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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We Serve and Protect 1968 Poster has unprinted white edges enclosing a grayscale photo of three police officers - two leaning against a police motorcycle while one stands. One of the officers is holding up his middle...	The Other America Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster is printed on white/cream paper. The poster''s background is a cityscape, most likely New York City. In the forefront is a construction worker who is attaching two thick steel cables...
Shelter For The Homeless 1987 Poster has red and black ink printed on white paper. Vertically up the left edge is "1987 International Year Of" and across the top is "Shelter For The Homeless" in red. At the top left corner is...	Police Brutality Did Not Die On Sept. 11 2002 Poster has a black/gray background. At the top left is "Police / Brutality / Did Not Die / On Sept. 11" in gray and white. At the left center are six columns/four rows of grayscale photos of...
Let a Thousand Parks Bloom Waller Press Top of poster has a black, red and white image fo a flower blooming up through a street, knowcking over signs and power lines. Out of the flower, a fist emerges. At the bottom of the poster is...	Polish Workers Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black printed background. At the top is "Polish workers / have told the world. / We want free and / independent unions." in white. At the center is a black and white image of a group...
Community Law Week 1986 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a gray background with thin red, white and blue horizontal lines at the top and a strip of black at the bottom. Across the top is "Community Law Week"...	GE has the Whole World to Worry About Becca, Doug Norgerg, Frank Cieciorka, Jane Burke., Jeff Gerth, Jessica Lipnack, John Rowntree, Kathy Kettler, Martin Nicolaus, Mary Hanson (PSC), Mickey Rowntree, People's Poster, San Francisco 1970 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the center is a map of the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. Over an eastern city in the US is a dollar sign with lines radiating out to other...
Heliotrope Late 20th Early 21st Century Top of poster has an abstract image of a gray spiral with a red/yellow curved shape at the center, set on a green background that fades to yellow at the top. Below the image is "Heliotrope"...	Artists Liberation Front Orbit Graphic Arts Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top right are two human figures flying through the air, with four black shadows also performing acrobatic moves. At the bottom are grayscale...
Resist in Concert 1988 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a black background. At the top is a white box with a stylized image of a yellow fist with legs moving around with a red handcuff around its wrist. Above...	Strike Late 20th Early 21st Century Top of poster has "Strike" in red. Up the middle of the poster is a gray fist and arm. The forearm has a white shape like a clocktower, with the clock face and windows in black. The time on the...
Solidarity Forever Circa 1980 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a black and white spotted background with a large fist. In front of the fist is a female figure. At the bottom left of the psoter is a gear logo for...	Smoking Helps You Lose Weight Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing an orange background. At the top is "Smoking / Helps You / Lose Weight" in blue and yellow. Below the text is a large white skull, cracked over the left...
Alcohol is My Anti-Drug 2003 Poster has a gray, marbled background with a white border. At the center is a silver keg with a black spout. At the bottom of the poster is "Alcohol" in orange and "In My Anti-Drug." in white.	Register to Vote Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper with a black line border. At the top is "''reward our / friends, punish / our enemies!'' / -Samuel Gompers". At the center is a black and white photo of...
Praise of learning 1980 Top of poster has a stylized color image of a man and two women sitting in a circle outside with books. At the bottom of the poster on the left side is "praise of learning" in purple followed by...	May 1st 1980 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a stylized image of a man in a hat/helmet walking through a door to a sea of red waving flags. At the top of the poster is "May 1st /...
Peace in the Street Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a thin blue border printed on white paper. At the top left is "the making / of..." in green followed by a purple peace symbol. At the top center is a mural with "Peace In The Streets"...	Integral Neighborhood 1978 Poster has brown and black ink printed on beige paper with a brown thin line border. At the top left is "Integral Neighborhood" followed by an aerial view illustration of a neighborhood. To the...
untitled (buidling and figures) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a stylized color image of a pink and mint green building with a yellow sky above, a red, yellow and orange tree to the left and red and yellow ground in front. Imposed over the building...	Boycott Classes Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster background has newspaper articles. The main, central content shows a stylized graphic of figures running and "Boycott / Classes!" in green and black.
Force for Progress 1992 Poster has a black and white image printed on white paper showing a woman standing on a sidewalk holding up a sign reading "My Minimum Wage / Can''t Pay / babysitter''s salary!" At the bottom...	Experimental College Wants You Late 20th Early 21st Century Top of poster has a black and white image of Uncle Sam pointing, wearing a blue jacket and a red ribbon on his hat with a peace symbol on it. At the bottom of the poster is "experimental college...