Collection of Ninety-Three (93) Posters Promoting Social Justice, Arts and Culture Events at Yale in the Early- to Mid-1970s

New Haven, Connecticut, 1975. Very good to fine condition. Minor flaws include toning, residue or damage from adhesive or staples, and offsetting.. A fine collection of ninety-three (93) posters, many related to social justice initiatives spearheaded by students at Yale, spanning the years 1971 and 1975. There are seven (7) categories of posters in this collection including: concerts; film screenings; lectures; meetings; plays and performances; protests; and religious services. There is also one debate represented, and a couple of miscellaneous events, such as an audition announcement and an advertising poster for a publisher. Together, the posters paint a picture of a bright young community deeply interested in social justice, feminism, arts and culture. Highlights include lectures by some of the most prominent academics of the day, several antiwar rallies, and plays put on by Yale students featuring the works of Ibsen, Chekhov, Shaw, and Sartre. Finally, there is a sign that bears a defiant anti-establishment slogan ("SHUT YALE DOWN") which we posit was one of the signs used in protest during the 1970 May Day on the New Haven Green. The event is sometimes referred to as the "New Haven Green Disorders", a day on civil unrest in which thousands of Black Panthers supporters rallied together on the New Haven Green and in the Yale colleges for teach-ins, concerts, and protest. "Shut Yale Down" is a slogan that appears frequently in oral and written accounts of that day.

Two of the posters ("The Lustre of Apelles" and "Viva La Muerte") have red crayon or colored pencil corrections, leading us to believe that at least some of the posters originated from a local New Haven printer and are printer's proofs. Many have evidence of adhesive, staples, or tape, however, which would indicate that some were used on campus. At least two of the posters have comments written in pen such as "Good" or "Excellent"; one poster promoting a feminist lecture sports a snarky annotation that reads, "B+ in Social Science Buzzwords". Many have dates in pencil or pen to the versos. All are in very good, near-fine, or fine condition.

Full spreadsheet listing of items available on request. As expected for the early 1970s in a university setting subject matter includes Social Movements (Anti-war, Women, Viet Nam), Activism, Religion, Drama, Music, Poetry and more.