The Medical Historical Library has recently acquired a collection of twenty-nine posters and digital works on themes of social justice and health care by artist/activist Rachael Romero. Many works date from 1975 to 1982 and were created by Ms. Romero for the San Francisco Poster Brigade which she co-founded. Originally displayed on city streets—often on the sides of buildings—the posters bear messages such as “Decent Housing is a Basic Right.” and “Preventive Medicine, Not Costly Operations.”
Documented in the collection is “The Fight for the International Hotel,” which became a local cause cèlébre in 1976-78 when the hotel which provided low cost accommodations and community was threatened by, and subsequently razed for, development.
Two recent original digital works reflect Ms. Romero’s personal odyssey through diagnosis and treatment of a brain tumor.