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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They are Stealing Our Babies Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and white background image of a young child looking out at the viewer. Imposed over the image is black text. At the top is "they are stealing our babies for profit to the white...	Muhammad Ahmad Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a large black and white image of an African American man in a patterned sweater. Beneath the photo is black text reading "Muhammad Ahmad (Max Stanford) Chariman of the All African...
Jesse Jackson '88 1988 Poster shows a man wearing a fireworks tie with his right index finger pointed speaking under a rainbow in a blue sky. Beneath the man is a large crowd holding signs and putting up an American...	Malcolm X 1979 Poster has various brown and white background images of a man in glasses. Text imposed over the top is black. Date at top followed by time and phone numbers to call for information. Beneath the...
Jackson Autumn Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a central image of a man speaking with his left index finger pointed. Surrounding the photo is a blue border with white stars. At the left and right of the image are red and white...	Vote Graphic Communications International Union 1988 Poster has a black and white image at the top left of a man at a podium with microphones waving his right hand. To the right of the photo is a quote "...it''s not a privilege, it''s your right. it...
Vote Graphic Communications International Union 1988 Poster has a black and white image at the top left of a man at a podium with microphones waving his right hand. To the right of the photo is a quote "...it''s not a privilege, it''s your right. it...	Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed with black and red ink on white paper. A black and white photograph of Shirley Chisholm is centered on the upper part of the page. Chisholm appears in front of several microphones...
Needed (Public Citizen #1 - President of the United States in Exile - Inaugurated 3-4-69) Peace and Freedom Party circa 1969 and 1972 Poster printed with black ink on white paper. Two portrait photographs of a man, one facing forward at left, and one in profile at right fill the upper half of the page. The man has a full beard...	untitled (three men in circles) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed with black, red, and blue ink on white paper. The page has a wide unprinted outer border that frames a large semi-abstract graphic. Portraits of three men appear on the lower part...
A Mnemonic Wallpaper Pattern for Southern Two-Seaters Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed with black and greenish-gray ink on white paper. The page has a wide unprinted outer border that frames a pale greenish-gray square. The phrase "White Only Black Only / Only Black...	A Tribute to Mama Howard Mission Grafica Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed with gray, blue, yellow, and pink ink on white paper. The page has an unprinted outer border that frames a wide gray secondary border. An image of a woman in a blue dress is...
Models of Success Nabisco, publisher Late 20th Early 21st Century Multi-color poster on white paper contains an illustration that shows a group portrait of six men and two women. Individuals include: (top row, left to right) Percy E. Sutton, Lonear Heard,...	I Jah 1989 Poster printed with black ink on white paper. The page has a wide unprinted outer border that frames a large illustration of a figure with a lion''s head on a black background. The lion figure''s...
Bobby is a Child Who Waits Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed with black ink on white paper. The page has an unprinted outer border that frames a black background. A photograph of a young boy wearing a striped shirt is centered on the page....	Studs Terkel Jos Sances circa 1987 Poster printed with red and blue ink on white paper that has darkened with age. The page has an unprinted outer border with a wide lower margin. A portrait photograph of a middle-aged man...
Festival for Mandela Village Inkworks Press, printer 1996 Poster printed with red and green ink on yellow paper. A single line red border frames the page. A graphic of a stylized cityscape appears in red at top. Text above the image reads, "Festival...	Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed with black ink on white paper. A stylized portrait illustration of a woman with an afro hairstyle seen in profile appears at top right. Text opposite the graphic at top left reads...
Ujamaa National Black Law Students Association, publisher 1979 Poster printed with red and black ink on white paper. "Ujamaa" is printed in large red font diagonally across the center of the page. Smaller white font continues nearby at right, "New Directions...	Bay Area Black United Fund 1993 Poster printed with blue and black ink on white paper. "Bay Area / Black United / Fund" is printed in blue font at top left. A large black and white illustration of a crowd of people extends from...
Jesse Jackson '88 Inkworks Press, printer 1988 Poster printed with black ink on white paper. A large photograph of Jesse Jackson fills the majority of the page. Jackson appears in front of several microphones wearing a suit and tie. "Jesse...	Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed with red, green, and black ink on white paper. A graphic is centered on the page that shows two figures facing left under a large green tree with stylized fan-shaped leaves. One...
Jesse Jackson '88 1988 Poster printed with black, red, and blue ink on white paper. The page has an overall blue background and a single line white page border. "Get Out and Vote / Your Vote Counts!" appears in white...	Labor for Jackson circa 1980s Poster printed with black ink on white paper. A large photograph of Jesse Jackson is centered on the page. Jackson appears in three-quarter profile wearing a suit and tie. An American flag is...