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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Meet James Starr Inkworks Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black text, a black and white image and a blue line border printed on white paper. At the top is "meet James Starr, future entrepreneur. / he started a Business Administration major at...	Apr. 8 Food Day David Singer, designer, Tea Lautrec Litho, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster is printed in white paper with text and images in black, gray, and green. The top edge of the poster has text in black: " ''Food for people - not for profit'' ". Background of poster has a...
The Big Lie Doug Minkler 2006 Top of poster has a stylized image showing guns, a figure holding a baton and a multi-colored triagle. In the triangle is "Tasers Save Lives". At the bottom of the illustration is "The Big Lie" in...	Catholic Relief Services Inkworks Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the left is "we will not turn / our backs. / Catholic Relief / Services" in a box. At the bottom left is a number to call for more information and...
Baby on the way? Start your health care today! Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a color photo background showing a line of babies propped up on a white blanket. Across the top is "baby on the way? start your health care today!" in pueple. Centered at the bottom is...	Help without hassle Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has an unprninted white border enclosing a black background. At the top left is "help without hassle." and at the bottom left is "how we can help how you can help" all in white. At the...
Hunger Hurts Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black printed background with a central black and whtie image of a boy reaching into an empty refrigerator. At the top is "hunger hurts." At the bottom is "give till it doesn''t." in...	untitled (man/machine running over people) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. Stylized image shows a machine with a human head and sharp pointed teeth rolling toward a cluster of small human figures. On top of the machine is a...
Citizen action for a working America Graphic Arts International Union 1983 Poster has a blue printed background. At the top left is "citizen / action / for a / working / America." in white. On the left side is a cluster of brightly colored, stylized gears. At the bottom...	Weave yourself into the community 2002 Poster has blue and red ink printed on white paper. At the top is "weave yourself / into the community". Below the text is a central blue star with the image of a man in it. The star is surrounded...
All Cops Are Pigs Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top and bottom is "All Cops / Are Pigs!" Centered on the poster is a stylized image of a bipedal pig wearing a hat, pants and boots with a hole...	Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a blue printed background. At the top is a photo of the Capitol with a grassy hill in the foreground and a waving American flag in the background. Over the bottom of the image is "all...
All Cops Are Pigs Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top and bottom is "All Cops / Are Pigs!" Centered on the poster is a stylized image of a bipedal pig wearing a hat, pants and boots with a hole...	Some Hungry People Won't Say Thanks For Years Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a color photo background of a baby in a diaper lying on a blanket and sucking his thumb. At the top of the poster is "Some / Hungry People / Won''t Say Thanks / For Years." in black....
Art vs. Cops 1997 Poster has a thin black line border printed on white paper. At the top is "Art vs. Cops" in black followed by a centered graffiti-like version of the phrase in green, red and blue/black and "...	Thirst Inkworks Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has an unprinted white border with a beige tinted background of a collage of images showing people boycotting for the right to water. At the bottom left, an image of a woman with a bucket...
Reach out. Reach in. Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper has a purple bar at the top with "reach out. reach in." in white. Central design shows scattered images of people doing activities - black and white photos, teal and...	Yes On 72 Inkworks Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has blue ink printed on white paper. At the top, the background is blue with "Yes" in white. At the center, the background is white with "On 72.org" in blue. At the bottom, the background...
The Ninth Annual Stanford Health Policy Forum 1995 Poster has a color background image of a man with his eyes closed and head slightly bowed. At the top left and right are hands, with the right side having a caduceus in the palm. Down the left and...	Learning through Education in the Arts Project 1992 Poster has an unprinted white border all around enclosing a yellow background. At the top is a color photo of a large quit. Below the photo is "Quilt Mural of Bessie Carmichael Elementary School...
Grove Street Campus Must Stay Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has "Grove Street Campus" printed six times in various shades of blue. At the bottom, over the text is a red shaded crowd. Centered at the bottom over the crowd is "Must Stay" in a more...	Corporation Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a central rainbow image of a fist thrust upward with a rattlesnake wrapped around it. The snake has his mouth open and tongue out, with the text "Forked Tongue" below. In the body of...
With A Jammed Zucchini Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has an unprinted white border all around enclosing an abstract image of a red, white, black and yellow shape at the left with blue and black lined background at the right. At the top is "...	Cuarta Conferencia Familiar 1989 Poster has an unprinted white border all around enclosing a light blue background. At the top are two pink inverted triangles with "Cuarta Conferencia Familiar" across the top is black follwoed by...