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, specifcally AND/+, NOT/-, and OR operators. 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.
Welcome to the Freedom Archives' Digital Search Engine.The Freedom Archives contains over 12,000 hours of audio and video recordings which date from the late-1960s to the mid-90s and chronicle the progressive history of the Bay Area, the United States, and international movements. We are also in the process of scanning and uploading thousands of historical documents which enrich our media holdings. Our collection includes weekly news, poetry, music programs; in-depth interviews and reports on social and cultural issues; numerous voices from behind prison walls; diverse activists; and pamphlets, journals and other materials from many radical organizations and movements.

Search Results

Memo from Grattan Club Publicity Memo from Grattan Club Publicity
Author: Isabel HansonPublisher: Grattan Club PublicityDate: 5/1968Volume Number: MayFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Black Panther Party (Northern California)
Memo to KPFA that Kathleen Cleaver will speak at Grattan School Auditorium on "Defense for the Black Panthers is defense for us all" on May 16th, and Merven Garson, 5th C.D. candidate will speak on goals and platform of Peace and Freedom Party
Plea for Support in the Release of Eldridge Cleaver Plea for Support in the Release of Eldridge Cleaver
Publisher: International Committee to Release Eldridge CleaverFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Eldridge Cleaver
Letter to Elsa Knight Thompson asking for her support in effort to release Eldridge Cleaver; organization's "Bay Area Co-Chairmen" include James Baldwin, Ossie Davis, Dr. Carlton Goodlett.
Form Letter to Judge Kathleen Parker Form Letter to Judge Kathleen Parker
Publisher: National Task Force for COINTELPRO Litigation & ResearchDate: 1/1980Volume Number: JanuaryFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Cointelpro
Form letter urging Judge Kathleen Parker to release Geronimo Pratt from prison
Elsa Knight Thompson Letter in response to Cyrill Abels Elsa Knight Thompson Letter in response to Cyrill Abels
Author: Elsa Knight ThompsonPublisher: KPFADate: 3/24/1969Volume Number: 24-MarFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Eldridge Cleaver
Letter in response to Cyrill Abels re: Eldridge Cleaver having rights to talk he gave on KPFA re: Bobby Hutton shooting, and correspondence leading up to this KPFA clarification letter.
Prison Law Collective Open Letter Prison Law Collective Open Letter
Authors: Linda Castro, Richard Doctoroff, Brian Glick, Eve Pell, Patti Roberts, Deidre StonePublisher: Prison Law CollectiveFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Health Justice
Prison Law Collective appeals for support in efforts to arrange medical care, obtain due process for prisoners, straighten out mail and visiting problems, file charges against guards for brutal treatment of prisoners, inform prisoners and families of rights, and publicize conditions on the inside. The letter emphasizes the harsh conditions of American Tobacco Company prison labor and the psychological cruelty of the prison system.
Letter to William J. Hughes Letter to William J. Hughes
Publisher: Committee to End the Marion LockdownYear: 1991Format: CorrespondenceCollection: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown
Letter expressing concern over the planned construction of new CUP in Florence, Colorado. References attached enclosures. Part of Packet.
Letter to William J. Hughes Letter to William J. Hughes
Author: Dan DovePublisher: Public AffairsYear: 1992Format: CorrespondenceCollection: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown
Letter inquiring as to Hughes' non response to CEML letter sent 1/27/1992. Part of Packet.
Dear Friends Puerto Rico Victory Letter Dear Friends Puerto Rico Victory Letter
Publisher: Committee for the Suit Against Government MisconductDate: 5/30/1979Volume Number: 30-MayFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Cointelpro
Letter celebrating the freedom of William Guillermo Morales.
Huey Says Panthers are Not Parties to Extortion Huey Says Panthers are Not Parties to Extortion
Author: Huey NewtonPublisher: The Black Panther PartyDate: 2/14/1974Volume Number: 14-FebFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
A letter from Huey P. Newton of the Black Panther Party to Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Hearst. The letter volunteers the Black Panthers to distribute the food as part of the bargain from the SLA to return Patricia Hearst to her family.
Political Prisoners of California Letter to SLA Political Prisoners of California Letter to SLA
Author: Political Prisoners of CaliforniaDate: 3/1/1974Volume Number: 1-MarFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
A letter from Poltical Prisoners of California that thanks the SLA taking action and kidnapping Patricia Hearst because it resulted in food being given to the poor.