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 (figure with wings as ears) 1967 Poster has a gray border followed by a thin blue line border enclosing an abstract image with a figure at the bottom left two smaller naked figures near the top center and other stylized images...	untitled (two bikers on a Hollywood freeway) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a stylized color image of two men on motorcycles riding on an empty Hollywood freeway. The man on the left hands his companion a blunt as they ride. The two men wear jean vests with a...
Spheres Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a blue border all around enclosing a red sphere at the top slightly crushing/distorting an orange sphere which is, in turn, flattening a yellow sphere - all on a black background. In...	untitled (green and orange spiral) 1967 Poster has a central green and orange spiral printed on black paper.
untitled (spheres crushing spheres) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a red sphere at the top slightly crushing/distorting an orange sphere which is, in turn, flattening a yellow sphere - all on a black background.	untitled (the machine) Michael Rossman 1966 Poster has handwritten text in purple and green with a central yellow and black graphic showing a submarine-like shape with yellow text inside reading "The / Joysday / Machine" in bubbled letteres...
People's Bakery Inkworks Press, printer 1981 Poster has black text and color images printed on white paper. At the center is the People''s Bakery logo with the address and phone number at the bottom. Surrounding the logo are boxes in seven...	School Is Hell Matt Groening, artist 1987 Poster has a black background with white text and black and white illustrations. At the top of the poster is "School Is Hell". Centered on the poster is a comic cartoon (four columns/four rows)...
The Real And Exact Job Of The Cop...Stop! Stop! Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black and white photo background of a statue of an officer with a sword at his waist and his right hand raised above his head. Over the image is "The Real And / Exact Job Of / The Cop...	Phweeet Inkworks Press, printer 1991 Poster has black and red ink printed on white paper. Across the top is "Phweeet" in red followed by a large black dotted image of a whistle. At the bottom left corner are three images, stacked...
Drop Racist Charges Now Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has red text and a black illustration printed on white paper. At the top is "Drop / Racist Charges" with "Now" at the bottom. At the center is a clenched fist.	Northcountry Clinic 1996 Poster has a black background with an image at the top with a blue background and white border showing a tangle of figures in different shades of brown with different designs as their faces -...
Caution 1985 Top of poster has a black background and the bottom has a white background. At the top is "Caution: / this election may / be hazardous / to your health!" in yellow and "protect yourself! /...	Expose Yourself...To Safety Inkworks Press, printer 1991 Poster has an unprinted white border all around enclosing a black background. At the top of the poster is "Expose Yourself / ...To" in yellow and "Safety" in red. Centered on the poster is a...
Education is... Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster ink transitions from pink at the top to red, gray, green and ends in blue at the bottom. At the top of the poster is "Education Is..." followed by an image of a ballerina on a tightrope...	United Professors of California 1981-82 1981 Poster has a brown printed background with a white title at the top, black text at the bottom and a central black and white photo of Albert Einstein. At the top is "United Professors Of California...
New School For Democratic Management 1980 Poster has brown ink printed on white apper. At the top of the poster are boxes (eight columns, four rows) filled with shapes/letters. In a box near the top left is "Fall 1980 Workshops). Below...	New School For Democratic Management Central Press of California, printer 1980 Poster has blue ink printed on white apper. At the top of the poster are boxes (eight columns, four rows) filled with shapes/letters. In a box near the top left is "Winter Spring Workshops 1980"....
A School For Activists Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a blue and white background of buildings with blue text and black and white photos imposed over the top. At the top is "A School For Activists / Humanities B.A. Program". At the left is...	Goddard College Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black text and black and blue images printed on white paper. At the top is "Goddard College" with a quote by John Dewey reading "Truth Can Be Bought Only By / The Adventure Of...
Free University of New England Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has orange ink printed on yellow paper with a dashed line border at the top, left and right. At the top two corners are orange circles with lines/rays extending. A large circle formed by...	Vista Community College graduates wear many hats Inkworks Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black text, a black and white photo and a blue line border printed on white paper. At the top is "Vista Community College graduates / wear many hats." followed by a photo os the backs...
Awake in the City Mission Grafica 1986 Poster has a white border all around. At the left and right, paint of all colors has been splattered along the edges. The poster shows a stylized image of San Francisco from the air, with the sun...	After 30 Years Of Teaching Is This Her Reward? Inkworks Press, printer, Ruth Morgan, artist 1990 Poster has an unprinted white border enclosing a black background with white text and a central stylized color image of an elderly woman sitting at a table with a mug in front of her. Across the...