpful Family Link is to families of AIDS patients. Later, Heidi Zamok reveals the contradictory information Americans receive about the transmission of AIDS. Lastly, Judy Gerber reports on the lack of medical attention and inhumane conditions provided to prisoners in California with AIDS.
Ezra Davis - You Can't Jail the Spirit: Brainstorm Ezra Davis - You Can't Jail the Spirit: Brainstorm
Call Number: PM 338Format: Cass A & BProducers: KPFAProgram: Political PrisonersCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
Prisoner Ezra Davis in the California Medical Facility at Vacaville discusses conditions. Also the first of 13 episodes of Brainstorm from "You Can't Jail the Spirit."
AIDS Education and Prisons AIDS Education and Prisons
Date: 6/12/1989Call Number: JG/ 126AFormat: Cass AProducers: Judy GerberProgram: Just PeaceCollection: Programs produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms
Chip Rowan, member of ACT UP! Atlanta, talks about HIV and sex education among prisoners in Leesburg, GA. He also speaks of the frequent segregation and stigmatization of many incarcerated HIV and PWA prisoners in the US.