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

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.
Interview at Alternative House Interview at Alternative House
Date: 9/14/1971Call Number: PM 111Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
Interview with various individuals at “Alternative House” about cycles of violence and repression in prisons. Talk about the increase in abuse after murder of George Jackson, Attica, etc. The more the inside is controlled, the more people will take to the streets. The prison movement is similar to the movement around the world of oppressed people - understanding colonialism in various contexts. Only psychologically sick people can cage and abuse people, which makes revolution that much more possible. It is oppression that makes the revolutionary realize that he is not receiving what any human needs to survive and live with dignity. Distinction between oppression related to mentality vs. material things. Blatant atrocities that are evident within the prison system as well as in the Third World. Cause of prisoners is a just cause - even for those who lack humanity because of the overwhelming cost of housing a prisoner.
Interview about Soledad Brothers Interview about Soledad Brothers
Date: 9/14/1971Call Number: PM 126Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Soledad Brothers
Report of Soledad Brother incident, Marin County shootout. Soledad Brother came to achieve greater universality - for all oppressed black people that are confined within any institution. Racism within prison system, black people disproportionately representing prison population. Description of John Clutchette’s situation, allegedly robbery of a television set. Description of Fleeta Drumgo’s case, allegedly associated with a robbery. Description of George Jackson’s case, allegedly involved with a holdup for $71 from a gas station. All pleaded guilty at advice of public defender to get released as quickly as possible. All were instead given indeterminate sentences. Discusses the State’s fear of black manhood. George went up to parole board at least 8 times, consistently denied. George questioned authority and demanded respect from all. Parole boards control inmates in State of CA. Racist nature of questioning by parole boards to intimidate prisoners, who are not allowed presence of attorney or any counsel at time of parole board, nor allowed to appeal that decision.
KPFA Radio News Summary and Update on the San Quentin Six Trial. KPFA Radio News Summary and Update on the San Quentin Six Trial.
Date: 1/1/1976Call Number: KP 218BFormat: Cass BProducers: KPFACollection: George Jackson
Attorney for David Johnson, Frank Cox, filed an affidavit regarding Melvin Cotton Smith's role as a paid informant for the L.A. police department. The news summary gives a good and detailed history of the events surrounding George Jackson's death up to the circumstances involving the San Quentin Six. Included is information on James Carr, COINTELPRO, and the ideological split between Eldridge Cleaver and Huey P. Newton in the Black Panther Party. Contains excerpt of a recording of George Jackson talking three months before his murder, excerpts of an interview with Eldridge Cleaver in exile from Paris, and a telephone interview with Bob Gardner who witnessed the 1970 shootings of W. L. Nolan, Alvin Miller, Cleveland Edwards at Soledad Prison.
The Black Panther Black Community News Service The Black Panther Black Community News Service
Publisher: The Black Panther PartyYear: 1970Volume Number: Vol. 5-7 August 15Format: PeriodicalCollection: Black Panther Party Community News Service
Cover Story: Revolutionary Suicide-- "That's Suicide Motivated by the Desire to Change the System, or Else Die Trying. To Change the Reactionary Conditions." Also, Minister Huey P. Newton, Back on the Streets with the People.
The Black Panther Black Community News Service The Black Panther Black Community News Service
Publisher: The Black Panther PartyYear: 1973Volume Number: Vol. 10-13 August 11Format: PeriodicalCollection: Black Panther Party Community News Service
Cover Story: Death is Irrevocable. Also Inside: Operation Gemstone (cont.), Impeach Nixon Preceedings Underway, Black Families Raided, Doctors Defend Sterilization, Funds for Violence Center Approved, Rizzo's Special Police, Portuguese Massacre 50,000 Angolans, Barbee- Demands U.S. Aid for African Drought, more.