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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The Peacemakers Planetary Anthem Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a stylized color background with shades of blue and black and an image of earth seen from outer space at the bottom. At the top is white text: "The / Peacemakers / Planetary Anthem /...	Cactus Flower and then Some P.D. Spoecker, artist 1967 Poster has black ink printed on white paper with a central graphic design. At the bottom left of the design is the only identifiable object - the face of a doll. To the bottom right of the design...
In God We Trust Double H. Press, printer, Rick Griffin, artist 1967 Poster printed on white paper with a stylized image of a thin dollar bill, with the "1"s in the four corners. The bottom left "1" has "OM" printed over it instead of "ONE" like the others. The...	Don't Cop Out Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a blue background. At the top is a stylized color image of a man with long hair and a beard in an orange suit and matching top hat, pointing his finger...
untitled (head and stars) Late 20th Early 21st Century Multicolor poster has the profile of a white face above a line of yellow surrounded by green and pink, all set on a background of multicolored rays with stars above and below. Poster verso divided...	Acid Indigestion 1967 Poster is white at the top with "acid / indigestion" in red. At the bottom is a black background with a white image of a man''s face. A tthe bottom right is a stylized image of an octopus in a top...
Legalize It Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the center is a headshot of a man in a hat and sunglasses smoking out of a pipe. At the top is "Legalize it!" in green and at the bottom is "The Marimba Band! /...	Revelation of the Way to Supermanhood Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black and white image of a man with a long beard wearing what appears to be a cape, standing among dense trees. At the bottom right is "Revelation / Of The Way To / Supermanhood /...
Norml 2005 Multicolor poster has pink, blue and purple edges enclosing a stylized image of a bright sun shining down on San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. In the sun is "Celebrate 35 1970-2005" in...	Word To Word Great Impressions, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has orange edges enclosing a purple background. At the center are black and white images of three men with a black graphic design and a pen below. Centered on the top edge is "Bill Graham...
The Kingdom of Heaven is Within You Print Mint, The Print Mint 1968 Poster has black ink printed on white paper with a stylized image of a cyclops in front of a bubbling, wavy ocean beneath a stormy sky. At the center is "The / Kingdom of Heaven / is / Within You...	Tune In Turn On Drop Out Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on yellow paper with a stylized orange image of what appears to be an eye on top of a flower surrounded by flames. At the top is "Tune In / Turn On / Drop Out" in black. The center...
Unity Fair III Fits Printing Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has green and blue ink printed on white paper. Centered at the top is "unity foundation presents:" followed by a collage of green images relating to San Francisco and North American Indians...	Festival of Growing Things 1967 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a blue background with yellow text. A tthe top is "Thunderheaven Presents / Festival / of / Growing / Things" with the text moving to the right side of...
Global Awareness of Being Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has red printed edges enclosing a blue background. At the top is a circle being held by two hands, with a figure meditating at the center. To the left and right of the circles are profile...	Smash the Omnibust Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink drawn on white paper. At the center is a stylized image of an octopus in an "Omnibus Drug Act" hat grabbing a tree and a man smoking a joint holding a baseball bat with "...
Dinosaurs 1986 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a background that pink at the top and peach at the bottom, surrounded by a blue border. Starting at the top, text reads "Wavy Gravy, M.C. / Dinosaurs /...	The Spectre of Forfeiture 1990 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "The Sprectre / of / Forfeiture" with the first three words in a melted looking typeface and the last word in chains. To the left is "She...
20th Annual 5th Ave. Pot Parade Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has green ink printed on white paper. At the top is "The 20th / Annual / 5th Ave. Pot Parade". At the center is a stylized image of people marching through an arch holding pro-marijuana...	The Tribute to Chet Helms 1994 Poster has a stylized color image showing a red and yellow ship sailing through the night sky. Flags at the top of the ship read "the Tribute to Chet Helms" and "Sat. April 30 1994". The ship''s...
Do Some Coke 1972 Poster has beige and red printed edges with rounded corners enclosing a stylized color image of a blonde woman doing cocaine. Above the image is "do some / Coke / the real thing" in black and...	Psychadelics Summit Cannabis 1993 Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a gray background with "Psychadelics Summit Cannabis". Below the text is a stylized image of the silhouette of a man riding a bicycle over a brightly...
Summer of Love Dauser Press 1997 Poster has a stylized color image of a woman in a skirt with long black hair holding a fan with "Summer of Love" on it walking through a miniature version of San Francisco. At the top left and...	June Shows 1995 Poster has a black printed background with a white border of animals and people. Centered at the top is "June / Shows" in pink. Down the length of the poster are lists of dates, times and...