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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Read the Militant Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black and white background image of a woman holding a stack of Militant newspapers and wearing a Vote Socialist Workers t-shirt, speaking to another person. At the top of the poster...	The Great Prairie Read-In & Dinner-Pail Supper 1986 Poster has black ink printed on yellow paper. At the top is "The Great Prairie Read-In / & Dinner-Pail Supper" follwoed by a stylized image of a man pulling grain in a field with two children...
Amy Goodman Inkworks Press, designer, printer 2001 Poster has black and white background photos, tinted red. At the left is a woman in headphones speaking into a microphone. At the right is a group of soldiers. The top edge is red with presenters...	untitled (graffiti walls) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has multicolor photo of walls with graffiti text and images.
Alice Walker Design Action Collective, Inkworks Press 2006 This horizontally-oriented poster advertises "Alice / Walker / In Conversation With Democracy Now! Host / Amy / Goodman." Both names are in large, yellow text. There is a photograph of Walker with...	Celebrating the Grand Opening of Papersong Dennis Loren, designer, Gary Grimshaw, illustrator 2000 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a blue background, lighter at the center and darker at the top and bottom. A green leaf-like border is at the left and right. At the top is a list of...
Books are Nothing But Men Talking to Everyone c. 1980 Poster has black ink printed on beige paper. At the top is a stylized image of a man standing on a platform addressing a large crowd, pointing at a large book behind him, behind held by massive...	The 9th Annual Bay Area Anarchist Bookfair Hugh D'Andrade, artist 2004 Multi-color poster printed in muted tones of green, red, and blue on white paper. The page has an allover olive green background with a graphic at center showing cats in human clothing. An adult...
Anarchist Bookfair Hugh D'Andrade, designer, Inkworks Press, printer 2005 Poster has blcak and red ink printed on yellow paper/ At the top is "Bound Together Anarchist Collective Book Store Presents The / 10th Annual / Bay Area" followed by a banner with "Anarchist" in...	2nd Annual Berkeley Public Library Foundation Authors Dinner 2004 Poster has a multicolor,s tylized background image of a man and woman sitting at a table in a library with books stacked nearby and full wine glasses in front of them. At the top of the image is "...
Rini Inkworks Press 2006 Poster has a stylized mulitcolor image background showing figures in a field, a female figure in a head scarf, a shouting figure with his fist in the air, and mountains, in shades of red, greem,...	The First Conference on Radical Humor Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top left is a photo fo Ronald Reagan sticking up his middle finger. Text at the top reads "the frist conference on / radical / humor / April 22...
untitled (unkempt man) R. Crumb Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper with a stylized image of an unkempt man with flies circling motioning the viewer over with his index finger, saying "Pssst! Hey! / C''Mere! I Got /...	The Experimental College Library 1977 Poster has red and blue ink printed on cream colored paper. At the top is a stylized image of an old man in a floppy pointed hat sitting on a stool reading a large book, with other books on the...
Battle for the Books Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. The left and right sides are red, with black text down the center. At the top center is "Battle / For The / Books". Below the text is a stylized image of a hand...	Grace Paley & Tillie Olsen West Coast Print Center 1977 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "The Poetry Center Presents / Grace Paley & Tillie Olsen". At the center is a drawing of a staircase with a window at the top. Below...
untitled (painter) 1989 Poster printed on white paper with blocks of red in the background. At the center is a multicolor stylized image of a shirtless man trapped in a room with a large window painting three diagonal...	Art Against Violence: A Community Mural Project 1994 Poster has black ink printed on gray paper. At the top is "art against / Violence / a community mural project". At the center is a photo of three figures standing on dirt and leaves, with the text...
Diego Rivera: A Pan American Unity Mural City College of San Francisco, copyright Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the top is "Diego Rivera / The Pan American Unity Mural / City College of San Francisco Diego Rivera Theater" in black. At the center is a multicolor reproduction...	Yes on N Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on beige paper with a central stylized image of a cone-headed figure sitting on a stone-like, four-legged creature shooting a bow and arrow. At the top is "Guardian"....
Other: Breaking Out of the Box Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is a check mark in a box and "other: / breaking out fo the box / exhibit of digital prints by / Berverly Naidus / Mar. 27 - Apr. 24 /...	Benefit Party for the Specs Film Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has yellow printed edges enclosing a cluttered collage of text and images. Arched at the top is "You Are Invited To An Election Day / Benefit Party / Parade / For / The / Specs / Film" in...
untitled (announcement for Elly Simmons' upcoming shows) Inkworks Press 2004 Multicolor posters has a collage of text and images. Centered at the top is a white strip with "Bay Area artist and activist (and filmmaker) Elly Simmons / winter 2004 and spring 2005 schedule of...	Breaking Through Fear 2004 Poster has a purple background. At the top is an art reproduction showing a female figure''s face in between columns in front of water and plants. Below the image is "Breathing / Through Fear /...