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

Marion and Lexington Control Units Marion and Lexington Control Units
Date: 3/18/1988Call Number: V 639Format: DV CamProgram: 20/20Collection: Videos in many formats – both camera originals as well as reference materials
Excerpts of three videos on control units in the US. Marion Control Units - a history of control units in the US, focusing mainly on Marion. Black prisoners in the US prisons, prison demographics by race and rate. Lexington Control Unit - Includes interviews with Alejandrina Torres, Susan Rosenberg and Sylvia Baraldrini about the conditions in the control unit and the effects of sensory deprivation. Marion 20/20 - a discussion of the techniques used at USP Marion, including testimonies from prisoners and the warden. Transcript of 20/20 piece available for download.
Political Prisoners in the United States: The Hidden Reality Political Prisoners in the United States: The Hidden Reality
Authors: Michael E. Deutsch and Jan SuslerFormat: MonographCollection: 1990 Tribunal
Who are the political prisoners and prisoners of war; the criminalization of political activists: the new repression; conclusion.
Statement from the US Poltical Prisoners to Nelson Mandela, Deputy VP of the African National Congress Statement from the US Poltical Prisoners to Nelson Mandela, Deputy VP of the African National Congress
Author: Dhoruba Bin WahadDate: 6/21/1990Volume Number: 21-JunFormat: StatementCollection: 1990 Tribunal
statement from one recently freed political prisoner to another.
Verdict of the Special International Tribunal on the Violation of Human Rights of Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War in United States Prisons and Jails Verdict of the Special International Tribunal on the Violation of Human Rights of Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War in United States Prisons and Jails
Date: 12/7/1990Volume Number: Dec 7-10Format: MonographCollection: 1990 Tribunal
Outline of Judgment and Verdict: Constitution of the Tribunal; Overview; The Right to Self-Determination (Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, Black People in the United States, Mexican People (Chicano) in the United States; Puerto Rican Prisoners of War; White North American Opponents of United States Government Policies; Criminalization and the Denial of the Rule of Law; Torture and Cruel, inhumane and Degrading Treatment; Verdict.
Prison Action News Prison Action News
Publisher: Anarchist Black CrossYear: 2011Volume Number: Vol. 4-1 JanuaryFormat: PeriodicalCollection: Anarchist Black Cross (ABC)
Table of Contents: Groups and Programs; The Almighty Pen and Paper: Grievances and Legal Work; Solidarity: Working Across the Bars; Direct Action/ Non-Compliance; Updates on Continuous Resistance
Information and Resources Information and Resources
Publisher: California Anarchist Prisoner SolidarityFormat: PamphletCollection: Anarchist Black Cross (ABC)
Pamphlet on writing letters to political prisoners
No Iraqi Called Me a Nigger No Iraqi Called Me a Nigger
Author: Lorenzo Komboa ErvinFormat: StatementCollection: Anarchist Black Cross (ABC)
Support Chris Gatewood!
My Refusal to Remain Silent: A Press Release of the SHU My Refusal to Remain Silent: A Press Release of the SHU
Publisher: South Chicago ABCFormat: Press ReleaseCollection: Anarchist Black Cross (ABC)
Statement from an Indiana SHU
One New Afrikan Nation Toward Black August Memorial One New Afrikan Nation Toward Black August Memorial
Publisher: NARN Think TankFormat: PamphletCollection: Anarchist Black Cross (ABC)
Information and historical fact about Black August
Truth is Revolutionary Truth is Revolutionary
Author: Anthony RaysonPublisher: South Chicago ABC DistroDate: 4/22/2005Volume Number: 22-AprFormat: StatementCollection: Anarchist Black Cross (ABC)
Statement made at Beloit College Forum