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

San Quentin 6 inserts San Quentin 6 inserts
Call Number: PM 019Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Lincoln Bergman, Claude MarksProgram: San Quentin 6 insertsCollection: San Quentin Six
Roland Young reads stories of San Quentin 6 defendants; excellent description of George Jackson’s influence on fellow prisoners.
Malcolm X- Make it Plain Malcolm X- Make it Plain
Date: 1/1/1994Call Number: V 016Format: VHSProducers: Orlando BagwellCollection: Malcolm X
Documentary on the life of Malcolm X includes archival footage and photographs as well as interviews with friends and family members.
Paul Robeson: Freedomways Tribute, on WBAI Paul Robeson: Freedomways Tribute, on WBAI
Date: 6/17/1965Call Number: PR 052Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: WBAIProgram: FreedomwaysCollection: Paul Robeson recordings
Paul Robeson: Freedomways Tribute, on WBAI Radio, contains event held on June 17, 1965, with Joanne Grant, emcee, describing Robeson’s life and reading from his speeches and interviews. Major excerpts from the 1963 Freedomways Welcome Home Tribute, when Robeson returned home after five years of traveling around the world. The 1963 event was his last public appearance. Includes the speeches of James Baldwin, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, John Lewis (Director of SNCC, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) and Robert Nemeroff, widower of Lorraine Hansberry, reading her tribute to Robeson. Also includes recording of Robeson reciting the last speech of Othello and a recording of him singing Old Man River. Same as CD 287, Track 1 (Robeson’s 25-minute speech at the 1963 event is on CD 287, Track 3.)
Tribute to Paul Robeson WBAI Reel 2 Tribute to Paul Robeson WBAI Reel 2
Date: 1/1/1968Call Number: PR 066Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: WBAICollection: Paul Robeson recordings
Ossie Davis, Pete Seeger, Lloyd L. Brown, William L. Patterson, Hope Stevens, Lawrence Brown, Douglas Turner Ward, Harry Bragg, Irwin Silber speak on Robeson’s activism for social justice, his intergrity and his refusal to give up his principles regardless of the personal sacraifice it caused him. Same as PR 065 and CD 344, Track 1
Paul Robeson, The First 100 Years: A Celebration of His Life and Legacy Paul Robeson, The First 100 Years: A Celebration of His Life and Legacy
Date: 4/5/1998Call Number: V 146Format: VHSProducers: WBAI Radio-NYCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Begins with a video montage with narration on Robeson’s life, including excerpts from his speeches and interviews, historic film footage. Followed by speakers who pay tribute to Robeson; musical performances. Concludes with a panel discussion and questions from audience. Dr. Charles Wright is seated on the stage but is not shown speaking.
Paul Robeson, The First 100 Years: A Celebration of His Life and Legacy Paul Robeson, The First 100 Years: A Celebration of His Life and Legacy
Date: 4/5/1998Call Number: V 147Format: VHSProducers: WBAI Radio-NYCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Begins with a video montage with narration on Robeson’s life, including excerpts from his speeches and interviews, historic film footage. Followed by speakers who pay tribute to Robeson; musical performances. Concludes with a panel discussion and questions from audience. Dr. Charles Wright is seated on the stage but is not shown speaking.
The Meaning of the 4th of July for the Negro - read by Ossie Davis The Meaning of the 4th of July for the Negro - read by Ossie Davis
Date: 1/1/1975Call Number: CD 202Format: CDProducers: Folkways FH 5527Collection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Ossie Davis does a wonderful job of capturing the feel of escaped slave and master orator, Frederick Douglass' legendary speech. Originally delivered in Rochester NY July 5th 1852, Frederick leads the audience with an emotional narrative beginning with his admiration for the brave American patriots of 1776 and ends up in a righteous fury condemning America, its politicians, and the hypocritical and insane institution of slavery. Fantastic.
Paul Robeson: Freedom ways Tribute, on WBAI Paul Robeson: Freedom ways Tribute, on WBAI
Date: 6/17/1965Call Number: CD 287Format: CDProducers: WBAIProgram: Freedom waysCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Paul Robeson: Freedom ways Tribute, on WBAI Radio, contains event held on June 17, 1965, with Joanne Grant, emcee, narrating Robeson’s life and reading quotations from his speeches and interviews. At that event, major excerpts were played from the 1963 Freedom ways Welcome Home Tribute, when Robeson returned home after five years of traveling around the world. The 1963 event was his last public appearance. Includes the speeches of James Baldwin, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, John Lewis (Director of SNCC, Student non-violent Coordinating Committee) and Robert Nemeroff, widower of Lorraine Hansberry, reading her tribute to Robeson. Also includes recording of Robeson reciting the last speech of Othello and a recording of him singing Old Man River. Paul Robeson’s 25-minute speech, at his last public appearance, at the Freedom ways Welcome Home Tribute, 1963. See PR 052
WBAI Tribute to Paul Robeson WBAI Tribute to Paul Robeson
Date: 1/1/1968Call Number: CD 344Format: CDProducers: WBAIProgram: Tribute to Paul RobesonCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Tribute to Paul Robeson - recording of Paul Robeson singing “Joe Hill” Ossie Davis, Pete Seeger, Lloyd L. Brown, William L. Patterson, Hope Stevens, Lawrence Brown, Douglas Turner Ward, Harry Bragg, Irwin Silber speak on Robeson’s activism for social justice, his integrity and his refusal to give up his principles regardless of the personal sacrifice it caused him. Sid Roger on Paul Robeson - Part 1
Nothing Is More Precious Than Nothing Is More Precious Than
Date: 2/15/1975Call Number: NI 060Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Lincoln Bergman, Claude Marks, Nancy Barrett, Mark SchwartzProgram: Nothing Is More Precious ThanCollection: “Nothing is More Precious Than…” a news magazine including music and poetry
Program primarily dedicated with poetry, music, and commentary to Black History Week. Also news of Cambodia, Menominee trial, Attica trials, San Quentin Six, Black Liberation Army arrest, Cultural Workers Front program held in San Francisco. Lots of poetry.