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.

View results as Grid View results as List Browse Full Collection Advanced Search

California Blues Festival Sentury Printing, printer 2001 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a color background - pink at the top and bottom and yellow at the center. At the top is "The Blues and R&B Music Foundation, Inc. / proudly presents...	Betye Saar 1973 Poster has a black printed background with white text and a black and white image. At the top is "Betye Saar / Black Girl''s Window". The central image shows a black shaded figure with celestial...
1st Annual Black & White Ball 1990 Poster has black and red ink printed on white paper. The background shows an illustration of a simplified tuxedo jacket and shirt, with a bow tie at the top center. At the left is "KSOL / presents...	Oaktown Sentury Printing, printer 1992 Poster has a red, pink and white background with black text. At the top is a list of presenting organizations followed by "Oaktown / Sucker Free Living / dance & show tour". Centered on the...
Fall Preview of Fashion Sentury Printing, printer 1987 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top left is a "Clothes Unlimited Unique Boutique" logo in black. At the top right is "fall preview / of fashions". Down the left side is "Sunday...	Mardi Gras Ball Sentury Printing, printer 1989 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a color background - red, yellow and green - with black text. At the top are the logos of the presenters and "The Vallejo Annual / Mardi Gras Ball / New...
Lift Every Voice And Sing 1993 Poster has a blue printed background. At the left is a black background with "Lift Every Voice / And Sing" in yellow and music credits and the history of the song in white at the top with a color...	The Isley Brothers Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black printed background with white text and a black and white image. Across the top is "The Isley / Brothers". The photo at the left shows three men in blazers. At the right is "June...
Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black printed background with white text and a brown and white photo at the top showing a woman singing into a microphone in a smoke-filled room. Centered at the bottom is "Billie ''...	Etta James Sentury Printing, printer 1986 Poster has blue and red ink - blue at the top and red at the bottom - printed on white paper. Dowm the top left is "Robert Mohead / presents at... / Keshas / Inn / 2618 / San Pablo Ave. / Berkeley...
Black Cowboy Parade Tilghman Press, printer 1978 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a yellow background with white at the center. At the top is "4th Annual Official / Black Cowboy / Parade". To the left and right, repeated, is "marching...	Nat King Cole Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black printed background with white text and a brown and white photo at the top showing a man singing and playing the piano. Centered at the bottom is "Nat King Cole / New York-Royal...
Harlem Heyday 1982 Poster has a black background with an unprinted left edge. At the top right is "Harlem Heyday:" in white. At the center is a black and white photograph of an African American man standing by an...	Africobra 1970 Poster has black ink printed on off-white paper. At the top is the shape of Africa, filled with African American art. To the left is "Africobra / ten in / search / of a / nation". At the bottom...
untitled (man with a beard) Ervin H. Cobbs 1967 Poster has black ink printed on white paper and shows an illustration of a man with a beard wearing a striped shirt and necklace. The man appears to be speaking.	Answers in Progress 1969 Poster has black text and red and black images printed on white paper. At the top right is a large red (partial) circle. At the bottom right is an illustration of three African American females in...
untitled (formal group photo) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. Centered on the poster is a black and white photograph showing nine people posing for a photo in formal clothing. The front row, seated, has two women...	Poetry And Talent At Its Best!! Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top left is "The Afro-American Students Organization presenst: / Poetry And Talent / At Its Best!!". At the center of the poster are two black...
African Film Society La Raza Graphic Center 1980 Poster has a black background with white text and a brown graphic at the left of a face with a hat and beard In the Egyptian style. Across the top is "African Film / Society". Down the right side...	Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a blue background with a black movie clapper. At the top left is "Black / Filmmakers / Hall / Of / Fame, / Inc." in yellow. Down the right side is a black and yellow strip of film....
Charlie L. Russell Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and orange ink printed on white paper. On the right is an illustration of a man with a beard. At the left is "Charlie L. Russell" in orange and "playwright and novelist. Five on...	The People Could Fly Leo Dillon, illustrator 1985 Poster has a light pink background with black and purple text and a collor illustration at the top showing a family of African Americans floating in the sky. Across the bottom of the poster is "...
untitled (man with trumpet) Ervin H. Cobbs 1967 Poster shows a partial illustration of a man with a trumpet near his face. "Miles Davis" is printed in black on the bottom edge near the center.	untitled (man playing violin) Ervin H. Cobbs 1967 Poster shows a partial illustration of a man playing the violin. "Ornette Coleman" is printed in black on the bottom edge near the center.