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.

Freedom Archives Productions

These materials were used in various Freedom Archives productions released between 2000 and 2013.

Subcollections

Documents

Interview with Herman Bell Interview with Herman Bell
Date: 8/31/1977Call Number: CD 541Format: CDCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Interviews with Herman Bell on August 31, 1977 at USP Marion. He speaks mainly about prison conditions, control units, behavior modification, the injustice of the prison system.
Interviews with Herman Bell Interviews with Herman Bell
Date: 9/16/1974Call Number: CD 542Format: CDProducers: KPFACollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Interview done by Claude Marks with Black Liberation Army member Herman Bell. Bell discusses the need for organizing within the black community and the means of strengthening itself through resistance and struggle. The SLA and Black Liberation Army are discussed extensively. 6/13/1974 Compilation of interview clips with Herman Bell. Among the topics discussed are Bell’s bank robbery conviction in San Francisco, the history of black rebellions in America, and methods of encouraging people to organize and participate in revolutionary change. There are frequent references to the Black Liberation Army (BLA), Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), and the Weather Underground. Prison conditions and police harassment are also discussed. 9/16/1974 & 9/25/1974
Interview with Herman Bell Interview with Herman Bell
Date: 6/13/1974Call Number: CD 539Format: CDProducers: Claude MarksCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Interview with Herman Bell by Claude Marks about the Black Liberation Movement, his reflections on political realities for Black communities and the politics of liberation and resistance; his capture in New Orleans; the torture of Black Liberation Army members by the police; BLA members murdered by police in New York; and his vision for the future.
An Interview with Veronza Bowers An Interview with Veronza Bowers
Date: 12/29/2002Call Number: CD 544Format: CDProducers: KZYX Philo, CAProgram: Youth Speaks Out - Dan Roberts & Eda LevensonCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Veronza Bowers, a former Black Panther who has served over 30 years in prison despite having completed his sentence and gained the right to release by the US Parole Commission, remains locked up.
I Am My Momma's Son - a message to my family I Am My Momma's Son - a message to my family
Call Number: CD 545Format: CDCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Two Flute pieces performed by political prisoner Veronza Bowers. 1- Eulogy 35:14 2 - Birthing Song 41:06 Veronza Bowers, a former Black Panther who has served over 30 years in prison despite having completed his sentence and gained the right to release by the US Parole Commission, remains locked up.
To Touch the Spirit - Healing music from Federal Prison To Touch the Spirit - Healing music from Federal Prison
Date: 1/1/2005Call Number: CD 546Format: CDCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Flute pieces performed by political prisoner Veronza Bowers & friends. 1- To Touch the Spirit 2 - Song for Alexis 3- Healing Heart Veronza Bowers, a former Black Panther who has served over 30 years in prison despite having completed his sentence and gained the right to release by the US Parole Commission, remains locked up.
Statements by James Baldwin, Jean Genet, Philippe Sollers Statements by James Baldwin, Jean Genet, Philippe Sollers
Date: 1/1/1971Call Number: CD 555Format: CDProgram: French film companyCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Statements after the murder of George Jackson in French and English. Baldwin is stunning!
Legacy of the Black Panther Party & its importance today Legacy of the Black Panther Party & its importance today
Date: 12/1/2007Call Number: CD 612Format: CDProducers: RnB, Cares ProgramProgram: Teen Talk RadioCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
Discussion features Ashanti Alston, Sam Anderson, asha bandele, Monifa Bandele, Charles Barron, Dhoruba bi Wahad, Soffiyah Elijah, Jamal Joseph, Jalil Muntaqim and historic tapes. Teen Talk Radio - 2 CDs
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.