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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a for africa c. 1975 Poster has a yellow background with black text at the top and bottom and two images in the center. The image on the left shows three figures digging around a brown hole and has "workers" in the...	Yellow Peril Ben Sakoguchi c. 1980 Large white square poster with a small image in the center. The image is bordered in light blue. On the right is a man wearing a conical shaped hat holding an orange on the end of a sword. In...
Japantown Art and Media Workshop 1977 1977 Poster has an image in the center of several figures. In the background are light tan outlines of of a man and woman. In the center is a young Asian girl in a blue dress. Above her is a yellow...	1/1/65 - 1/1/72: 7o Anniversario della prima azione armata di al assifa braccio armarto di Al Fatah c. 1972 The top area of the poster has a blue background and the bottom has a yellow background with black text. Along the bottom edge is a border of Palestine flags. In the center is a large drawing of...
Public notice: Eleventh biennial Wilderness Conference 1969 Long rectangular poster with black and light brown text and image. In the top center is an outlined drawing of a bear holding down a fish next to water on light brown. The top of the poster reads...	Call Me Chicano 1970 Top of poster has text: "Call Me / Chicano" on top of stylized designs in green and brown. Below this text are several stylized drawings. From left to right: An Mesoamerican Indian with a shield...
Untitled (Hitler with Nixon Mask) 1970 Poster has a stylized drawing of Adolf Hitler from the waist up. In his right hand Hitler is holding a mask with the face of Richard Nixon. On his left arm Hitler is wearing an arm band with a...	Bring the Monster Down: End the Air War Doug Lawler ~ artist, East Bay Media ~ workshop 1972 Bottom edge of poster has the text: "End The Air War". Bottom half of poster has a stylized drawing. A purple dragon exhaling smoke is depicted in front of a small Asiatic town. Behind...
Rock: Asthetik und Kommunikation c. 1978 Poster has a large stylized drawing of a male figure from the shoulders up. The figure has his eyes closed and mouth open wide, as if singing or screaming. In the open mouth of this figure there...	Community for New Politics, Berkeley Elections, Vote April 4 1967 Upper left corner of poster has CNP circular logo. Poster reads from top to bottom: "Community for New Politics / '...We Can Begin / Here To Remake A / Corner Of America' / Avakian...
work on paper poster c. 1972 Poster has a black and white photograph overall. Lower portion of the image has white eggs with black numbers on them. Three of these eggs have cracked open to reveal naked male figures crouching...	Kidnapped: Bobby Seale 1968 Top edge of poster has text: "Kidnapped". Below poster has a large photograph of Bobby Seale from the chest up speaking into a microphone. The bottom edge of the poster has the text: "Bobby Seale...
This Monster Doug Lawler ~ artist, East Bay Media ~ workshop c. 1971 The right side of the poster has a stylized image of a male figure face down on the ground. It is repeated twice, once smaller and in dark blue and once larger and in light blue. The top left...	No Recruitment : No Draft c. 1983 Poster is printed on yellow paper and has a red rectangle in the center with a yellow flowwers growing out of a U.S. Army helmet symbolic of the triumph of peace over war). The poster reads, "No...
Political Prisoners of USA fascism c. 1970 Poster has a dark blue background with turquoise text. In the center are two black and white photographs of Bobby Seale and Huey Newton. They are both holding guns, wearing black berets and...	Free Angela & All Political Prisoners c. 1971 Poster has a stylized line drawing of a woman in profile from the chest up. The woman's hair is made up of the text: "Angela". The woman's shoulders and chest are composed of the text: "& All...
Free all political prisoners: Angela: Bobby c. 1970 Poster has a red brick wall with a blue fist rising in front of it in the center. Over the fist is a small blue chain, and under the brick wall is a large blue chain. Above the poster reads, "Free...	Stop the Draft: I follow the Fort Hood three who will follow me? 1967 Poster has a large black and white drawing of an African -American man in a military uniform in the center. He has a name tag of "Lockman" on his shirt. The poster reads, "I follow the Fort Hood...
No Blood for Oil c.01990 Poster has three fists stenciled along the top ege. The left fist is dark green, the center fist is red and outlined in a red square, the right fist is black. Below the fists is "No Blood...	(shanty house with Martin Luther King quote) c. 1967 Poster has a black and white photograph of a shanty house with a woman in white clothing surrounded by several children. They are all standing on the porch with a small white dog. Above is ""The...
work on paper poster 1993 Poster has black background on the right and a red and blue outline of a Cuban flag on the left. The center shows the face of a woman peeking out from behind the black. In the black area is light...	Hands off Assata c. 2007 Poster has a large black and white photograph of Assata Shakur along the right edge and center. The poster reads overall, "Former Black Panther Party member Assata Shakur is under attack again....
Unity is the solution Frank Cieciorka ~ artist circa 1971 Poster has a black background with a white circle in the center. In the circle is "Unity is the solution" printed in red. Above reads in white, "from the prisoners of Attica State...	Remember Attica 1971 Poster has a large image in the center of a man's face looking through prison cell bars. He has blood dripping on his forehead. Below is "Remember" printed in red and "Attica" printed in black....