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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untitled (abstract image) 1970 Poster has white unprinted edges and a black border enclosing a stylized color image of what appears to be a yellow submarine towing a red and yellow box beneath a multicolor sun and above blue...	Let's Strike 1982 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a reproduction of a painting, which shows a man in a cowboy hat making a chair. Around the edges of the image is "It takes a sharp axe / a strong back...
Support Your Local College Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has blue ink printed on once white paper. At the center is a shield with a torch at the top and the words "Truth / Academic / Freedom / education" in white. Surrounding the shield is a blue...	Let Us Plan for People Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges. At the top, the background is formed by company logos, with "They Plan For Profits" over the top in black on a yellow strip. The background at the bottom is a...
Nutrition: A Basic Human Right Late 20th Early 21st Century At the top of the poster is "Nutrition" in green and "a basic human right" in black. At the top left is a grayscale photo of a woman with a malnourished child laying across her lap. To the right...	America's Labor Heritage Late 20th Early 21st Century Top of poster has a reproduced painting showing brick buidlings along a flowing body of water with a bridge at the bottom right. To the bottom left of the paitning is "Ralph Fasanella Working the...
The Detroit Institute of Arts Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has brown edges at the top and bottom enclosing a reproduction of a fresco showing men working on assembly lines in a factory. At the top left of the poster is "The Detroit Institute of...	Santa Cruz Alphabet 2000 Poster has a black background with blue text and a color illustration at the top showing the alphabet, with the letters associated with images - apples, bumper cars, clam chowder, dreadlocks,...
A New School of Thought Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster is printed on brown paper. At the center is a stylized image of an old-fashioned school house with a tower and bell. The structure is divided into boxes and triangles, which each show a...	Join 1967 Poster has a grayscale photo of a man dressed like Uncle Sam standing in front of the dome of the Capitol holding up his middle finger. Across the top is "Join" in blue.
Hunger is Violence Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has red and black text and a red and black image printed in light green paper. At the top is "Hunger / is" followed by a stylized image of a malnourished figure with "Violence" at the below...	People's Conference Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white text and a central black image printed on a red background. Stylized image shows a dragon fighting a figure at the bottom right, the latter holding a sword as tall as his body....
Take History Into Our Hands 1980 Poster has black borders printed on once white paper. At the top is a waving orange flag being held by a shackled hand with the end of the chain breaking. On the left fold of the flag is "May /...	Combat the Promises of Juvenile Prison 1974 Top of poster has "Combat The Promises / Of" in orange and "Juvenile Prison" in black. At the center is a stylized image of a man in a suit with his arm around a hunched over figure. A circle in...
Kids Club Doug Minkler 1990 Poster has a central stylized image showing a stylized figure resembling Mickey Mouse, except the face is large and red, smoking a cigarette and holding a carton of "Little Puffs". To the left of...	The Circus is Here Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges. At the top is an orange background with "The Circus" in white. At the center is a yellow circle with "Education" at the top in pink and "Circus" at the bottom in...
Musicians On Strike Brooklyn Press Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster text, starting at the top, reads "Musicians" in orange, "member of / American Federation / Of Musicians / AFL-CIO" in black, "On Strike" in orange and "Against / CBS" in black.	TB Can Be Prevented & Cured 1993 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a gray background. At the top left is "there is a difference between / TB Infection / and TB Disease" in black and white. At the left center is a...
Ill Fares The Land...And Men Deacy Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a yellow background with stylized black and white images of an auction at a farm on the left and a closed factory and an umemployment office at the right...	Free Kahlil Alliance Graphics Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges. At the top is a red background with "drop the charges" in white and "Free Kahlil" in black. At the center is an image showing two police officers detaining a...
untitled (collage of black and white photos) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a collage of black and white photos showing scenes of police brutality, police officers and riots. Over a photo near the center is hard-to-read black text with facts and statistics...	untitled (city scene) 1976 Poster has black ink printed on white paper and shows a city scene with buildings and activities of daily life.
Shelter David Wills, designer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black printed background with balack and white photos of various types of shelter along with some human figures surrounding central color images of a hut and people gathering within a...	Home Work 2004 Poster has red printed edges and orange borders enclosing a large number of thumbnail images of shelters, some in color and some in black and white. Near the top is "Home / Work" in orange on a...