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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Jungle Kingdom II 1992 This poster has a 1.75 inch white margin around the outer edge. Inside the margin is a blue and black border surrounding an illustration of animals in among greenery. Animals such as a manatee,...	Long Live The Loggerhead 1982 Poster has a background of beach sand with the back end of a brown turtle at the top right. Centered at the top is a photo of a sea turtle on a beach at night. Below the photo is a number 1...
Paul Bunyan Days Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a red, white, black and gray image at the bottom left of a cartoon man holding an ax over his shoulder and resting his foot upon the floor of a forest of black trees that extends across...	untitled (otter floating in water) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has central black and white copied drawing of an otter with his head sticking out of the water. Set on white paper.
Stop Animal Abuse PETA Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a central black and white image of a small bear in a wheeled cage trying to escape beneath the bars, with his right front paw and head sticking out. In a black bar across the top is "...	The California Gray Whale Tower Records 1974 Poster has a black and white image of an adult whale and its calf swimming in the ocean. At the bottom left is "The California Gray Whale And Calf" followed by a paragraph on whale migration...
Keep It Country Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a central color photograph of a man dressed like a cowbody (hat, boots, chaps) with his left foot on a fallen log and a guitar in his arms. On the log at the left is a leather saddle....	Saint Francis And The Sow 1976 Poster has black text and a green and purple image printed on white paper. Image at the bottom shows two animals among trees, flowers and tall grasses, with a tall tree moving up the poster at the...
General Whale 1978 Top of poster has a black and white image of the side view of three whales, stacked on top of each other. Centered below the whales, on the bottom of the poster, is "Willows presents General Whale...	Today I have grown taller 1973 Poster has a background image of trees standing tall in a forest, with the sun peeking through the leaves and branches. At the bottom left is white text reading "today I have grown taller from...
A dreamer lives forever 1974 Poster has a background image of a large tree with low-hanging branches on a snow covered hill overlooking a forest/mountain scene. At the bottom left printeed in white is "a dreamer lives forever...	California Celebrates The Whale Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black and white copy of a painting of an adult whale and a young whale swimming together at the top of the poster. At the bottom is white text on a gray background - "California...
Endangered 1990 Poster has an image of a whale tail out of a body of water. Imposed over the photo at the top is "Endangered" in a different shade of blue over the blue sky. Bottom of the poster has a black...	Wolf / Whale / Loon 1988 Poster shows a wolf howling at a swirling blue and white moon in the sky. Image set on a black background. In white text at the bottom left of the image is "Last Song/Reina/Taos, NM". Centered...
Sotheby's 1983 Poster has a black background with white text and a cetral image of a whale crushing a boat in the ocan with another ship and the setting sun in the background. Below the image is "important and...	Anguish 1992 Poster has an image of a woman in white with gray hair kneeling on the floor and hugging a chimpanzee who is chained to a wooden ladder. On the ground near the figures is a note that reads "two...
Only those who are free can command themselves 1978 Poster has an image of four dolphines jumping out of crystal bluewater with a tropical setting in the background. At the right center is light blue text reading "only those who are free can...	Michelob Graphic Arts International Union Late 20th Early 21st Century Top of poster has black and white images and white text on a black background, all with a white border. Text at top is in quote marks reading "Help Me Save Rare Wildlife...And Win Yourself Two...
Illustrating Nature 2000 Poster has a central image of an illustration of a green beetle''s top and bottom sides, set on a white background. Above and below the illustration are yellow backgrounds with red text. At top is...	Celebrating The Oakland SPCA's 120th Anniversary Laurel Burch 1994 Poster has a semi-circular white background with a female figure standing at the center surrounded by dogs to the right, cats to the left, and birds and a butterfly above. The semi-circle rests on...
Endangered Species of Hawaii 1993 Poster has a colorful scene of a variety of animals on beaches, int eh water, in trees, or taking flight. Volcano and rainbow in the background along with a blue sky with a full moon. At the top...	We Are Not The Only Species Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a cartoon-like image of a forest that has been cut down, leaving only brown stumps on the green grass. Black border around the image printed on white paper. Below the image is black...
The Humpback Whale 1978 Poster has a central image of an adult and baby humpback whale swimming in the blue sea. White border all around. In the border, centered below the image is "the humpback whale (Megaptera...	Giant Pandas 1984 Poster has an image of three pandas - two rolling around at the right and one sitting eating from the bamboo tree at the left. In the top right corner of the image is a green box with white Asian...