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

Messages from Tennessee's Death Row Messages from Tennessee's Death Row
Date: 1/1/2008Call Number: PM 297Format: Cass A & BCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
Inmates share their experiences of death row and advice for staying out of the prison system.
Women Against Imperialism, Blazing Redheads, The Third World Special Women Against Imperialism, Blazing Redheads, The Third World Special
Date: 7/17/1987Call Number: KP 275Format: Cass A & BProducers: KPFACollection: Anti-War
Women Against Imperialism protest against a Berkeley military recruitment center in July 1987. Women in Music program highlights the Blazing Redheads and includes interviews with band members. Walter Turner interviews Father Jivan Joseph about literacy in Haiti.
Youth Imprisonment Youth Imprisonment
Date: 1/1/2008Call Number: PM 306Format: Cass A & BProducers: Prison Activist Resource CenterProgram: On The OutsideCollection: Prisons - Youth
Jade Crown of Bad Kids Magazine speaks about youth issues - homelessness, incarceration and mental illness.
High School Walkout in Hayward High School Walkout in Hayward
Date: 4/22/1994Call Number: CV 037Format: Cass A & BProducers: Chuy VarelaCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Speeches from high school students, teachers, the school district superintendent and community members throughout the Bay Area at the 1994 high school walkout in Hayward. The students and community activists are protesting for improvements in school facilities, disciplinary policy, funding and ethnic studies.
"Turning Up the Heat": Moving the Social Justice Agenda in 1995 "Turning Up the Heat": Moving the Social Justice Agenda in 1995
Date: 1/10/1995Call Number: CV 044Format: Cass A & BCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
A panel of women discussing four key issues confronting the social justice agenda: 1) Prop 187 effects on the election 2) emerging campaign to prohibit voluntary affirmative action 3) gender equity in education settings and 4) short and long term impact of these issues and the resolutions on women political, economic and social equality. The presentations are followed by a discussion.
California Latino Alcohol and Other Drugs Coalition Conference (Part 2) California Latino Alcohol and Other Drugs Coalition Conference (Part 2)
Date: 7/20/1994Call Number: CV 048Format: Cass A & BCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Begins with a speech by Sylvia Castillo on educating and empowering the community to become effective activists and policymakers. Followed by Jerry Tello who tells many stories to present cultural values to help strengthen the bond within the Latino community. Also a short interview with one of the conference coordinators and a short discussion of Ross Perot.
Latino Alcohol Policy and Advocacy Action in California Latino Alcohol Policy and Advocacy Action in California
Date: 7/19/1994Call Number: CV 051Format: Cass A & BCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Speech by Sylvia Castillo on the importance of being a policymaker, even without a credential. Castillo encourages people to use their history to become effective policymakers as well as teach others in their community to do the same. (First part same as CV 048) Presentation by William Vega from his study on "Perinatal Substance Exposure in California," which examines the drug and alcohol used before delivery by women. Vega explains the results of his research and answers questions.
Ella Fitzgerald Tribute Ella Fitzgerald Tribute
Date: 6/18/1996Call Number: CV 057Format: Cass A & BProgram: The Morning ShowCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Music columnist Phil Elwood discusses Ella Fitzgerald's musical legacy three days after her death.
San Fancisco High Scool Walkout Leaders Speak San Fancisco High Scool Walkout Leaders Speak
Call Number: CV 058Format: Cass A & BProducers: Chuy VarelaCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
High school student walkout leaders at Dolores Park, SF demand more support for student clubs, bilingual education, and ethnic studies. Speakers include Erica Martinez, International Studies Academy; Carmen Munoz, Immaculate Conception Academy; Ellena Royal, International Studies Academy
UC Berkeley Sproul Hall Sit-In UC Berkeley Sproul Hall Sit-In
Date: 12/6/1964Call Number: KP 316Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: KPFA Public AffairsCollection: General materials
Series of short recordings of actuality of the famous Free Speech Movement Sproul Hall sit-in at UC Berkeley in 1964. Narration by John Scott Keech.