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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I Want You Controlled Mike Brady, artist Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster with an illustration of Uncle Same splitting open an overly large red and white capsule, with a pile of drugs and drug paraphernalia coming out of the capsule into a pile that is drowning...	Mercy Mild Ron Burda, photographer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster advertising the spiritual resources found at The Center in Oakland, California for persons with AIDS/ARC. Poster is white with a black and white photograph of two men, one wrapped around...
Drug Addiction 1998 Poster with red and purple flame designs with "Drug Addiction" in chalk-like writing across the top. The rest of the text in white.	Smoking 1998 Poster with a color photograph of a young woman lighting up a cigarette that she is holding up to her mouth. Background is black. Another image that is barely visible with a hand holding a...
Drug-Free 1994 Poster with a color photograph of a person as seen from behind in shadow, with arms extended up and out. The person is facing sunset over the ocean or a large body of water. The rest of the poster...	Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness Week 1990 Poster for "Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness Week," supported by the National PTA. Poster has a landscape with half the sun rising or setting beyond simplified hills with a road. The last hill has...
Mundo De Pesadilla Mauricio Vega, artist 1984 Film poster for "Mundo De Pesadill". Poster has a colorful illustration of hands and eyes with pills and blood flying down toward seven figures. All figures are wearing white robes. List of actors...	OO O Hindi Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster with text in Tagalog. Check boxes next to a list of test with either "OO" or "Hindi". Text at bottom is in red with phone numbers for AIDS hotlines in Hawaii.
Express Yourself Ram Studios Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster with a black and white photograph of a man holding his penis with both hands. Background is black. Text in white at bottom with accress for Ram Studios.	I Want It Megan Adcock, artist Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster for the organization ARIES, with a simplified illustration of a man from the waist up in red and white. White text at center reads: "I Want It." Text in turquoise band at bottom about the...
Life is Real 1970 Poster with a woman at right with long, flowing red hair that extends up as well as down to the ground. Trees and flowers to the left. "Life is Real" following by a list of seven illegal drugs....	?Que tienes en contra de un condon? Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster with a black and white photograph at center of a man''s face. he has curly hair. Text above and below photograph in Spanish with contact information related to the organization America...
Untitled Circa 1970 Poster with black and white photo of Dallas Cowboys player Jethro Pugh running on a football field, surrounded by other players. He is wearing number 75. Dallas Cowboys logo at bottom left. Quote...	Untitled Circa 1970 Poster with black and white photo of Dallas Cowboys player Rayfield Wright running on a football field, in front of another player with the ball. He is wearing number 70. Dallas Cowboys logo at...
Untitled Circa 1970 Poster with black and white photo of Dallas Cowboys player Roger Staubach running with a football. He is wearing number 12. A player from the Houston Oilers is reaching out for him. Dallas Cowboys...	Untitled Circa 1970 Poster with black and white photo of Dallas Cowboys player Bob Hayes running with a football. He is wearing number 22. A player from the Green Bay Packers is at left. Dallas Cowboys logo at bottom...
Untitled Circa 1970 Poster with black and white photo of Dallas Cowboys player Walk Garrison running with a football. He is wearing number 32. Other players and stadium in background. Dallas Cowboys logo at bottom...	Live the Dream. Say no to alcohol and drug abuse. Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster with a black and white photograph of Martin Luther King, Jr. from the waist us, standing with arms folding in front of his body. At top left is a quotation from Dr. King. At bottom left of...
New Day Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster with two simplified hands in black holding a red ball/circle shape. Background is a gradient of light blue at top to a darker blue at bottom. Text at bottom is black.	Steal This Urine Test Circa 1987 Poster advertising the book "Steal This Urine Test" by Abbie Hoffman. Poster has a photograph of Abbie Hoffman wearing a red and white "Just Say No!" t-shirt and holding a jar with urine above his...
An Alternative To Futility: The Underground Church David Preston, artist Late 20th Early 21st Century Ink drawing with black ink on white paper. Ink marks are abstract and look like tree branches. Superimposed text in red ink reads: "An Alternative To / Futility / The Underground Church"	Co-Caine 1970 Poster with round, red Coca Cola-like logo, but the text reads "Co-Caine" instead. Poster is square with a red circle at center, white background, and red border at edges.
AIDS Bike-a-thon 10 Steve Lyons, artist 1994 Poster advertising the AIDS Bike-a-thon 10, an event to raise money for Bay Area AIDS service organizations. Poster is orange with an illustration of a cyclist as seen from above. Logos for...	Dress for the occasion. 1989 Poster from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation advocating the use of condom. Poster is a black and white photograph of a Caucasian male sitting, with legs open and a condom on his erect penis.