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

Paul Robeson program Paul Robeson program
Call Number: CD 272Format: CDProgram: InterfaceCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Host narrates biography of Robeson, with Robeson songs playing in background; audio clips from Robeson’s films; commentary on Robeson’s attitude about film roles for African Americans; excerpt from 1959 interview with British journalist, where Robeson speaks about the dignity of the role of Othello and his views on the relation of “negro” music to the traditional folk music of many nations. Same as PR 038
Freedom ways Salute to Paul Robeson; Paul Robeson's political songs USA/USSR/Wales/Ireland Freedom ways Salute to Paul Robeson; Paul Robeson's political songs USA/USSR/Wales/Ireland
Call Number: CD 280Format: CDCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Freedom ways Salute: 1: Last public appearance (4/1965); 2: Speech for Progressive Party (1952); 3: Interview about H. Wallace Campaign and Progressive Party (1948); 4: Interview on the BBC discusses Othello and Spirituals (1959); 5: Statement at time of passport application (1955) Same as PR 044 Paul Robeson's political songs USA/USSR/Wales/Ireland Same as PR 047
Paul Robeson Show: Music To Lift The Spirit - Excerpts from Robeson interviews and speeches. Paul Robeson Show: Music To Lift The Spirit - Excerpts from Robeson interviews and speeches.
Date: 12/18/1982Call Number: CD 242Format: CDProducers: Emiliano EcheverriaProgram: Freedom Is A Constant StruggleCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Robeson, not allowed to travel outside the US, sings and speaks, from New York via transatlantic telephone hook-up, to the 1957 Eisteddfod Festival, an annual cultural event in Wales. Includes welcoming speech to Robeson by Wil Paynter, President of the South Wales Miners, Robeson’s greetings to the Welsh miners and comments on why the government revoked his passport. Songs by the Treochy Male Voice Choir. Also includes an excerpt from a 1976 CBS Radio commentary on Robeson on Murray Kempton’s program “Spectrum.” Same as PR 014 Excerpts from Robeson interviews and speeches. Same as PR 015
Rediscovered Welsh Folk Songs Rediscovered Welsh Folk Songs
Call Number: CE 032Format: CassetteProducers: Colin EdwardsProgram: Rediscovered Welsh Folk SongsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
Welsh folk songs explained and sung by folklorist Elizabeth Lloyd Evans.