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

Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks in Detroit and Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks in Detroit and Washington, DC
Date: 6/23/1963Call Number: CD 018Format: CDProducers: GordyCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks in Detroit, Michigan, June 23, 1963 from Gordy 906.
Che Guevara in New York Che Guevara in New York
Date: 12/18/1963Call Number: CAP 081Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Political issues of the time – a program series produced by Comunicacion Aztlan
Che Guevara is asked many questions by American journalists. Translated from Spanish on the spot. Questions range from bureaucracy, Cuban propaganda, the Black struggle in America, Puerto Rico. When asked, “Do you think it will be possible for Latin America to live in peace without the fall of the U.S. Government”? He replies that the question is difficult but there will be a need for struggle.
Che Guevara in New York Che Guevara in New York
Date: 12/18/1963Call Number: CD 047Format: CDCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Che Guevara is asked many questions by American journalists. Translated from Spanish on the spot. Questions range from bureaucracy, Cuban propaganda, the Black struggle in America, Puerto Rico. When asked, “Do you think it will be possible for Latin America to live in peace without the fall of the U.S. Government”? He replies that the question is difficult but there will be a need for struggle.
Bold Design for a New South Bold Design for a New South
Author: Martin Luther King Jr.Publisher: The NationDate: 3/30/1963Volume Number: 30-MarFormat: ArticleCollection: Martin Luther King Jr.
Radio Free Dixie Radio Free Dixie
Year: 1963Call Number: RFW 034Format: CDProgram: Radio Free DixieCollection: Robert F. Williams!
We have no legal rights to reproduce or distribute this item! 12-minute commentary by Robert F Williams. May 17, 1954 end to school desegregation decision seemed that the US was to become a civilized nation…to enforce the 14th ammendment, but merely legalization of the right to struggle - "leaves them [Blacks] to beg and prey" for rights. Hypocrisy of the US government Birmingham like South Africa. Vicious police attacks on Afro-Americans, police dogs feasting on human flesh. What is the position of the US government in "Dixie USA?" While Kennedy greets the Bay of Pigs invaders returning to Florida..."Slick John" is making the owrld 'safe for democracy' by supporting attacks on Blacks in the South, while churches and homes are bombed. Blacks "don't need promises, but action" "slick John remained motionless". There won't be change until violence becomes a two-way proposition. "The whole civilized world is on our side." "We must be willing to kill for freedom." "Freedomnow, or death." (20:00) news of Birmingham and NYC
Malcolm X speaks at UC Berkeley Malcolm X speaks at UC Berkeley
Date: 10/11/1963Call Number: KP 165Format: Cass A & BCollection: Malcolm X
America’s Gravest Crisis Transcript available- http://www.brothermalcolm.net/2002/berkley/text.html
James Baldwin interview James Baldwin interview
Date: 5/7/1963Call Number: KP 171AFormat: Cass ACollection: Black Arts
James Baldwin interviewed by Elsa Knight Thompson and John Leonard. - Discussion about his views and writings about the Civil Rights Movement.
America and the New Era America and the New Era
Publisher: Students for a Democratic SocietyDate: 6/1963Volume Number: JuneFormat: MonographCollection: Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
Monograph prepared at the June 1963 convention of the Students for a Democratic Society.
James Baldwin interview James Baldwin interview
Date: 5/7/1963Call Number: CD 552Format: CDCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
James Baldwin interviewed by Elsa Knight Thompson and John Leonard. - Discussion about his views and writings about the Civil Rights Movement.
Helen Sobell Interview Helen Sobell Interview
Date: 1/26/1963Call Number: KP 351Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Elsa Knight ThompsonCollection: Political Prisoners- General Info
Elsa Knight Thompson interview of Helen Sobell, then wife of Morton Sobell, imprisoned on Alcatraz for alleged complicity with the Rosenberg case. At time of this interview he was still imprisoned. Was released in 1969 after more than 17 years in prison.