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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

San Quentin 6 on George Jackson's murder San Quentin 6 on George Jackson's murder
Call Number: KN 006Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Kiilu NyashaProgram: interview for airCollection: Programs produced by Kiilu Nyasha
studio discussion about George Jackson's murder
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.
San Quentin guard discussing race relations and racism within prison San Quentin guard discussing race relations and racism within prison
Call Number: PM 107Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
Track 1: Lots of sync/wild sound. Interview with San Quentin guard. Describes Mexicans have problems in the prisons because of the language barrier. Admits his prejudice - “I don’t like rice and beans”. Guard says that inmates are not treated by race but by record. Admits that there are more people of color in adjustment center because of barriers on the outside and people who don’t have access to English language can’t compete with people who have resources. Therefore “they have to steal to get something to eat”. Track 2: Tour of prison museum and can hear descriptions of various weapons and makeshift weapons used by past inmates.
Black Panther Party Political Education Garage School Black Panther Party Political Education Garage School
Date: 9/8/1971Call Number: PM 109Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: BBC - GranadaCollection: Black Panther Party general
Black Panther Party kids singing free political prisoners, free David Hilliard, free Angela Davis, free Ruchell Magee, free all our people. Panther woman (name unknown) leads a class discussing definition of political prisoners and the criminal justice system. If someone can’t feed/clothe their family, doesn’t that make them a political prisoner? Talk about racism in the courtroom, all white juries, how the law doesn’t serve the people, how many people personally know prisoners.
George Jackson speaking about fascism ;  Readings from Soledad Brother  (Part 1 of 2) George Jackson speaking about fascism ; Readings from Soledad Brother (Part 1 of 2)
Date: 9/14/1971Call Number: PM 112Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: George Jackson
Track 1: Great taped interviews of George Jackson speaking about fascism. In depth analysis of 3 stages of fascism and how it has manifested itself in the United States. Talks about need to create communes and revolutionary culture so as to reestablish class consciousness. Fascism destroys sense of community among people of all classes. “We are not acting individually inside the prisons - we are rank and file”. Soledad Brothers does not apply to three people but to all brothers who fight against concentration camps. Track 2: An actor named Chris Graham has a taped reading of the intro to George Jackson’s Soledad Brother. Sounds a lot like George reading it himself. Reel 1 of 2 of Chris Graham reading from autobiography. See PM 118 for Reel 2 of 2.
Alternative House interview Alternative House interview
Date: 9/14/1971Call Number: PM 125Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
Great analysis of guards playing off of racial divisions among inmates. Guards broke up San Quentin strike after George’s death by targeting white prisoners in adjustment center playing them against black revolutionary prisoners. Retaliation for Davis’ death - using racial conflicts to the advantage of the administration to destroy the unity of the prisoners. Strong leaders on the inside were targeted and shipped out of prisons. Racism exists in San Quentin, but prisoners understand how guards use racism to keep them divided and less strong. Function of penitentiary rests upon individual inmate acknowledging the authority of prison administration. California prisons run so well and can keep expanding because of racism. Systematic brainwashing of these inmates, enslaving their minds and bodies.
Black Liberation Army - Fact or Fantasy Black Liberation Army - Fact or Fantasy
Date: 1/1/1974Call Number: PM 165Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Ron Magee, Rest of the News, Claude Marks, Bruce Soloway, Mark SchwartzProgram: Rest of the NewsCollection: BLA
Interviews and discussion concerning the Black Liberation Army and it’s alleged members. The question is raised as to the actual existence of the group which some claim to be a fabrication of the media and police to justify increased repression of Black revolutionaries. Various criminal trials of black activists are looked at to reveal how the local Police, FBI, News Media, and U.S. Justice System have worked together to pursue a repressive course to combat what they see as a threat to the very structure of American Society. Interviews detail use of police violence and torture to intimidate and demoralize the black radical movement. The cases of the “New York Five”, Joanne Chesimard (Assata Shakur), and Fred Hilton are described, along with the killing of Fred Hampton and the imprisonment of Muhammad Arif and Victor Cumerbash. Black Liberation Army prisoners (Herman Bell and Gabriel Torres) are interviewed extensively. Family members speak to the violence and repression of the police at a press conference. The murder by police of Twyman Myers is extensively addressed.
Prison Reports Prison Reports
Call Number: FI 154Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Barbara Lubinski, Heber DreherProgram: Freedom Is A Constant StruggleCollection: Freedom is a Constant Struggle
Mother of Tyrone Guyton, 14 year old Black youth shot and killed by police in Emeryville; reports on struggle against the execution of Gary Tyler, the San Quentin 6 case and testimony of Louis Tackwood, police agent, with detailed interview with Tackood by Mark Schwartz; hunger strike on San Quentin death row.
George Jackson speaking about fascism ;  Readings from Soledad Brother  (Part 1 of 2) George Jackson speaking about fascism ; Readings from Soledad Brother (Part 1 of 2)
Date: 9/14/1971Call Number: CD 908Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: George Jackson
Track 1: Great taped interviews of George Jackson speaking about fascism. In depth analysis of 3 stages of fascism and how it has manifested itself in the United States. Talks about need to create communes and revolutionary culture so as to reestablish class consciousness. Fascism destroys sense of community among people of all classes. “We are not acting individually inside the prisons - we are rank and file”. Soledad Brothers does not apply to three people but to all brothers who fight against concentration camps. Track 2: An actor named Chris Graham has a taped reading of the intro to George Jackson’s Soledad Brother. Sounds a lot like George reading it himself. Reel 1 of 2 of Chris Graham reading from autobiography. See PM 118 for Reel 2 of 2.
The Black Panther Black Community News Service The Black Panther Black Community News Service
Publisher: The Black Panther PartyYear: 1970Volume Number: Vol. 5-24 December 14Format: PeriodicalCollection: Black Panther Party Community News Service
Cover Story: New York