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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Place Tian An Men 1989 Top of poster has a black and white photo of four tanks in a line on an empty paved road. In front fo the tanks, blocking their path, is a human figure. Across the bottom of the poster is "Place...	King Kalakaua Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black printed background. At the top is "in celebration of / The Merrie Monarch / King Kalakaua / 1836-1891" in shades of brown. At the center of the poster are two photos, one on top...
untitled (Africa) Lincoln Cushing 1979 Poster has a red, central image of the African continent. A figure has his hands on both sides of the continent, lifiting himself out of South Africa.	Occupied Palestine 1981 Poster background resembles a Palestinian flag. Across the top is "Occupied Palestine 1948-9" in black and red. Below the title is a central map of Palestine with magnified portions at the left...
Stop the Plunder of Namibia's Natural Resources 1974 Poster has a yellow printed background with red at the top and down the center. Across the top of the poster is "Stop The Plunder Of / Namibia''s Natural / Resources" in black. At the center is an...	Alternative Museum 1984 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a stylized image of a white open box on a purple, green and blue background. The side of the box reads "Apartidy / Gleems Brite / White" with "The /...
Namibia Week Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the center is a stylized illustration of a face and a bird, with five featureless figures standing in the front, one holding a gun, one with a child...	Our History Did Not Begin In Chains Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a green background. Across the top of the poster is "Our History Did Not Begin In Chains / And It Will Not End In Chains Malcolm X" in white. Below the...
25 Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a green printed background with "25" at the center in black. On the bottom of the numbers are orange and black film strips with images of an African American man. Across the top of the...	untitled (figures and a poem) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a green background with what appears to be foliage. At the bottom right, purple figures walk along the ladnscape. A tth ebottom left are images of...
Guinea-Bissau Independence 1975 Poster has a printed background showing the sun with white rays shining in the yellow/orange sky over a village surrounded by tall grasses and trees. At the right is a green shape of Africa....	untitled (figure in sunglasses) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a stylized green, white and black image of a male figure in sunglasses and a grass hat. At the bottom of the poster is a brown background with green text...
Eritrea 1976 Poster has a central black and white photo showing a large group of people shouting with guns raised in the air. At the top left is "Eritrea / revolution to liberate / the land and the people". At...	untitled (Africa) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a blue background with a central yellow and red image of Africa. At the bottom left of the image is a quote by amilcar cabral - "always bear in mind /...
Afrika 1976 Poster divided into two. At the left is Africa on a purple background with the countries labeled. At the bottom left corner is "Afrika" in black. On the right is Africa on a blue background with...	Africa Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on yellow paper. At the top is "Africa" with "Work For The Liberation Of" vertically up the left side. At the center is an abstract shaded figure with the profiles of...
Victory to the People's Republic of Angola Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paperboard. Across the top is "Victory To The People''s / Republic Of Angola!" At the center of the poster is a stylized image of a man laying on his stomach...	Africa 1986 Poster has a colorful image of Africa filled with images if African people, animals and plants. Behind Africa is the blue ocean and the whole image is surrounded by a stylistic color border of...
untitled (Africa and face) Pro Arts 1971 Poster has a black printed background with a red and green image of Africa at the center showing the profile of a figure.	Free South Africa 1985 Poster has a black and white background image of a shaded crowd holding up spears. At the top, on the shafts of the spears, is "Free" in red, yellow and green letters. At the bottom is "South /...
untitled (solidarity and communist flag) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster looks like the red communist flag with the yellow sickle logo at the bottom right. At the top left corner is "Solidar???" in gray.	untitled (images and Arabic text) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. Across the top is Arabic text, followed by nine black and white imges (3x3), each with Arabic text below. Below the group of images ia Arabic text. A...
untitled (Hawaiian calendar) 1974 Poster has white unprinted edges. At the top is a collage of color and sepia images of characteristically Hawaiian images - a waterfall, indigenous peoples, monarchs, surfing, hula dancers, etc....	3A 1987 Poster has a red printed background with darker red edges. At the left and hand places a piece of white paper with "3A" in red on the front in a box. At the right is white Cryillic text. At the...