Posters and the Art of Student Protest in the Vietnam Era – The Look Back – PBS Wisconsin Education

What can protest posters tell us about the history of activism in Wisconsin during the 1960s?

The 1960s were a time of major protests across the United States. Many people were unhappy with racial discrimination, unfair job practices, and the Vietnam War. They used protests as a way to make their voices heard. The University of Wisconsin-Madison was the site of key protest movements, and the posters and flyers associated with this time offer a window into the past.

Let's take a look

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Questions to consider

Colorful circle with pattern and zigzag with the number one in the center

How did students in the past make their voices heard about the issues they cared about? How might you take a stand and let people know what is important to you?

Colorful circle with pattern and zigzag with the number two in the center

What was going on in the United States, and internationally, during the 1960s and 1970s? How did people feel about these events, and how do we know this?

Colorful circle with pattern and zigzag with the number three in the center

Why were posters used in protest movements? Why do we keep some of these posters from the past in archives?

Meet the historians

Woman with long lavender hair and purple glasses speaking in front of library bookshelves.

Kacie Lucchini Butcher

Public Historian

I find and share stories from the past that have shaped our present, and love showing people how cool history is!

Woman with long lavender hair and purple glasses speaking in front of library bookshelves.

Kacie Lucchini Butcher

Public Historian

Yes! Protesting is our civic right. It’s important to make our voices heard.

Fun colored markers and glitter. I want my poster to shine ✨

What a hard question! I’d have to say the protest poster collection shown in the episode. It’s so cool to see how people expressed themselves and made change.

Man in a plaid shirt speaking in front of a wall with colorful handwritten text.

Sergio González

History Professor

I research and teach about the history of Latinos in the Midwest.

Man in a plaid shirt speaking in front of a wall with colorful handwritten text.

Sergio González

History Professor

Oh plenty, both as a participant and a historian. I’ve been to somber protests and livelier ones, but my favorites are always those that center hope and joy. It’s like Emma Goldman said, “If I can’t dance, it’s not my revolution!”

Big, chunky markers are important for making your message visible, and I always appreciate extra poster boards in case I make a mistake on my first draft. But the most important supply you need is imagination for coming up with a witty slogan!

I’m really lucky to study the community that I call home, which means I often come across archival whispers of my family history. My absolute favorite find? A photo of my family in the local newspaper!

Woman with straight black hair looking to the side, speaking in a library setting.

Cat Phan

Digital Archivist

I take care of photos and videos and sound recordings so they last for a long time into the future!

Woman with straight black hair looking to the side, speaking in a library setting.

Cat Phan

Digital Archivist

Yes!

Definitely color — paints, markers, etc.

Oh boy, too many. I did get to hold a director’s real live Oscar award once.

Man with a bald head and gray mustache gesturing with both hands while speaking outdoors in a red turtleneck and black cardigan.

“President Johnson starts bombing Vietnam in February 1965 and that creates a whole new generation of protest. And then you turn from polite protest to some level of disruption.”

Stu Levitan

Episode credits

Producer
David Boffa

Hosts
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Sergio González

Special Guest
Stu Levitan
Cat Phan

Research and Writing
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Sergio González

Videography
David Boffa
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ian Glodich

Editing
David Boffa
Ian Glodich

Captioning
Catie Pfeifer

Translation Services
Rev

Educator Support Materials
David Boffa
Mia Forslund
Jen Kobylecky

Web Design
Charles Barrows
Erika Kachama-Nkoy

Digital
Mark Riechers
John Vieth

Graphic and Motion Design
Charles Barrows
Ian Glodich
Danielle Riseley

Executive Producer
Ryan Hendricks

Director of Education
Megan Monday

Director of Television
Jon Miskowski

Project Partners
Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History
UW–Madison Libraries
Wisconsin Historical Society

Special Thanks
Oona McNally
University Archives and Records Management

Funding provided by

Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout

Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family

Focus Fund for Education

Friends of PBS Wisconsin