Political Posters
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.
1991
Poster has a central color image of a leopard lying on the branch of a tree, surrounded by green leaves - poster has a multi-colored border and is set on a beige background, leaving beige borders... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster has a central color image of a cluster of big cats - male and female lions and cubs; a tiger and cub; brown and gray spotted leopards. Centered below the image in the white border is "San... |
1992
Poster has black and white photos and text printed on white paper. Across the top is "ALF In Action" followed by seven photos - two side by side at the top and bottom, each with a smaller image... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster has black text printed on white paper. At the top, text starts "Notice To Bears: Beware Of Sabotage" followed by a notice to bears to avoid eating human food unless they want to get sick.... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Top of poster has an image of a green tropical forest with "paradise" printed across the bottom in white. Below the forest is the image of two monkeys sticking their faces through the bars of a... |
1983
Poster has a central black and white image of four seals with "harbor seal / Phoca vitulina" printed in black at the bottom left. Centered below the image is the date of the "International Day Of... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster has a central black and white image of two monkeys in a cage hugging. Above and below the image is black text reading "three animals die every second in U.S. laboratories" and "avoid... |
1991
Poster has a central image of plants on a white background with pink flowers at the right. Black borders surround the image and extend to the edges. At the top in white is "California Wildflower... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster has white flowers with green leave growing up the left side. Printed vertically down the right edge in green is "Wildflower Show". To the left of the vertical text are the dates, times,... |
1983
Posterr has a colored image of a plant with drooping flowers at the left and a red throated hummingbird hovering at the right. Imposed over the image at the bottom right is a gray circle with "... |
1995
Poster has large photo of a field of colorful flowers. In a purple bar imposed at the top center of the photo has white text reading "California". At the bottom of the poster is a white background... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster has a central image of a green plant with purple flowers on a yellow background. At the bottom fo the photo in black is "Douglas Iris (Iris Douglasiana)". To the left and right of the... |
1978
Poster has a black and white image of the top of a whale. |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster has various species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises arranged on recto with vertical lines associated with meter measurements behind. A himan, elephant and brachiosaurs are positioned at... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster has a central black and white image of two dolphins jumping out of the water with a wave splashing up at the right. At the bottom right of the poster is black text reading "vanishing joy... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster has yellow and black text and a yellow graphic printed on green paper. Graphic at the center is a whale''s tail. To the right is a Japanese symbol followed by "Japan Town celebrates the... |
1980
Poster has a background photo of two foxes in the wild. At the top of the poster is "save a place for wildlife" in yellow. At the bottom left of the poster are dates and "National Wildlife Week"... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster has color photographs and black and pink text printed on white paper. At top is "Stop" in pink and "Farm Animal Abuse" in black. Below the title at the left is an image of chickens in a... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster has a black and white photo near the top of a calf chained to a wooden crate. Above the photo is "Cruelty In The Crate..." and below the image is "Posion On Your Plate" all in red. At the... |
c. 1992
Poster consists of black print and a full color image on white paper. The image depicts a butterfly with open wings against a colored dots background. In the lower left corner is a poem by... |
c. 1970
Poster consists of white text against a gray/black background. Image depicts an Arctic Tern in flight. Text along the bottom reads "Life...consider the alternative / National Audubon Society." |
c. 1990
Poster consists of black print on a peach colored background and a full color image inside a green border. The image depicts two branches of yellow flowers, red bulbs and green leaves with a honey... |
c. 1989
Poster consists of white and pink print on a gray background. Image depicts a owl in flight with a mouse in its beak against a black background. Text reads "Predators! / They''re... |
East Bay Municipal Utility District, printer, Margaret Ely, photographer, Oakland Museum of California, publisher, Robert Laird Brown, designer
c. 1999
Poster consists of purple, black, and yellow print on white paper. Full page image depicts a close up of a Fawn Lily (Erythronium revolutum), a purple, yellow, and white flower. Text along the top... |