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: Peekskill Riots Paul Robeson: Peekskill Riots
Date: 1/1/1972Call Number: PR 053Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: David GelberCollection: Paul Robeson recordings
David Gelber (WBAI) narrates the story of the August 27, 1949 and September 4, 1949 riots at the Paul Robeson concerts in Peekskill, NY. Interviews with and eyewitness accounts by various individuals, including Howard Fast, Pete Seeger, Ellen Perlo, Victor Perlo, Freddy Hillerman (of Peoples Artists, the organization that sponsored the concerts), interspersed with excerpts from live radio broadcasts at the scene. Same as CD 286, Track 3
Paul Robeson Paul Robeson
Date: 2/24/1952Call Number: PR 054Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Paul Robeson recordings
Paul Robeson, taped message to Marine Cooks and Stewards meeting on February 24, 1952: speaks to his union brothers and sings "Bill of Rights" a capella. Same as CD 288, track 1 & 2
Paul Robeson readings Paul Robeson readings
Call Number: PR 055Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Lincoln BergmanCollection: Paul Robeson recordings
Readings from Paul Robeson, by Lincoln Bergman, about his years living in England (1929-39) Same as CD 288, Track 3
Paul Robeson sings Paul Robeson sings
Call Number: PR 056Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Paul Robeson recordings
Robeson songs: 1928-1965 Russian Songs and 1920s songs including Old Man River Same as CD 288, Tracks 4-12
Paul Robeson, Moscow concert 1958 Paul Robeson, Moscow concert 1958
Call Number: PR 057Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Paul Robeson recordings
Comrade Paul Robeson, concert in Moscow 1958, recorded live. Spirituals and European folk songs and Joe Hill Same as CD 294, Track 1
Paul Robeson remembered by Joe Johnson Paul Robeson remembered by Joe Johnson
Date: 10/11/1984Call Number: PR 058Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Emiliano EcheverriaCollection: Paul Robeson recordings
Interviews with Joe Johnson on his life, the Marine Cooks & Stewards Union, the ILWU and his relationship with Paul Robeson. Same as CD 295, tracks 2,3,4
Paul Robeson raw materials Paul Robeson raw materials
Call Number: PR 059Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Paul Robeson recordings
Robeson raw materials: sings Prayer and Death (aria from Boris Gudonov, Mussorgsky opera); Sid Roger interview from 1955; Robeson speaks about the role of the UN in the struggle for peace, the denial of his passport and his struggle for his right to travel, his varied musical repertoire; recites the lyrics to The Four Rivers and tells the story behind the song and its message of peace; speaks at the convention of the Marine Cooks & Stewards Union and sings Joe Hill; Sid Roger from 1955 continued; Robeson speaks about the government’s attack on Harry Bridges and the ILWU Same as CD 296, Track 1
Paul Robeson, excerpts from speeches Paul Robeson, excerpts from speeches
Call Number: PR 060Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Paul Robeson recordings
Paul Robeson, excerpts from speeches: San Francisco 1951; Sydney Australia 1960 Same as CD 296, Track 2
Paul Robeson Sings Spirituals Paul Robeson Sings Spirituals
Call Number: PR 061Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Paul Robeson recordings
Paul Robeson Sings, 1950s: spirituals : Deep River, Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child, I Got A Home In That Rock, Down in Lover’s Lane, Every Time I Feel The Spirit, Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho, Water Boy, I’m Going to Lay Down This Heavy Load. Same as CD 307, Track 1
Paul Robeson Sings Spirituals Paul Robeson Sings Spirituals
Call Number: PR 062Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Paul Robeson recordings
Paul Robeson sings spirituals, with Alan Booth and Lucy Brown at the piano Track 3: Jacob’s Ladder; Journey’s End Track 5: Solid Rock Track 6: Balm in Gilead Track 8: Amazing grace Track 9: Someday He’ll Make It Plain to Me Same as CD 307