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.

Gender and Sexuality

This collection features materials from a number of sources focusing on struggles revolving around gender and sexuality. These struggles are not separate from larger struggles for liberation but specifically incorporate unique voices and perspectives.

Subcollections

  • Connexions
    Connexions
    Connexions is the collective product of feminists of diverse nationalities and political perspectives committed to contributing to an international women\'s movement.
  • Feminist and Lesbian Politics: Monographs-Periodicals-Articles
    Feminist and Lesbian Politics: Monographs-Periodicals-Articles
    This collection contains materials focusing on radical feminist and lesbian politics. While diverse in medium and subject matter, this collection contextualizes women’s liberation highlighting issues of class, race, sexuality and imperialism.
  • Materials shot and collected in the making of The Forest for the Trees
    Materials shot and collected in the making of The Forest for the Trees
    Raw materials from the documentary "The Forest for the Trees" which details the amazing story of the fight to clear Earth First! activist Judi Bari's name after her car was bombed and she was arrested as a terrorist.
  • Out of Control: Lesbian Committee to Support Women Prisoners
    Out of Control: Lesbian Committee to Support Women Prisoners
    Out of Control (OOC) was a self-supporting committee formed in 1987 to organize resistance to the Lexington Control Unit for women.
  • Prisons - Women
    Prisons - Women
    This collection contains materials relating to the specific conditions, challenges and struggles facing women in prison. Topics are varied but materials include conference papers, informational materials, legal perspectives and audio recordings.
  • Programs produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms
    This collection contains grassroots radio programming produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms. This programming primarily occurred during the 1980s and 1990s.
  • Sterilization
    Sterilization
    This collection contains materials focusing on the sterilization of women and efforts to resist this practice.
  • Violence Against Women
    Violence Against Women
    This collection contains materials focusing on violence against women. Specific topics covered include women who fight back against their abusers, rape, pornography, sexism and self-defense.
  • Women Against Imperialism
    Women Against Imperialism
    Women Against Imperialism was a grassroots, feminist, anti-imperialist solidarity organization formed in San Francisco in 1981. Women Against Imperialism’s work primarily consisted of direct action organizing and political education activities.

Documents

Arms and the Woman Arms and the Woman
Author: Jeanne CharlesPublisher: Bureau of Public SecretsDate: 6/1975Volume Number: June Format: PamphletCollection: Feminist and Lesbian Politics: Monographs-Periodicals-Articles
Short essay on revolutionary women. Originally entitled La critique ad mulierem, from the Chronique des Secrets Publics (Vol. 1 June 1975). Translated by Ken Knabb.
Chile: Songs for the Resistance Chile: Songs for the Resistance
Date: 1/1/1975Call Number: Vin 010Format: VinylProducers: Paredon Records, Patricio Manns, Angel Parra, KaraxuCollection: Programs produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms
Protest songs about the political resistance of the Chilean people following the violent coup that occurred in 1973. The album serves largely as a call to arms to subvert the oppressive regime.
Ki Sa Pou-n Fe? (What Is to Be Done?) Ki Sa Pou-n Fe? (What Is to Be Done?)
Date: 1/1/1975Call Number: Vin 011Format: VinylProducers: Paredon Records, Atis IndepandanCollection: Programs produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms
A collection of protest songs against the imperialist Haitian regime that has perpetuated social inequalities and the exploitation of the Haitian people. Sung in Creole, this music represents a mode of political resistance against Haiti's legacy of European and American imperialism and dictatorship of the time. Songs express the atmosphere of social unrest in the 1970s and a need for Haitian independence. Includes extensive liner notes with history and translations.
Working People Gonna Rise! Working People Gonna Rise!
Date: 1/1/1975Call Number: Vin 016Format: VinylProducers: Paredon Records, The Human Condition, Beverly GrantCollection: Programs produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms
Political ballads about the history of the American working class and the contemporary struggle for labor rights. The Human Condition were a songwriting collective of labor activists. Songs chronicle the everday experience of the working class. Includes liner notes with political statement and lyrics.
What Now People? (Vol. 1) What Now People? (Vol. 1)
Date: 1/1/1975Call Number: Vin 019Format: VinylProducers: Paredon Records, Various ArtistsCollection: Programs produced by Judy Gerber and Laurie Simms
The first volume in a compilation of political ballads by various folk singers and activist musicians. Songs cover a range of social movements, including women's rights, the antiwar movement, civil rights for African-Americans and American Indians, and the revolutionary movements in Cuba and Puerto Rico. "What Now People?" serves as a representation of the political song movement.
Letter Supporting Guidelines for Sterilization in NYC Hospitals Letter Supporting Guidelines for Sterilization in NYC Hospitals
Author: Committee to End Sterilization AbusePublisher: Committee to End Sterilization AbuseYear: 1975Format: CorrespondenceCollection: Sterilization
Template for Letter to Chairman of the Health and Hospitals Corporation Template for Letter to Chairman of the Health and Hospitals Corporation
Publisher: Committee to End Sterilization AbuseYear: 1975Format: EphemeraCollection: Sterilization
A Feminist Analysis of Child Abuse A Feminist Analysis of Child Abuse
Author: Viola WeinbergPublisher: Suzy Seeker PressYear: 1975Format: MonographCollection: Feminist and Lesbian Politics: Monographs-Periodicals-Articles
Feminist analysis of child abuse.
Sterilization Abuse of Women: the Facts Sterilization Abuse of Women: the Facts
Author: Committee to End Sterilization AbusePublisher: Health/PAC BulletinYear: 1975Volume Number: No. 62 January-FebruaryFormat: PamphletCollection: Sterilization
Fact sheet on the sterilization of women of color.