BOSS archives poster collection, 1966-1978., bulk 1968-1971

Summary

Title:

BOSS archives poster collection,

Dates:

1966-1978., bulk 1968-1971

Abstract:

A collection of posters covering political campaigns in the city of Berkeley, the anti-Vietnam War movement, student demonstrations, rock concerts, and other aspects of early 1970s protest movements and counterculture. Several posters were produced for city election campaigns in 1971 and 1972 and reflect specific issues from that time, such as community control of police. Also represented are posters by the Berkeley Political Poster Workshop (1970-1971) and posters from concerts organized by Family Dog, the concert production company run by Chet Helms.

Extent:

110 posters

Language:

In English.

Background

Arrangement:

Materials are divided into three series that mirror labels used by BOSS archives and that are found on the back of each poster:

• Miscellaneous posters
• Political posters
• Vietnam War posters

Related resources

Related material:

Additional posters from the Berkeley Political Poster Workshop can be found in: Merrill C. Berman collection of posters relating to United States twentieth-century social movements (Getty Research Institute Special Collections), Berkeley Protest Poster collection, May 1970 (California State Library, California History Room), the Oakland Museum of California, and the Collection of the Center for the Study of Political Graphics.

Separated material:

Materials from BOSS archives from or about activities outside of Berkeley were removed in the 2000s and offered to libraries, archives, and historical societies in those areas.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Minorities -- California -- Berkeley.
Social movements -- California.
Political posters, American -- California.
Peace movements -- California -- Posters.
Protest movements -- California -- Posters.
Student movements -- United States -- California.
Rent control -- United States -- California.
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Protest movements -- United States.
Political campaigns.
Police reform.
Elections -- California -- Berkeley.
Posters.
Political posters.
Screen prints.
Music posters.
War posters.

Names:

Avalon Ballroom.

Places:

Berkeley (Calif.) -- Social life and customs.
Berkeley (Calif.) -- Social conditions.
Berkeley (Calif.) -- History -- Sources.
Berkeley (Calif.) -- Archives.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:

Finding aid prepared by Jose C. Guerrero.

Date Prepared:

2026

Date Encoded:

Finding aid encoded by Jose C. Guerrero, 2026.

Restrictions:

Material is open for research. Please call or contact Berkeley Public Library for Berkeley History Room hours or to schedule an appointment: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

Location of this collection:

Berkeley Public Library

2090 Kittredge Street

Berkeley, CA 94704, US

Contact:

510 981 6100

Website