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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

Big Black speaks at Attica anniversary event Big Black speaks at Attica anniversary event
Call Number: PM 052Format: CassetteProgram: Prison MovementCollection: Attica
Big Black (Frank Smith) speaks about “where we should see ourselves in 1977”; US as prison state; need for intra-racial and inter-racial solidarity; responsibility and commitment to political organizing; ends with Q and A session
Remember Attica: Reconstruction, Reflection, Reaction Remember Attica: Reconstruction, Reflection, Reaction
Date: 11/5/1971Call Number: PM 158Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Bruce Soloway, Paul FisherProgram: WBAICollection: Attica
Part V of the “Remember Attica” series. Responses of clergy, attorneys, doctors, congressmen and the prisoner’s relatives in the weeks following the rebellion. Lawyers were admitted on 9/17/71. A week later the National Lawyers Guild gave a press conference outside the prison. They concluded that Rockefeller, and prison officials (Oswald, Mancusi and Vincent) provoked the attack by giving wrongful information to guards and troopers. On 9/17/71 BUILD, black community activists in Buffalo, went to Meyer Memorial Hospital where seriously wounded prisoners had been taken. BUILD’s executive director, Bill Gater demands that the administrative director of the hospital let him see the prisoners or give him information on their conditions. A list of prisoners and their medical conditions is read. The next day clergy and relatives are let in to see patients. Reverend Richard Ford, president of BUILD speaks about the conditions of the prisoners. Committees were formed to investigate the events at Attica. A group of New York clergymen and a congressional delegation group speak on Attica.Finally on 9/29 relatives are let into the prison to speak with prisoners. Interviews are conducted with families exiting prison.
Ghosts of Attica (Finecut) Ghosts of Attica (Finecut)
Date: 1/1/2001Call Number: V 034Format: VHSProducers: David Van Taylor, Brad Lichtenstein, Lumier ProductionsCollection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
GHOSTS OF ATTICA offers the definitive account of America's most violent prison rebellion, its suppression, and the days of torture that ensued. Using exclusive, newly uncovered video of the assault, interviews with eyewitnesses who've never spoken before on-camera, and footage of inmates and hostages throughout their battles against the state, this film unravels one of America's deepest cover-ups, and shows how the legendary prison riot transformed the lives of its survivors. This stirring documentary features extensive interviews with Attica survivors, including former inmate Frank "Big Black" Smith, Mike Smith, who was a guard who was taken hostage and subsequently wounded by police fire, and Elizabeth Fink, the attorney who headed the inmates' decades-long legal battles against New York State. Other interviews include those with New York Times columnist Tom Wicker, Congressman Herman Badillo, Assemblyman Arthur Eve, and civil rights lawyer William Kunstler.
Attica Rebellion: 30 years later Attica Rebellion: 30 years later
Date: 9/7/2001Call Number: CD 024Format: CDProducers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
30 Years After the Attica Rebellion: A 29-minute radio documentary about the origins of the modern anti-prison movement BC Master for portion of Prisons on Fire CD September, 2001 marks the 30th anniversary of the Attica Rebellion in New York. This massive prison takeover by hundreds of inmates and the callous repression and murders by the state of New York are part of a unique moment in US history. Who were the Attica Brothers? Why did they seize control of the prison? What makes Attica important to the anti-prison movement today? Featuring historical materials from the Freedom Archives. Voices include: Frank 'Big Black' Smith, Attica Brother and prison activist L.D. Barkley, Attica Brother killed during the re-taking of the prison Elizabeth Fink, attorney for the Attica Brothers Michael Deutsch, attorney for the Attica Brothers Historical recordings in Attica prison during the rebellion and the bloody retaking of the prison Knowing what happened in the early 1970s prison movement is essential for youth, communities of color and progressives to effectively confront today's unprecedented prison growth. We bring you this history through the voices of the people who were there - taking young people back to a time filled with lessons for today and tomorrow.
Attica Rebellion: 30 years later Attica Rebellion: 30 years later
Date: 9/7/2001Call Number: CD 025Format: CDProducers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
30 Years After the Attica Rebellion: A 29-minute radio documentary about the origins of the modern anti-prison movement BC Master for portion of Prisons on Fire CD September, 2001 marks the 30th anniversary of the Attica Rebellion in New York. This massive prison takeover by hundreds of inmates and the callous repression and murders by the state of New York are part of a unique moment in US history. Who were the Attica Brothers? Why did they seize control of the prison? What makes Attica important to the anti-prison movement today? Featuring historical materials from the Freedom Archives. Voices include: Frank 'Big Black' Smith, Attica Brother and prison activist L.D. Barkley, Attica Brother killed during the re-taking of the prison Elizabeth Fink, attorney for the Attica Brothers Michael Deutsch, attorney for the Attica Brothers Historical recordings in Attica prison during the rebellion and the bloody retaking of the prison Knowing what happened in the early 1970s prison movement is essential for youth, communities of color and progressives to effectively confront today's unprecedented prison growth. We bring you this history through the voices of the people who were there - taking young people back to a time filled with lessons for today and tomorrow.
