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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Capitalism & Class Society-Organized Crime? Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster on light green paper with black text and an image of women sitting at a table, while a child sleeps in a bassinet on the floor. Text gives statistics for how wealth in the United states is...	Three Propositions... 1979 Poster has purple ink printed on cream colored paper. At the top is "three propositions rest at the bottom of the / accepted wisdom about the U.S. economy." The three props are: 1) the marketplace...
untitled (outhouses) Northland Poster Collective, copyright 1988 Poster has black ink printed on white paper with a stylized image of two outhouses stacked on top of each other, with the top labeled "Bosses" and the bottom labeled "Employees".	Praise of Communism Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black printed background. At the left is a black and white dotted image of a man. At the right is a "praise of communism" by Bertold Brecht. At the bottom left is "New American...
El Capital de Carlos Marx Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a skewed orange background with a black and white image of Karl Marx with Spanish text. At the center of the poster is "El Capital / De / Carlos Marx...	I Hate My Boss 1998 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a yellow background. At the bottom of the yellow is a stylized beige and green image of a somber looking bald man. At the top is "I Hate My Boss" in...
untitled (Mao Zedong quote) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a stylized pink tinted background image of three figures seen from the side, one holding a gun. Over the top of the image is a quote, in black, by Mao...	Voting Changes Nothing! Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and white image and black text printed on white paper. Text at top reads "the housing crisis is not over: Voting Changes Nothing!" followed by four paragraphs of text, with the...
untitled (Mao Zedong) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on yellow paper with a photo of Mao Zedon standing in front of a Communist China flag.	La Votacion No Cambia Nada! Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black Spanish text printed on white paper. At the top is "La Crisis de Viviendas No Ha Terminado: / La Votacion No Cambia Nada!" At the left is a small photo of a man in glasses. At the...
Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "The Rich Lie / The Poor Die" followed by text about war and violence and the resulting human suffering. Near the center is "the main...	Pronto Seran Ruinas! Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black Spanish text printed on white paper. At the top is "!Pronto Seran Ruinas / Pintorescas!" The center of the poster lists local business with more details in Spanish. At the bottom...
Rock the Vote Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Rock The Vote" and a stylized photo of a faceless figure with a rock. The poster has text divided into three columns advising people on...	Anarchist Bookfair 2006 Poster screenprinted on cream colored paper. At the top is "The New England" in red and "Anarchist" in black, red and green. At the center is an orange star with a stylized black illustration of a...
Bay Area Anarchist Book Fair 1996 Poster has a drawing at the top and text below. The drawing is of a large yellow "A" in the center of a circle. The circle''s background has the faces of men and women in...	Anarchist bookfair Hugh D'Andrade, artist, Inkworks Press, printer 2006 Poster consists of red, black and blue print on a yellow-green background. Image in the center depicts 3 police officers standing shoulder to shoulder; the left officer has a baton on his shoulder...
Bay Area Anarchist Book Fair 1996 Poster has black ink printed on red paper with a drawing at the top and text below. The drawing is of a large "A" in the center of a circle. The circle''s background has the faces of men and women...	Know Your Enemy Circa 2005 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "know your / Enemy!" At the bottom is a silhouetted image of a soldier aiming his gun at a pair of arm thrust in the air....
Anarchist conference and festival 1989 Red and black print on gray paper. Image of a rose with a long stem and thorns. Red circle around the rose with the text "Anarchist conference and festival July 20-25, 1989 San Francisco." Text on...	Sammy Galven 2004 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the center is a photo og a young man smiling. At the top of the poster is "aug. 2004 / www.modanarcho.tk". At the bottom of the poster is "Sammy...
Behind Our Masks We Are You Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on cream colored paper. The background photo shows people gathered, with a figure with a bandana over his nose and mought holding up a sign. Text imposed over the sign...	Haymarket: Celebrate People's History Adam Fanucci, artist Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster conists of a purple red print on white paper. Image depicts human hands waving a flag with the text "celebrate people''s history" next to it and a "A" in a circle. Text includes four...
Dr. Marie Equi Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black background with a woodcut image in the center. The image is in shades of tan and red. The image depicts a man with the word "Revolt" on his forehead. Poster reads, "1872 Dr....	Organize! Glad Day Press Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is an illustration of four figures - labeled anarchist, sky pilots, communists, and an illegible name - pointing up toward outer space while...