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

Puerto Rico: Oscar Collazo (1 of 3) Puerto Rico: Oscar Collazo (1 of 3)
Date: 10/20/1977Call Number: PM 135Format: Cass A & BProducers: Jonah RaskinCollection: Puerto Rico
Oscar Collazo's reaction to release of Andres Figueroa Cordero. Discusses his own political principles and those of the Nationalist Party and why he refuses parole. Discusses Blair House Action, 1950. Describes own education, Puerto Rico, move to New York, what brought him to Nationalist Party, racial dynamics in Harlem, (lack of) support for Nationalists from US progressive/leftist parties. Describes his case briefly, interaction with other Puerto Rican political prisoners, prison life, and a prison strike.
Puertoriqueno Puertoriqueno
Date: 12/18/1971Call Number: RP 004Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Raul Torres, Emiliano EcheverriaCollection: Reflecciones de la Raza by Comunicacion Aztlan
Puerto Rican poets and community activists Rafael Ramirez and Orlando Ortiz discuss the state of the Bay Area and New York Puerto Rican community, and its ties to current affairs on the Island. Mention the UPR student movement and the struggle versus the ROTC . Give history of the Nationalist Movement. Hechebelto Cofresi speaks about NYC Puerto Rican community (1950s-1971). They also read some of their poetry.
Albizu Campos: La voz de la independencia en el historico discurso del 23 de Septiembre de 1950, commemorando el Grito de Lares de 1868 Albizu Campos: La voz de la independencia en el historico discurso del 23 de Septiembre de 1950, commemorando el Grito de Lares de 1868
Date: 9/23/1950Call Number: CD 017Format: CDCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Albizu Campos speaking in Lares, September 23, 1950 in commemoration of the Grito de Lares in 1868. Historical significance of the independence struggle, anti-U.S. struggle and the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. Taken from old vinyl and overall quality is mixed, but of great historical significance
Nov 1 Puerto Rico Rally San Francisco Nov 1 Puerto Rico Rally San Francisco
Call Number: KP 151Format: CassetteCollection: Puerto Rico
Nov 1 "Puerto Rico" rally in San Francisco in the late 1970’s. This rally was a part of an International Campaign to free the 5 Puerto Rican Nationalists who were incarcerated for their actions to free Puerto Rico from U.S. colonial rule. Two of these independentistas, Lolita Lebron and Oscar Collazo sent words to be read at the rally. Along with other speakers/performers, Lucas Demont of the Puerto Rican Socialist Party Nucleus, spoke about the revolutionary history of Puerto Rico, including the Nationalist Party's taking up of arms against US imperialism, the ensuing ultra-repressive US colonial occupation, and also the actions that lead to the incarceration of Puerto Rican Nationalists. Mary Ellen Polluck of the Puerto Rican Solidarity Committee explained the ways in which the US has turned Puerto Rico into a colony instead of the "free associated state" as it has been named. Also featuring performance by Nina Serano.
Puerto Rico Independence special Puerto Rico Independence special
Date: 10/27/1974Call Number: NI 107Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Claude Marks, Nancy Barrett, CamomileProgram: Puerto Rico specialCollection: “Nothing is More Precious Than…” a news magazine including music and poetry
Special documentary on Puerto Rican history/chronology and independence movement, broadcast on KPFA in the morning of the same day as major solidarity rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Summarizes 20th century history, women and struggle against forced sterilization. Patriotic songs interspersed.
Native-American and Labor News Native-American and Labor News
Date: 10/30/1976Call Number: FI 032Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Heber Dreher. Barbara LubinskiProgram: Freedom is a Constant StruggleCollection: Freedom is a Constant Struggle
Carter Camp, Native American leader's statement from prison - report on Leonard Peletier and Puyallup occupation. Economic & labor roundup, charges against two UE leaders - suit in Oakland by Rosalie Jones. Police brutality in Houston, Atlanta, Richmond. Rally to free Puerto Rican Nationalists held in Springfield Missouri. PSA for Palestine Night.
US Colonialism in Puerto Rico 1898- US Colonialism in Puerto Rico 1898-
Publisher: Free Puerto Rico! CommitteeFormat: PamphletCollection: Free Puerto Rican POWs and Political Prisoners
Pamphlet addressing the following nine questions: What is Colonialism?; What is the history of colonialism in Puerto Rico?; Why is Puerto Rico so important to the United States?; What are the effects of US Colonialism on the Puerto Rican people on the island and here in the US?; What is Puerto Rico's current status?; Many ask What would the Puerto Rican people do without our help?; What has been the response of the Puerto Rican people?; Why is the Puerto Rican independence movement in this country?; Why should North Americans oppose colonialism in Puerto Rico?
Independentismo Se Orienta A Lucha Poltico-Militar Independentismo Se Orienta A Lucha Poltico-Militar
Author: Ivan FernandezPublisher: National Committee to Free Puerto Rican POWs and Political PrisonersFormat: ArticleCollection: Free Puerto Rican POWs and Political Prisoners
Reproduction of an article in Spanish.
POW Update POW Update
Publisher: National Committee to Free Puerto Rican POWs and Political PrisonersVolume Number: Vol. 1-1Format: PeriodicalCollection: Free Puerto Rican POWs and Political Prisoners
Contents: Puerto Rican Nationalist Prisoners of War are Free; Vieques Example of Valor; Contradictions of Andres' Funeral; Free Pablo and Nydia; Lares, Cradle of Our Army.