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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No Nukes 1981 Poster has blue and brown ink printed on tan paper. At the top is "Pacific Alliance presents a concert to / stop Diablo Canyon & shut down Rancho Seco / No Nukes!" with a stylized image of...	Art for Life's Sake 1980 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a background that transitions from yellow at the top through to orange at the center and red at the bottom. At the top is a black stylized image of a...
Energy 1979 Poster has dark brown images and text printed on cream colored paper. Main image is of a baby sitting on rocks with an abalone shell in its lap. There is an image of the world surrounded by a...	Sun Day 1978 Poster has orange ink printed on yellow paper. At the top left is a flower with "Sun Day April 30 - May 7, 1978" at the center. At the bottom are a list of activity sites for the exhibits and...
What's in a Landfill? Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a stylized illustration of a landfill, with a tractor at the to pand a chart measuring materials - paper, yard waste, food waste, glass, metal, plastic...	We Don't Need Nuclear Power Inkworks Press 1978 Poster has a yellow, red and black stylized background image of people gathered around a nuclear power plant. At the top of the poster is "We Don''t Need / Nuclear Power / Transform Diablo / Aug....
The Cycles of Recycling Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the top are recyling logos circling the earth and "the cycles of recycling" in black. The poster has five illustrations of cycles - paper, plastic, glass,...	We Can Make a Difference Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a stylized, multicolor illustration of a line of human figures, some throwing trash away, some holding up the earth, and the rest planting a tree....
When We Recycle... Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the top center is a yellwo box with "when we recycle..." in blue. At the top left is a stylized image of a figure cutting down a tree with the text "it takes 500,...	Stop Nuclear Power! The Print Shop Late 20th Early 21st Century Top of poster has: "Join Us June 3rd At Shoreham! / Legal Demonstration On The Beach: 12 PM / Civil Disobedience: At Separate Location / Non-Violence Training Is Required For C.D. Only / Stop /...
Nuclear Power is Unsafe 1979 Poster has a black printed background. At the top is "Nuclear Power Is Undafe" in red in a strip of off-white. Below the text is an image of a figure working with radioactive materials. At the...	Let's Stop Shoreham Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a blue printed background. Diagonally across the top left is "Let''s / Stop / Shoreham / with a Citizens Strike week! / Sept. 27-28-29" in white, brown, green, yellow, red and orange....
Introducing the Latest Bummer Inkworks Press, printer 2004 Poster has black and green ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Introducing The Latest / Bummer" with a photo of a Hummer automobile. Lines extend from areas of the car, leading to reasons...	We Are the Guinea Pigs 1980 Poster has a black printed background with white text and a black and white photograph at the bottom showing a cemetery with a nuclear power plant in the background. At the top is "Parallel Films...
Understanding the Food Guide Pyramid Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has blue printed edges enclosing a yellow printed background. At the top is a red triangle with "understanding the / food guide pyramid / steps to a healthier you" over the top in green and...	How to Win an Argument with a Meat Eater circa 1995 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is an illustration of a dinosaur - t-rex - wearing a bib and holding a fork. Below the image is "how to win an arguement / with a meat eater...
The Alameda County Recycling Hotline circa 2000 Poster has drawings of trash that can be recycled, such as soda cans, milk cartons, bags, and newspaper. In the center is a large red phone with a world on it. At the top is "The Alameda County...	Declare Independence From Oil Inkworks Press, printer 2004 Poster has a mostly brown background with yellow, white, and red text. Main image is of the Statue of Liberty wearing a gas mask against a brown sky. Poster reads, "Declare Independence From Oil/...
Recycle Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black printed background. At the top are a series of words that transition from yellow at the left through to pink and then blue at the right. The last word, "Recycle" is green. At...	Recycling Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has blue and green ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Recycling" and instructions for recycling at home. At the bottom are similar tips for recycling at work. At the right center is...
Zero Waste David Lance Goines 1986 Poster printed on white paper. At the center is a stylized image of a prickly cactus with an orange flower. Above and below the image is "Zero / Waste" in red. Across the bottom edge in red is "...	Waste Prevention Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges and a green border enclosing a stylized, multicolor image of a figure riding a bicycle with a bag on his arm holding a sign reading "Waste / Prevention" in green,...
Take it from Captain America and the Campbell Kids 1980 Poster printed on white paper. At the top is "take it from / Captain America / and the / Campbell Kids" in black, red and blue. Below the text is a stylized image of two kids standing by a...	Common Ground Country Fair 1997 Poster printed on white paper. At the top is "Celebrate rural living with / MOFGA / Common / Ground / Country Fair" in purple, red, and blue. At the center are stylized images of a yellow flower,...