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

Negroes with Guns - Part 2 Negroes with Guns - Part 2
Date: 5/31/1962Call Number: RFW 030Format: CDCollection: Robert F. Williams!
We have no legal rights to reproduce or distribute this item! Industrial Development Coalition. Tax exemptions and incentives to corporations from the North who were not hiring Black people – taxation without representation. Integration of schools in Monroe. No buses to Black schools so Black children had to walk long distances even though there were white schools a few blocks from their homes. Early experiences of the Freedom Riders. Felt very comfortable in Monroe. Did not have any conflicts with the white people in the town. Monroe whites attack picket lines. Provided new understanding of conditions to Freedom Riders. RFW advised them that it was okay to be pacifist but to beware that being openly pacifist can open up the group to violent attacks. Friday before fleeing Monroe (August 25, 1961), 10 year old boy Prentiss Robinson beaten by 3 white men in town, 3 Freedom Riders attacked in the next county – one escapes by running into the woods but went missing. Law enforcement was asked to assist in finding him to avoid potential violence against him by anti-Freedom Riders, but no assistance. Freedom Riders request protection. RFW brings demands to governor’s aide – Hugh B. Cannon. Freedom Riders are threatened by white racists. Sheriff’s department brings over 5000 white racists into the town to fight the Freedom Riders. On Sunday, August 27, 1961 the Freedom Riders were beaten and jailed for picketing violations. Members of the community begin to arm themselves against the white racists. The Kidnapping Story. Phone call from the sheriff of Monroe threatening the arrival of state troopers to arrest and kill RFW. Decided to leave Monroe, not because they feared indictment, but for the family’s safety. Mae Mallory comes to Monroe with many others and media. Aim: show the “viciousness” happening in Monroe. Governor tells people coming in that they can trust in justice but Black people continually treated unjustly. Black man received a 5 year sentence for leering at a white woman. $1900 settlement for death of Black girls. Women and men attacked and beaten – assailants freed. US Justice Dept. spreads lies around the country about RFW.
Negroes with Guns - Part 2 Negroes with Guns - Part 2
Date: 5/31/1962Call Number: RFW 050Format: CDCollection: Robert F. Williams!
We have no legal rights to reproduce or distribute this item! Industrial Development Coalition. Tax exemptions and incentives to corporations from the North who were not hiring Black people – taxation without representation. Integration of schools in Monroe. No buses to Black schools so Black children had to walk long distances even though there were white schools a few blocks from their homes. Early experiences of the Freedom Riders. Felt very comfortable in Monroe. Did not have any conflicts with the white people in the town. Monroe whites attack picket lines. Provided new understanding of conditions to Freedom Riders. RFW advised them that it was okay to be pacifist but to beware that being openly pacifist can open up the group to violent attacks. Friday before fleeing Monroe (August 25, 1961), 10 year old boy Prentiss Robinson beaten by 3 white men in town, 3 Freedom Riders attacked in the next county – one escapes by running into the woods but went missing. Law enforcement was asked to assist in finding him to avoid potential violence against him by anti-Freedom Riders, but no assistance. Freedom Riders request protection. RFW brings demands to governor’s aide – Hugh B. Cannon. Freedom Riders are threatened by white racists. Sheriff’s department brings over 5000 white racists into the town to fight the Freedom Riders. On Sunday, August 27, 1961 the Freedom Riders were beaten and jailed for picketing violations. Members of the community begin to arm themselves against the white racists. The Kidnapping Story. Phone call from the sheriff of Monroe threatening the arrival of state troopers to arrest and kill RFW. Decided to leave Monroe, not because they feared indictment, but for the family’s safety. Mae Mallory comes to Monroe with many others and media. Aim: show the “viciousness” happening in Monroe. Governor tells people coming in that they can trust in justice but Black people continually treated unjustly. Black man received a 5 year sentence for leering at a white woman. $1900 settlement for death of Black girls. Women and men attacked and beaten – assailants freed. US Justice Dept. spreads lies around the country about RFW. Same as RFW 030