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

The Negro Writer in America -- Part 2 The Negro Writer in America -- Part 2
Call Number: CE 093Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsProgram: The Negro Writer in AmericaCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
Documentary for "Project 95" of Canadian Broadcasting with actuality from the Negro Writers Congress in Asilomar, California on more general topic of race relations in US. Includes speeches, interviews, conversations and exchanges with audience.
Angela Davis Benefit Angela Davis Benefit
Date: 2/25/1972Call Number: CD 702Format: CDCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Franklin Alexander, head of Angela Defense. Introduced by Maya Angelou who then does some poems, Harlem Hopscotch, Times Square Shoe Shine Composition, great one on Harriet Tubman/and For My People by Margaret Walker.
Maya Angelou reads Margaret Walker Maya Angelou reads Margaret Walker
Date: 2/25/1972Call Number: CD 703Format: CDCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Two poems - Harriet Tubman and For My People by Margaret Walker.
An Evening with Judge Bruce Wright and Friends An Evening with Judge Bruce Wright and Friends
Date: 1/1/1974Call Number: KP 449Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: WBAI New YorkProgram: An Evening with Judge Bruce Wright and FriendsCollection: General materials
Poetry reading and tribute hosted by Harry Belafonte, with William Kunstler, Dennis Banks. and Jennifer Dohrn reading some of their favorite poems of struggle and liberation to benefit Bruce Wright, progressive African-American judge threatened with removal from the bench because of supposed leniency in cases involving poor defendants.
Brecht in Hollywood Brecht in Hollywood
Date: 1/1/1963Call Number: KP 450Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: David OssmanProgram: Brecht in HollywoodCollection: General materials
Biography of Bertolt Brecht from 1941-1947. Includes statements by Elsa Lanchester and John Houseman and actuality of Brecht's testimony before the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
Valentine"s Day Critique Valentine"s Day Critique
Date: 2/9/1980Call Number: FI 150Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Barbara Lubinski, Linda KJesslerProgram: Freedom Is A Constant StruggleCollection: Freedom is a Constant Struggle
Critique of Valentine's Day through poetry from the group Women's Words recited by Barbara Lubinski and Linda Kessler.
I-Hotel Celebration I-Hotel Celebration
Date: 8/6/2000Call Number: IH 038Format: VHSCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Demonstration, talks, music, dance and poetry at Cloud House in San Francisco.
Chinese for Affirmative action - Cameron House Poetry Chinese for Affirmative action - Cameron House Poetry
Date: 8/20/2001Call Number: IH 042Format: VHSCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Meeting of Chinese for Affirmative Action. Cameron House poetry reading.
Cameron House Poetry - Part 2 Cameron House Poetry - Part 2
Date: 8/20/2001Call Number: IH 043Format: VHSCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Cameron House poetry reading.
Judy Grahn performs A Woman is Talking to Death Judy Grahn performs A Woman is Talking to Death
Call Number: JG/ 136AFormat: Cass AProgram: Common WomanCollection: Programs produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms
Reading of feminist poetry on the radio show Common Woman for KPOO. Judy Grahn reads selected poems with Willis Kim, both of the Women's Press Collective in Oakland.