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 c. 1979 This poster features a photograph of a crowd of people in a street at night. There are street lights, emergency vehicles, and clouds of orange smoke. Text below reads "San Francisco After Dan...	The Closet Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster is made up of a black and white photograph of a group of people standing together in a closet doorway. There are two women in long dresses and four men dressed in everything from a...
Untitled 1998 This horizontally-oriented poster features a photograph of two women leaning out of different convertibles to kiss each other. Another woman is also visible standing behind in each car. One car is...	Twenty-Two On The Red 1980 This poster advertises "A Glittering Evening of Gaming and Dancing at Dreamland" called "Twenty-Two / On The Red". There is an image of the Queen of Hearts from a playing card in the upper center...
Wreck Room Late 20th Early 21st Century This black and white poster features an illustration of a man wearing pants, boots, and a vest lying on the horizontal word "Wreck" which is joined to the word "Room" at a right angle. "Sacramento...	dog show & parade 1984 This poster promotes "The Fourth Annual / dog show & parade" in the San Francisco Castro neighborhood. There are orange and blue squares with illustrations of dogs in them in the top half of...
Handball express 1981 This poster has black margins around an illustration of a man wearing leather straps across his chest and over his shoulders and a headband. He is depicted from the chest up and there is a penis...	Our Night At The Circus 1979 This poster promotes "Our Night At The Circus", "A Los Angeles Benefit For The Gay Community". There is an illustration of a shirtless man seen from the chest up, a clown, trapeze artists, and a...
Foto Factory Press Late 20th Early 21st Century This horizontally-oriented poster consists of a black and white photo of a group of shirtless men standing in a line with their arms around each other and holding onto a clothes line above them....	Cross Country Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster advertises a film from "Falcon Studios" called "Cross / Country". There is a large photograph of a shirtless man with his pants unbuttoned in the right half of the poster. There are...
Colt 1981 This poster features a black and white image of a man leaning over seen from behind. He is stepping onto a platform with "Colt" on it in large, red font.	Journey to the Center of the Earth 1988 This poster advertises a performance event called "Journey to the / Center of the Earth". Images depict a subterranean scene of a red lizard-like creature, ancient ruins, and a shirtless man....
Summer's Secret 1990 This poster printed on thick paper depicts two female bodies seen from the neck down. They are naked and embracing. "Summer''s Secret" is in the bottom margin.	Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster has an image of a flexed bicep in the top center of the page. Text below reads "Friendly, Hunky Lumberjacks / Seek City Boys / For Summer-Long Fun". There is a square logo with a white...
Untitled (metal worker with star) Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster is made up of a black and white illustration of a man standing among heavy machinery with an anvil in front of him. He has a hammer is one hand is holding up a star in the other hand....	Out In The Lite Late 20th Early 21st Century This black poster includes an image of a "Miller lite" bottle with a rainbow streaming out its top. White text to the right reads "Out / In The / Lite / Proud Sponsor Of / The San Francisco / Gay...
Respect All Families 2003 This horizontally-oriented poster includes a photograph of a group of kids in the right half of the page. Black and red text to the left reads "Can you tell whose / parents are gay? / Why does it...	Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century This two-sided poster includes a photograph of a shirtless man in black chaps on the front. The man''s genitals are exposed. Verso has a naked man crouched over a military box and looking back at...
Strengthen The Ties Break The Chains 1983 This horizontally-oriented poster promotes an "International / Lesbian/Gay Freedom Day / Parade And Celebration" in San Francisco. "Strengthen the ties / Break The Chains" is in the top right of...	Jackhammer Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster features an image of a male torso holding a jack hammer with "Jackhammer" across it below him. The man has bare shoulders and arms and wears a helmet. "San Francisco" is at an angle in...
Altantis 1992 This poster features a photograph of a man standing on a beach with water in the background. He has pulled a white bathrobe down to his waste and is tilting his head back. Turquoise text at the...	See America. Find a Friend. 1983 Poster has a black printed background. At the top is "See America. Find A Friend" in white followed by a black and white illustration of two men with moustaches - one in sunglasses and one without...
untitled (shirtless man) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has an image of a shirtless man''s chest. The figure is removing his pants. At the bottom left is a cowboy hat and boot "Stud" logo with "4216 Melrose / at Vermont / Los Angeles / (213) 660...	1st Annual Gay Festival Michael Murphy, artist 1979 This poster promotes the "1st / Annual / Gay festival / New Orleans, 1979". There is an illustration of several buildings in a city with people in the windows and on the streets around them. There...