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.
1967
Poster has a sketch of Martin Luther King Jr. in the center. The lower right has "Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr." in black. |
n.d.
Poster has a light gray border with a black and white photograph of Martin Luther King Jr. giving a speech in front of Sproul Hall. Poster reads, "The Dream Lives On/ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.... |
c. 1995
Poster has a black and white drawing of a man being taken down from a cross with Roman soldiers looking on. Around the edge of the image reads, "We remember Malcolm/ Keep the natural tight." |
c. 1967
Poster is printed with black ink on white paper. The center of the poster has a reproduction of a drawing of Malcolm X, a man with short hair, a mustache, and a goatee. The image shows him from... |
c. 1972
Black and white poster contains a reproduction of a drawing of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which shows King wearing a suit and tie with his mouth slightly open as if about to speak. Text at... |
1967
Poster has a large white border with a drawing of three marines sharing a cigarette. The man in the middle has a gun on his back. The background is a light gray sky with clouds. The lower left has... |
c. 1967
Poster has a white border around a drawing of a Marine plane flying low and loaded with missiles along the bottom. The plane is visible thrugh a brown abstract structure. The lower left has "... |
1967
Poster has a tan background with large green and black text. In the center is a black and white photograph of Charlie Chaplin-like soldier in front of an image of heart and lungs. He is holding a... |
c. 1967
Poster has a grayscale image of a soldier walking down a long path towards signs on the horizon. The signs have small drawings and have small sayings on them like: kiss it, drive it, eat it!... |
1967
Poster has a circle in the center that is half blue with the outline of a dove in white. Poster reads in blue, "Spring Mobilization/ March to end the war in Vietnam/ April 15 10 A.M./ Montgomery... |
c. 1967
Poster has an orange background and a thin unprinted border overall. The center of the poster has a large blue circular area with a stylized drawing of a pheonix emerging from flames. The top of... |
1967
Poster has a red background surrounded by a thin blue border and a thicker unprinted border. The top of the poster has the text: 'Conference /On The", there is a small drawing of a wing... |
1967
Poster has a blue background overall. Poster has a highly stylized drawing of a dove in white. Below the drawing is the text: "Peace / Torch / Marathon / Start: Grace / Cathedral / 2PM Aug.27".... |
1967
Poster has an uneven unprinted border. Background of poster is black. Top of poster has the text: "RESIST!". Center of poster has a red hand print. Bottom of poster has the text:... |
1967
The top of the poster has a drawing reminiscent of the seal of the United States of America, with an eagle holding in its talons a branch and a bundle of arrows with an eagle head stuck on the... |
1967
Poster has a black and white psyhcedelic drawing overall. The drawing has paisely print, flowers, and faces overall. The bottom has a small arc with "Exorcise the Pentagon/ Oct. 21-22." |
1967
Poster has a set of four circles in purple made of different repeating images. The outside circle is a man with long hair holding up his first finger. The second inside circle is of Uncle Sam. The... |
1967
Poster has a green background with white text. In the center is a black and white photograph of a several injured soldiers and a medical box. In the background are palm trees and a helicopter.... |
1967
Poster has abackground of a black and white photograph of a man tied to a pole in a white shirt with police officers standing behind him. The bottom reads in red, "March on Washington to Brint... |
1967
Poster has a blue background with white text. In the center is a black and white photograph of a young goy leaning against a car with a police officer holding a gun in front of him. Poster reads... |
1976
Outside cover of "El Canendario Chicano 1976" featuring a semi-abstract artwork in primary colors. Holes are punched at top and bottom center for hanging, and a non-profit stamp is printed at... |
circa 1966
Poster consists ore fred and black print on white paper. Image depicts a man holding a protest sign with "Huelga" on it in an outstretched arm with liquor bottles behind him. Text... |
1967
Background of poster is red at top and transitions to yellow at bottom. Poster has a border of unprinted white space around two lines that are blue at top and purple at bottom. The top of the... |
1967
This poster is printed on tan, textured paper. There are orange Chinese characters filling the background. There is a large, black and brown illustration of a ram's head in the bottom center. It... |