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.

Independent Collections

These collections were produced by independent journalists. Many of these recordings make up the bulk of the original collection of the Freedom Archives.

Subcollections

Documents

Black Panther Press Conference & Rally Black Panther Press Conference & Rally
Date: 4/12/1968Call Number: CE 047Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
Conference followed the funeral of Bobby Hutton, 17-year old treasurer of the Black Panther Party, unarmed and slain by Oakland Police April 6, 1968. Also includes Peace and Freedom Party Rally after the funeral. Speakers include actor Marlon Brando, Panthers Bobby Seale, Kathleen Cleaver and George Murray, Kenneth Denmon and Bob Avakian (P&F), James Forman of SNCC, Louella Cleaver (Eldridge Cleaver's sister - Eldridge and Warren Wells were shot and wounded in the same police attack).
Black Panther Party Issues Black Panther Party Issues
Date: 4/22/1968Call Number: CE 048Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
Charles Garry on hearing demanding dismissal of charges against Bobby and Artie Seale; Interview with Artie Seale; Charles Garry on Eldridge Cleaver and 6 other Panthers facing assault and intent to commit murder charges stemming from police murder of Bobby Hutton; Interview with Kathleen Cleaver about Eldridge's treatment in jail.
Stokely Carmichael visits Huey Newton Stokely Carmichael visits Huey Newton
Date: 2/16/1968Call Number: CE 050Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
Report about delegation visiting Huey Newton in the Oakland Courthouse Jail - including Stokely Carmichael, Bobby Seale, Eldridge & Kathleen Cleaver. Eldridge Cleaver reads brief statement from Huey Newton. Carmichael makes terse statement.
Panthers respond to OPD attack on National Headquarters Panthers respond to OPD attack on National Headquarters
Date: 9/10/1968Call Number: CE 049Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
Oakland Police shoot out window of Black Panther Party headquarters day after Huey Newton is convicted of voluntary manslaughter. Eldridge Cleaver interview at the scene about attack and need for self defense. Bobby Seale interview. Attorney Alex Hoffmann - OPD can't investigate itself. Attorney Charles Garry on motion for new trial for Huey Newton, challenging conviction and racism of OPD. Huey offers that Black Panthers take over policing all of Oakland. Interview with Huey Newton in Oakland Jail holding cell about the guilty verdict 9/8/1968 and the police attack on BPP headquarters, Eldridge Cleaver for president campaign.
Huey Newton - 2nd trial set Huey Newton - 2nd trial set
Date: 3/7/1968Call Number: CE 051Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
The day a new trial date is set for Huey Newton (May 6, 1968). Interviews at Alameda County Courthouse with Charles Garry, Newton's attorney: with his sister, Leola Carr and fiancee, Laverne Williams who talk about Huey's life and character.
Huey Newton - 2nd trial set Huey Newton - 2nd trial set
Date: 3/7/1968Call Number: CE 052Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
The day a new trial date is set for Huey Newton (May 6, 1968). Interviews at Alameda County Courthouse with Charles Garry, Newton's attorney: with his sister, Leola Carr and fiancee, Laverne Williams who talk about Huey's life and character.
Huey Newton Interviewed day that his 2nd trail set Huey Newton Interviewed day that his 2nd trail set
Date: 3/7/1968Call Number: CE 053Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
Interviewed by Colin Edwards, Joan Didier (Columnist for Saturday Evening Post), Ray Rogers (LA Times), Eldridge Cleaver (Ramparts Magazine & minister of information of the Black Panther Party), and Attorney Charles Garry. Interview takes place in the detention area of the Alameda County Courthouse.
Bobby Seale interview Bobby Seale interview
Date: 7/4/1968Call Number: CE 054Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
Seale speaks at the Panther National Headquarters about former Panther Larry Powell. Poell, a day after his mysterious release from jail on a robbery charge, has testified before the Senate McClellan Investigative Committee, claiming that the Panthers are involved in extortion. Seale states that Powell had distributed a coloring book (withdrawn by the Party leadership) about targeting police. Seale refers to Safeway Stores in Oakland refusing to contribute food to the breakfas programs and subsequently being leafleted. Seale is asked about statements made by Raymond Johnson (now in Cuba) about racial discrimination, about criticisms of the Panthers by Stokely Carmichael and about the United Front Against Fascism. He says that Eldridge Cleaver is now somewhere in the third world.
Bobby Seale Comments on Raymond Johnson Bobby Seale Comments on Raymond Johnson
Date: 11/15/1968Call Number: CE 058Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
Johnson hijacked plane from New Orleans to Cuba 11/4/1968 and spoke extensively to US reporters. Seale says he was not a member of the Black Panther Party. Johnson received a reduced sentence after voluntarily returning to the US in 1987.
Marlon Brando Interview Marlon Brando Interview
Date: 4/1/1968Call Number: CE 059Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Collection
Speaks about America's racial crisis, racism and discrimination and why people have a right to self-defense. (only 3 minutes recorded on the street)