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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First Night 1986 Poster printed on white paper. At the top right is "San Francisco''s premier / First Night / Secember 31, 1986 / a city-wide festival of the performing arts from noon / ''til midnight-offering the...	Poet John Beecher Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on brown paper. At the left is a stylized image of a man with a beard. At the top right is "Poet John / Beecher / ''...a one man recorder of / American experience...
Imagine the Angels of Bread Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on yellow paper. The background has a stylized gold image of people working in a field. Ove rthe image is a poem entitled "Imagine the Angels of Bread" by Martin Espada.	Art Installation: Rene Castro Jos Sances Inkworks Press Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the center is a signature-like scribble. At the right center is "Art Installation / Rene Castro / Jos Sances". At the bottom right is "photography...
The First Kingdom 1977 Poster has black ink printed on white paper with a purple marker border. The poster has a stylized image of a group of figures in space suits holding alien weapons standing on a foreign planet...	Believe It or Leave It Gilbert Shelton 1970 Poster has purple and orange ink printed on browning newspaper. The poster is divided into four sections of comic strip cartoons. The top left and bottom right are purple and the top right and...
What's Left in Political Cartooning Accurate Printing Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is Intersection for the Arts / and LaborFest present / what''s left in political cartooning / defiant pens & battling brushes / July 18...	Re-Elect #594 for Spuer-Senator and Chancellor Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Re-Elect" in a black strip followed by "#594 For Super-Senator / And Chancellor / #594". At the right is a stylized image of a figure...
Corazon Mexica Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the center is a collage of images of human figures (some in sombreros), birds, pyramids, a train engine, a butterfly, a skull and other images of...	Leviathan Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has red ink printed on yellow paper. At the top is "Leviathan" and a stylized image fo three monsters perched on waves. One moster holds a gun, another has two beakers, and the third has a...
Processed World 1991 Poster has black and green ink printed on white paper. At the top is a stylized image of a figure with a computer for a head falling from the top of a skyscraper. Across the top of the image is...	Alternative Press Review: Your Guide Beyond the Mainstream 2002 Poster printed on white paper and is designed to look like a publication cover, perhaps a magazine. The title is "Alternative Press Review: Your Guide Beyond The Mainstream" printed in red and...
Alternative Press Review: Your Guide Beyond the Mainstream 2005 Poster printed on white paper and is designed to look like a publication cover, perhaps a magazine. The title is "Alternative Press Review: Your Guide Beyond The Mainstream" printed in red and...	Broke-Ass Stuart's Guide to Living Cheaply in San Francisco Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper and is designed to look like a publication cover, with a photo of a man holding a snow globe on the front. At the top left is "Best Local Zine / Best Of...
S.F. Zine Fest Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and green ink printed on green paper. At the top are green clouds with "S.F. Zine Fest" in light green and the details for the September 9-10 event in black. At the center is a...	Day in the Lyfe Magazine Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper with a stylized image of a man seen from the chest up, with his head shaded to look like a globe of the earth. At the bottom right is "day in the / Lyfe...
Juan Gonzalez Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has blue ink printed on white paper. At the top is a strip of blue with "a benefit for Media Alliance" with a list of cosponsors. Below the blue is "Juan Gonzalez" with a short bio on the...	Living Where Truth & Fabrication Meet Lies 2005 Poster has a black and white dotted background image of a man in a white hat. At the top left is a list of presenters. At the left center is "Hilton / ALS / staff writer for / The New Yorker" in...
Alternative News Media Expo & Press Freedom Conference Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a purple background. At the top is a stylized image of a tall beige building with flags hanging from the windows. Yellow text to the right of the image...	The Washington Post at War 2006 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a black background. At the top of the poster is "presented by the Graduate School of Journalism / a Herb Caen San Francisco Chronicle Lecture / The...
Does the Media Tell the Truth? 1985 Poster printed on white paper with a background collage of newspaper articles, printed in black and white. At the center is a ragged red shape with a black illustration of a hand holding a spear...	The Bush White House 2003 Poster has a purple printed background with lighter purple and white text. At the top is "the Bush White House / how covering the president has changed" followed by a photo of the White House. At...
Conversations on Global Justice & Media Democracy Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a red background. At the left and right are color photos of two women, with their names and major work at the top. At the top center is "Media Alliance''...	Untitled 2005 Poster has a multicolor background image showing people crowded around a white car. At the top of the poster are two strips of red with white text reading "Private Conduct/Private Places: / New...