George Jackson: 30 years later George Jackson: 30 years later
Date: 11/1/2001Call Number: CD 026Format: CDProducers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
30 Years After the Murder of George Jackson: A 29-minute documentary about the origins of the modern anti-prison movement Master Mix for Prisons on Fire CD August 21st, 2001 marked the 30th anniversary of the murder of George Jackson in San Quentin prison. Through his writings and leadership inside, George Jackson embodies the legacy of the prison movement. Who was George Jackson? Why was he targeted by the prison administration? What makes him important to the anti-prison movement today? Featuring historical materials, including George Jackson, from the Freedom Archives. Other voices include: Angela Davis, UC Santa Cruz professor, who supported George & Jonathan Jackson David Hilliard, former Black Panther Party leader Ruchell Magee, prison activist and leader, still in prison for his political activities Georgia Jackson, mother of George and Jonathan Jackson Harry Belafonte, performer and human rights activist James Baldwin, outspoken writer and social activist David Johnson, Hugo Pinell, Luis Talamantez and Sundiata Tate, all charged with the San Quentin rebellion following the murder of George Jackson Narrated by Jonathan Jackson, Jr. Knowing what happened in the early 1970s prison movement is essential for youth, communities of color and progressives to effectively confront today's unprecedented prison growth. We bring you this history through the voices of the people who were there - taking young people back to a time that, in today's context, seems unimaginable.
George Jackson: 30 years later George Jackson: 30 years later
Date: 11/1/2001Call Number: CD 027Format: CDProducers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
30 Years After the Murder of George Jackson: A 29-minute documentary about the origins of the modern anti-prison movement Master Mix for Prisons on Fire CD August 21st, 2001 marked the 30th anniversary of the murder of George Jackson in San Quentin prison. Through his writings and leadership inside, George Jackson embodies the legacy of the prison movement. Who was George Jackson? Why was he targeted by the prison administration? What makes him important to the anti-prison movement today? Featuring historical materials, including George Jackson, from the Freedom Archives. Other voices include: Angela Davis, UC Santa Cruz professor, who supported George & Jonathan Jackson David Hilliard, former Black Panther Party leader Ruchell Magee, prison activist and leader, still in prison for his political activities Georgia Jackson, mother of George and Jonathan Jackson Harry Belafonte, performer and human rights activist James Baldwin, outspoken writer and social activist David Johnson, Hugo Pinell, Luis Talamantez and Sundiata Tate, all charged with the San Quentin rebellion following the murder of George Jackson Narrated by Jonathan Jackson, Jr. Knowing what happened in the early 1970s prison movement is essential for youth, communities of color and progressives to effectively confront today's unprecedented prison growth. We bring you this history through the voices of the people who were there - taking young people back to a time that, in today's context, seems unimaginable.
George Jackson: 30 years later George Jackson: 30 years later
Date: 11/1/2001Call Number: CD 028Format: CDProducers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
30 Years After the Murder of George Jackson: A 29-minute documentary about the origins of the modern anti-prison movement Master Mix for Prisons on Fire CD August 21st, 2001 marked the 30th anniversary of the murder of George Jackson in San Quentin prison. Through his writings and leadership inside, George Jackson embodies the legacy of the prison movement. Who was George Jackson? Why was he targeted by the prison administration? What makes him important to the anti-prison movement today? Featuring historical materials, including George Jackson, from the Freedom Archives. Other voices include: Angela Davis, UC Santa Cruz professor, who supported George & Jonathan Jackson David Hilliard, former Black Panther Party leader Ruchell Magee, prison activist and leader, still in prison for his political activities Georgia Jackson, mother of George and Jonathan Jackson Harry Belafonte, performer and human rights activist James Baldwin, outspoken writer and social activist David Johnson, Hugo Pinell, Luis Talamantez and Sundiata Tate, all charged with the San Quentin rebellion following the murder of George Jackson Narrated by Jonathan Jackson, Jr. Knowing what happened in the early 1970s prison movement is essential for youth, communities of color and progressives to effectively confront today's unprecedented prison growth. We bring you this history through the voices of the people who were there - taking young people back to a time that, in today's context, seems unimaginable.
George Jackson: 30 years later George Jackson: 30 years later
Date: 11/1/2001Call Number: CD 029Format: CDProducers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
30 Years After the Murder of George Jackson: A 29-minute documentary about the origins of the modern anti-prison movement Master Mix for Prisons on Fire CD August 21st, 2001 marked the 30th anniversary of the murder of George Jackson in San Quentin prison. Through his writings and leadership inside, George Jackson embodies the legacy of the prison movement. Who was George Jackson? Why was he targeted by the prison administration? What makes him important to the anti-prison movement today? Featuring historical materials, including George Jackson, from the Freedom Archives. Other voices include: Angela Davis, UC Santa Cruz professor, who supported George & Jonathan Jackson David Hilliard, former Black Panther Party leader Ruchell Magee, prison activist and leader, still in prison for his political activities Georgia Jackson, mother of George and Jonathan Jackson Harry Belafonte, performer and human rights activist James Baldwin, outspoken writer and social activist David Johnson, Hugo Pinell, Luis Talamantez and Sundiata Tate, all charged with the San Quentin rebellion following the murder of George Jackson Narrated by Jonathan Jackson, Jr. Knowing what happened in the early 1970s prison movement is essential for youth, communities of color and progressives to effectively confront today's unprecedented prison growth. We bring you this history through the voices of the people who were there - taking young people back to a time that, in today's context, seems unimaginable.
Prisons on Fire Prisons on Fire
Date: 12/15/2001Call Number: CD 030Format: CDProducers: Freedom ArchivesCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Quicktime Master for Prisons on Fire CD Fantasy Studios