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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

International Hotel Tenant’s Association International Hotel Tenant’s Association
Call Number: KP 011Format: CassetteCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
continued coverage of May 13 rally for International Hotel Tenant’s Association, with music from Los Moroscos (see also KP 010)
I Hotel I Hotel
Date: 2/26/1977Call Number: LA 008Format: CassetteCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Live coverage of the takeover of the I-Hotel, including documentation of police violence, interviews with tenants and Mayor Moscone, gathering at St. Mary’s Square. Includes: Reporter from Third World Bureau in Oakland live at the scene of the I-Hotel; highlights of action from 11PM-4:30AM and re-location to St. Mary’s Square and the Mission. Interview with Mayor Moscone where he is confronted about things such as the contradictions in police tactics, temporary housing policies, the swearing in of Donna Solomon as SF Human Rights Commissioner
Fall of the I-Hotel (CC) Fall of the I-Hotel (CC)
Call Number: IH 034Format: DVDCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Documents the story of a broad-based movement of senior citizens, churches, labor groups, and community activists to preserve the I-Hotel as low-cost housing for the elderly and as [a Filipino American or] Asian American community center. It is a blend of cultural history and personal vignettes which dramatically portrays the conflicts between individuals, corporations; and those who must enforce the law. Originally released in 1983, this film was revised in 1993 and released in 2005. DVD format.
International Hotel KPFA Broadcast (EH) International Hotel KPFA Broadcast (EH)
Call Number: IH 001Format: CassetteProducers: Norman Jayo with Third World News ProductionCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
April 1977 pre-eviction broadcast of the International Hotel struggle (KPFA). Program contains narration, music, interviews and recorded speeches with detailed chronological account of the events leading to the eviction. Discusses the involvement of the Milton Meyer Company, Walter Shorenstein, Sheriff Richard Hongisto, Mayor George Moscone, The Four Seas Investment Corporation, and Judge Ira Brown. Audio documentation of tenants Emil de Guzman, Nita Rader, Wahat Tampao, Felix Ayson, and city officials Moscone and Hongisto. Topics of the affordable housing struggle are explained, such as the "Buy-Back" plan that was proposed to the tenants, the Power of Eminent Domain to prevent eviction, Hongisto's contempt of court, and the progressive community joining to created a human barricade around the building. Program ends asking listeners to support the struggle of the I-Hotel tenants. Discusses the affordable housing struggle, the "Buy-Back" plan that was proposed to the tenants, how the power of Eminent Domain was used for the first time to try and prevent an eviction, Hongisto's contempt of court, and how the greater progressive community joined by the thousands to support the tenants by creating human chains around the building. Program ends asking listeners to support the struggle of the I-Hotel tenants.
Art Sato Jazz International Hotel Announcement EH Week (EH) Art Sato Jazz International Hotel Announcement EH Week (EH)
Date: 8/2/1997Call Number: IH 003Format: CassetteProducers: UnknownCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
A recording of Estella Habal's radio announcement of events that commemorate the 20th anniversary celebration. As she commemorates the 1977 International Hotel eviction, Estella Habal provides historical background of the International Hotel eviction.
Who’s Who in Asia America: The I-Hotel Tenants (EH) Who’s Who in Asia America: The I-Hotel Tenants (EH)
Date: 8/13/1978Call Number: IH 005Format: CassetteProducers: KFRCProgram: Who’s Who in Asia AmericaCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Edited radio retrospective of the 1977 International Hotel Eviction in San Francisco. Three former tenants, Fred De la Cruz, Mary Lai, and Mr. Yip reflect on their eviction night experiences and speak of their continuing affordable housing struggle, now in its 10th year. Ends with a male, accompanied by music, reading a poem about the I-Hotel Eviction.
Manila Bay & Alfredo (EH) Manila Bay & Alfredo (EH)
Call Number: IH 006Format: CassetteCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Unedited recordings of a musical performance and interview, possibly happening at separate times. Musicians perform a song about the first generation Filipino immigration experience. The song may be called, "Manila Bay." Followed by an interview with "Alfredo" a tenant of the International Hotel. He discusses how he came to live at the hotel in March 15, 1969 and is now protesting the eviction of the International Hotel residents. Alfredo is being interviewed by an unidentified female.
International Hotel Actuality (EH) International Hotel Actuality (EH)
Date: 8/3/1977Call Number: IH 002Format: CassetteCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
On the night of the 1977 International Hotel eviction, a reporter following Sheriff Richard Hongisto made recordings documenting the breaking down of doors. As a sledgehammer is used to break doors down, the reporter comments on the sheriff's refusal to warn tenants to vacate their rooms. Field recording includes verbal exchanges between the sheriff, the reporter, and Estella Habal.
I-Hotel Commemoration [at] CHS-SF [cosponsored by Chinese Historical Society and Manilatown Heritage Foundation] (EH) I-Hotel Commemoration [at] CHS-SF [cosponsored by Chinese Historical Society and Manilatown Heritage Foundation] (EH)
Date: 7/18/1997Call Number: IH 008Format: Cass A & BCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Recording of a symposium of the following speakers Etta Chung, Estella Habal, and Harvey Dong (40 min of speakers; 50 min of open discussion). Speakers delve into the basic struggle formed from the I-Hotel: private property over human rights. The struggle was to prove that dignity and decency takes higher precedence. The Vietnam War, Anti-colonial struggle, and the strong movement to search for one's identity were touched upon as influences for the large community support. The open discussion has several comments from the audience about the I-Hotel's legacy, as a true story that has changed reality, merged generations to fight for one cause, and the need to push this information into schools for the youth to know of the events in history from their own communities.
Estella Habal One (EH) Estella Habal One (EH)
Date: 8/2/1997Call Number: IH 009AFormat: Cass AProducers: KNBRCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Recording of a KNBR radiobroadcast interview of Estella Habal, then vice president of the Manilatown Heritage foundation, and Linda Wang, then chair of the International Hotel Citizens Advisory Committee and president of the Kearny Street Housing Corporation. Radio host Kimmy Park Lai interviews both Estella and Linda Wang on past and present issues relating to the International Hotel. Emphasized in the interview are the experiences of Estella during the night of the eviction, the effect the International Hotel incident had on issues such as low income housing or housing for the elderly, community versus private development and the change of views on urban planning from the 1970s to the late 1990s. Both Estella and Linda also discuss the development plans of the I-Hotel site such as the inclusion Manilatown museum and cultural center, the low income housing units for the elderly and an elementary school. Estella also announces the upcoming events for that week as part of the 20th commemoration of the International Hotel eviction. Side B of tape has no recording.