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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African Rainforests Celestial Arts, publisher 1991 Right side of poster has color illustration of a rainforest scene showing chimpanzees sitting on a forest floor, with other animals in the background and trees. The left side has a black...	San Diego Zoo 1989 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a color image of butterflies flying around and landing on green leaves. At the top and bottom of the image are purple bars with yellow text reading "...
untitled (bird flying over rabbit) 1973 Poster has a black and white illustration of a bird flying over a hillside full of animals, including a rabbit, rodents, insects, etc.	Wetlands Mean Life Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a color image showing wildlife in a wetland area. At the bottom right of the image is "wetlands mean life" in yellow and white. Bottom and right edges are printed brown with "the Hudson...
Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a color image showing wildlife in a wetland area. At the left, two human figures survey the area, which is littered with garbage and pollution. In the background is a factory, farm and...	Land Use and Spring Protection 2003 Poster has a black printed background with white text. Across the top is "Land Use And Spring Protection" followed by a color illustration of a spring and surrounding land. At the left is an urban...
San Francisco: Wild in the City 1983 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. Across the top of the poster is a banner with "San Francisco: wild in the city" at the center. On the left side of the banner is "native / before -...	untitled (whale) 1972 Poster has a black and white illustration of a large beached whale. A male figures is standing on the whale holding a stick while tow other males at the left look on.
Wilderness Areas 1968 Poster verso has black ink printed on white paper. Across the top of the poster are six columns of text listing national services by state. The left-most column goes down to the bottom left edge,...	untitled (whale tail) 1988 Poster has a color photo of a whale''s tail above water. Ice floats at the left and mountains occupy the poster background.
untitled (children climbing on whale sculpture) Late 20th Early 21st Century At the top of the poster is a green tinted image of a large, full-size whale sculpture. At the bottom of the poster is an image of the same sculpture being climbed on by a group of children, also...	Space Ship Earth Celestial Arts, publisher, Orbit Graphic Arts, printer 1969 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a color photo of the earth from the moon. In the black sky at the top left is "we are all passengers / on space ship earth." in white. Centered on the...
Wetlands - Wonders Worth Saving Late 20th Early 21st Century Top of poster has a color illustration showing a wetland environment with birds flying overhead and standing in the shallow water, where marine life like crabs and shellfish can also be seen....	Wetlands Need Help 1991 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a green background. At the top is "Wetlands Need Help" in white, outlined in red. At the top left is an aerial view of a waterway surrounded by green...
American Rivers 1989 Top of poster has a color photo of water rushing over river rocks. At the bottom right is "American Rivers" in black and a quote by Henry David Thoreau inn blue reading "all nature is your...	Grow with the Flow Late 20th Early 21st Century At the top of the poster is a color illustration of a river flowing down hills, flanked by green grass. In the background is an orange structure and in the foreground are reeds, flowers and an...
Rain Forests are Being Destroyed Rand McNally & Company 1990 Laminated poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a black and red image of a forest fire. At the left, a monkey sits on a tree branch. Across the top is "rain forests are being destroyed" in...	Life in San Francisco Bay 1982 Poster has white unprinted edges and black printed borders enclosing a color illustration of water with birds flying overhead or standing on rocks and the shore and sea creatures swimming around....
Denali - Alaska Jim Hays 1986 #VALUE!	Jug Handle Ecological Staircase 1978 Top of poster has a map shaded in different colors corresponding to various environments. At the bottom of the poster is a color illustration of a terraced landscape, with each terrace level...
Wilderness is Everywhere 1994 Poster has white unprinted edges and a green printed border enclosing a color image of a desert scene featuring tall cacti and desert animals like birds, rodents, a snake, etc. At the top right is...	Earth at Night 1985 Laminated poster has a black printed background. At the top is a black map of the world, with landmasses identified by clusters of light, with Aurora borealis visbile in green at the top left. At...
Save Our Earth Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing an image of the Earth, as seen from the moon, visible in green at the bottom of the poster. At the top right, in the black of space, is "Save / Our /...	Love Your Mother Bob Matheo, Jerry Rotondi 1972 Poster has a black printed background. At the top is a color photo of earth from space. At the bottom of the poster is "Love Your / Mother" in white.