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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When Mom Gets Abused Her Children Suffer Too Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a shiny green background with black text and a black and white photograph. The photo, positioned at the left, shows the face of a little boy. Text at the top right begins "When / Mom...	Up off the floor Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper with red and black text and images. At the top is "We''ve Created A World Where / A Woman Is Battered Every 17 Seconds / Who Does This Affect The Most:". Down the...
Calls to domestic violence hotlines increase up to 40% on Superbowl Sunday Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a dotted background black and white photo of men in football uniforms crashing into one another. In a black screenprinted bar across the top is white text reading "Calls To Domestic...	Untitled (Two people in a martial arts fight) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster consists of a full page black and white image on white paper. Image depicts two people in martial arts uniforms with black belts fighting with a knife in one person''s hand.
Take back the night! Take back our lives! c.1992 Poster consists of black and gray print on white paper. Image in the center depicts a moon filled with words describing women of the world with a star surrounded by the astrological female symbol...	Women's Strike Day Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster consists of black and red print on off-white paper. Poster shows the astrological women''s symbol and "Women''s Strike Day / Lytton Plaza / August 26 Noon" in red with a copy of the...
Stop Sexual Harassment! at Hewlett Packard Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster consists of red print on white paper. In the center is an image of a woman holding a protest sign with the text "Queremos Respecto Ahora!!!" on it with other protestors and...	March for Women's Equality Women's Lives Inkworks Press, printer, National Organization for Women, publisher c.1989 Poster consists of pink/magenta print on white paper. Image in the bottom half of the poster depicts the top (the dome) of the capitol building with two protest signs with the text "Keep Abortion...
Aunt Sam Wants You to support ERA c.1975 Poster consists of red and blue print on white paper and is a paradoy of "Uncle Sam" posters. Image depicts a woman wearing a ruffled white shirt, red vest, blue jacket, astrological women''s...	Great Debate on the E.R.A. Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster consists of black print on textured white paper. Text at the top reads "Great Debate / Karen DeCrow & Phyllis Schlafly." In the middle are two portraits of two women, Karen DeCrow,...
Erase Inequality Lucy Picco Simpson, artist c.1978 Poster consists of black, gray and green print on white paper. Image in a think black border depicts a green chalkboard with the text "Erase / Inequality" on it and a human hand holding a eraser...	The 5th Annual Day in the Park for Women's Rights Graphic Arts International Union, printer, National Organization for Women, publisher c.1980 Poster consists of blue and red print/text arranged in the shape of the American flag. In the left upper side of the psoter is a blue rectangle with white astrological women''s symbols in it. To...
Women and Mental Health: Restoring Our Spirits 1990 This poster features a black, abstract drawing of a woman in the bottom left corner. It advertises the "Women''s Health Series: / Women and Mental Health: / Restoring Our Spirits" forum at U.C....	A Day for Women's Rights: Ratify the Era Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster consists of a purple, red and orange print in the shape of 3/4 of a circle with a smaller sunrise coming out of the top of the circle on yellow paper. Text within image reads "A / Day For...
16-Apr New England Free Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster features a photograph of women walking with arms interlocked. Very large text above reads "Saturday / April 17". Text in the bottom of the poster advertises "Women''s / Liberation Day...	Untitled 1988 This yellow poster features a brown and yellow image of an African American woman silhouetted against a yellow circle. Large text at the top of the page introduces "''Tonight Is The Night'' /...
Our Time Is Now 1992 This poster advertises the "1992 U.C.S.A. / Statewide / Women''s / Conference" at U.C. Berkeley. "Our Time / Is Now" is printed in large, green and beige text in a black rectangle at the top of...	Berkeley Women on the Move Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster features a stylized illustration of a dove with a female symbol in it. Text at the top of the page reads "Beyond Houston / Berkeley / Women / on the / Move". Large, white text in an...
Women Fight Back Network Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster advertises the "Women Fight Back Network / Cadena De Mujeres / En Resistencia / Conference". There is a black illustration of three women raising their fists in the center of the page...	Montclair Womens Cultural Arts Club 2002 This two-sided mailer advertises the "2002-03 Performance Season" of the "Montclair Women''s Cultural Arts / Club". The club name is in a green-outlined box at the top of the page. The background...
Sex Workers' Art Show 2005 This poster has a red background and pink-framed photographs of women along the right edge. There is a seated woman wearing a pink plaid dress in the bottom left corner. Puppet strings extend from...	Montclair Women's Cultural Arts Club 2001 This two-sided mailer advertises the "2001-02 Performance Season" of the "Montclair Women''s Cultural Arts / Club". The club name is in a red, green, and brown geometric design at the top of the...
Looking Back/Looking Forward: New Challenges For Women 1995 This is a double-sided mailer printed on light purple paper. The mailer advertises an exhibition and conference called "Looking Back/Looking Forward: New Challenges For Women". There is a black...	Community Open House Celebration! 2000 This poster advertises a "Community Open House / Celebration" at "The Women''s Building" in San Francisco. The background of the poster is a purple and red image of The Women''s Building with a...