Political Posters

The “All Of Us Or None” (AOUON) archive project was started by Free Speech Movement activist Michael Rossman in 1977 to gather and document posters of modern progressive movements in the United States. Though some early works are included, its focus is on the domestic political poster renaissance that began in 1965 and continues to this day. When Rossman died May 12, 2008 his family donated the collection to the Oakland Museum of California. More …

The Archive gathered posters from all streams of progressive activity — from movements of protest, liberation, and affirmative action, trade union and community struggles, to electoral and environmental organizing, community services, and visionary manifestos. It is strongest in work from the San Francisco Bay Area, but its scope is national: approximately one-quarter of its holdings come from out of state, primarily New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. These are complemented by a representation of international work. The collection consists of approximately 24,500 distinct titles.

The collection includes examples from well-known graphic artists including Malaquías Montoya, Emory Douglas, Rachael Romero, Rupert Garcia, Yolanda Lopez, Favianna Rodriguez, Carlos Cortez, Nancy Hom, Juan Fuentes, and Jos Sances, as well as material from seminal collective workshops such as La Raza Silkscreen, the Royal Chicano Air Force, Japantown Art and Media, Kearny Street Workshop, and Inkworks Press. Perhaps more important, the depth and breadth of the collection reveals the contribution of numerous lesser known or even anonymous artists whose cumulative impact on this democratic public art form has yet to be properly understood.

The cataloging of the AOUON Archive was made possible by a generous grant from the Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation.

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Los Angeles Times 1972 Poster has newspaper clippings from the Los Angeles Times July 10, 1972 edition regarding marijuana. At the top left is a photo of three men laughing.	Sunseed Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has an orange printed background with black and white text and a blue and orange graphic. At the top is "The Dawning Of A New Consciousness / sunseed / World Premiere" followed by a circle...
The Martial Artist's Highest Goal is the Peaceful Resolution of Conflict Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has green ink printed on white paper. The background shows a mountain range in the clouds. Over the top are four Asian symbols, with English text below reading "the martial artist''s...	Look Up at the Sky Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a purple printed background with white swirling stars. Black text reads "look up at the sky. / ask yourselves: / is it yes or no?"
Potluck Picnic and Dance 1978 Poser has red, black, and blue/green ink printed on white paper. At the top is a Family Dog logo and "Poutluckpicnic & Dance" followed by presenters and performers. Near the center are a list...	California Renaissance 1979 Poster has orange and black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "California Renaissance". At the center are nine images (three by three) showing a flower blooming and morphing into a bird...
Rickets Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has red and black ink printed on white paper. At the top is a stylized image of a man and woman dancing. The figures'' lower bodies appear to be microphone stands, while their faces are...	The Return of the Long-Hair Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has red and black ink printed on browning newspaper. At the top is "The Return Of The" continued at the bottom left with "Long-Hair". At the center is an image of a North American Indian...
Re:Evolution Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on brown paper with a darker brown printed background. At the top is "Sha / Men" in beige, with "Tha Shamen With Terence McKenna - Re:Evolution - The Poster - 118TP7CD" in yellow...	Mind States II Stevee Postman, artist, graphic designer 2001 Multi-color poster shows a group of green hands emerging from a landscape on a light blue textured background. Smaller hands along the bottom are closed in a fist and have leaves attached to the...
Rally Against Reefer Madness 1985 Multicolor poster is printed on white paper. Central stylized image shows a man who looks like Ronald Reagan staring at the viewer. To the left and right, people are being detained by officers. At...	Marijuana Parade 1984 Poster has black, green and pink ink printed on white paper. At the top is "March On The Democratic Convention!" in black and a stylized image of people filling the streets of San Francisco. At...
Stop the Drug Wars Late 20th Early 21st Century Top of poster has a blue printed background with a green marijuana leaf with the word "Peace" on it in yellow. At the top is "Stop the / Drug Wars!" in white and black. Below the leaf is the...	World Cannabis March 1983 Poster has a blue background printed on white paper with green borders and "Sat., May 7, 1983" in green at the top. At the top of the blue is "World Cannabis / March / On The U.N." in white. At...
5th Avenue Pot Parade 1981 Multicolor psoter printed on white newspaper. At the center is a circle with a stylized image of a hand holding and a hand lighting a marijuana joint, set on a marijuana leaf. Circled around the...	Manifesto 1970 Top of poster has a black and white photo of the silhouettes of three people holding up guns, set against a light gray sky. The bottom of the poster is black with two columns of a numbered list of...
California Marijuana Initiative 1972 Poster has blue ink printed on white paper. At the top left is ''Sat. May 20 / 10am-7pm / Provo / Park". At the center is a stylized image of a train with a face pulling a passenger...	Treasures of the Aquarians Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a blue printed background. At the top is yellow and red text reading "Startling Archaeological Discoveries! / The Sixties Revealed! / Treasures / Of The / Aquarians / The Complete...
Keep Your Head Orbit Graphic Arts 1988 Poster shows a white rabbit in a hallway with red and blue walls and a blue and brown tiled floor. Around the rabbit are bottles, playing cards, a game of chess and a mushroom. At the top in faded...	Newport Inkworks Press Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a blue printed background. Down the length of the poster is white and orange text reading "Dellums & Bates / endorse / Newport / Mayor / Yes on A & B / Berkeley Out / Of So....
untitled (heart in the sky) 1976 Poster has a central pale blue background surrounded by white. At the center is a cloud with a heart bubble.	Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is a photo of a man with a think moustache. At the bottom is "You And I / Are Not We, / But One. / -Meher Baba".
Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Summer of Love Alton Kelley, Rick Griffin, Stanley Mouse, Tea Lautrec Lithography, Victor Moscoso, Wes Wilson 1987 Poster has a multicolor, stylized background image of a woman standing in a field of green plants in front of a blaczing sun set on a blue sky. Rising up from the sea of plants at the right is the...	Buffalo Springfield and You Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a collage of black and white images of human figures, most holding protest signs. At the center is "Buffalo / Springfield / and / You" in white.