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

Interview with George Jackson on prisons, the Weather Underground, Black Panther Party Interview with George Jackson on prisons, the Weather Underground, Black Panther Party
Date: 7/28/1971Call Number: CD 179Format: CDProducers: Max BloomCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
George Jackson discusses the connections between the prison movement inside and other movements and the importance of democratic centralism to the success of both movements. He discusses the idea of the Black Panther Party as the vanguard party, capable of providing resources for the community. He discusses Mao and Guevara and the idea of revolution in two states. He responds to criticism of the BPP’s statements on the role of women. Also the problems with the defense committees and himself as a possible martyr.
Real Dragon Real Dragon
Date: 10/24/1971Call Number: RD 009Producers: Lincoln Bergman, Claude MarksProgram: Real DragonCollection: “The Real Dragon” a news magazine including music and poetry
Continued from RD 008. News coverage of over 20 Black rebellions occurring around the country; Rebellion in women's prison in solidarity with Attica prisoners; Continued coverage of U.S. occupation in North Vietnam; VietNam Veterans Against the War occupied the Statue of Liberty in New York; September 2nd women's march; H.Rap Brown captured; Iranian embassy in San Francisco attacked.
Anvil Anvil
Publisher: California Prisoners UnionYear: 1971Volume Number: Vol. 1-3 August - SeptemberFormat: PeriodicalCollection: Prison Newspapers
Cover Story: CPU Press Conference on San Quentin Guard Murder, Parole as a Continuation of Prison, Sadistic Castrators Expos ed, Strike at Women
War Behind Walls War Behind Walls
Publisher: Peoples Press; The Red FamilyDate: 9/1971Volume Number: SeptemberFormat: PeriodicalCollection: Prison Newspapers
Articles include: Attica Revolt, Attica Demands, California Prison Struggle History, Movements 1970-71, Soledad Brothers: A Portrait, Vacaville, more.