Inventory of the J. Walter Thompson Company. William James Carlton Diaries and Biography, 1862-1877

J. Walter Thompson Company. William James Carlton Diaries and Biography, 1862-1877.

J. Walter Thompson Company.

.6 Linear Feet
375 Items

Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library

English.

Collection is open for research.

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[Identification of item], J. Walter Thompson Company. William James Carlton Diaries and Biography, 1862-1877. Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.

The diaries and biography of William James Carlton were transferred to the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library from the J. Walter Thompson Company in 1987.

Processed by: Donna Longo DiMichele

Completed December 21, 1992

Encoded by Stephen Douglas Miller

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Processing of this collection was supported in part by gifts from the J. Walter Thompson Company Fund and the John and Kelly Hartman Foundation.

The diaries of William James Carlton span the years 1862 to 1877; the biography dates to about 1964. There are transcripts of the diaries and a draft manuscript of a biography, A Portrait of William James Carlton, 1838-1902, by Frankie McKee Robins. The transcripts are slightly annotated. For the years from 1862 to November 1864 the diaries chronicle William James Carlton's participation in the United States Civil War. From 1864 to 1877, the diaries primarily describe family events and church-related activities. A December 1873 entry indicates that no diaries were kept for the years 1865 to 1872. The bulk of the biography describes the years from 1861 to 1862.

The diaries begin during approximately the fifth month of William Carlton's enlistment in the 48th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. His entries describe drills, recreation and holiday celebrations, sermons addressed to the troops, illness, and funerals. He briefly describes incidents and comradely associations among various regiments, including the 3rd Rhode Island [Heavy?] Artillery. Most of the descriptions of battles are from an observer's point of view but there are some sketchy descriptions of those in which he participated. Ships carrying troops, supplies, and mail are frequently named. During the period in which the 48th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry was in the areas of Hilton Head and Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, and Fort Pulaski, Georgia, William Carlton visited the local area. He describes trips to Jones, Bird, and Tybee islands in Georgia. While on Daufuskie Island, the Stoddard plantation on Calibogue Sound was occupied by his regiment.

Entries from 1862 to 1864 reveal William Carlton's personal interests and activities. They include frequent discourse about specific books, magazines, and newspapers he read, with comments on authors and texts and comparisons of different titles. Correspondence between family and friends is regularly noted, including "sub rosas" to a brother. There are observations about African Americans, some of whom were escaped slaves, others were servants or in another sort of service to the Union, and a Black regiment, which Mr. Carlton refers to as the South Carolina Volunteers.

The diaries for 1873 to 1877 primarily discuss family activities and illness, the children's social development, and birthdays and holiday celebrations in Elizabeth, N.J., and nearby areas of New York. The Carltons were members of St. Paul's, probably a Methodist Episcopal church, in Elizabeth. Church-related activities were central in family life and included attendance at Sunday School and services. The diaries have notes about various preachers and the titles of sermons they gave. William Carlton was a trustee of the church. He was also on the board of the YMCA (probably the Young Men's Christian Association) and served as its Treasurer in 1873. His advertising business is mentioned only cursorily in the Diaries. In the entry for December 5, 1864, he wrote, "Commenced to canvas for advertisements this morning for several papers." Most other business-related entries merely note that he went to the office. In 1873 Mr. Carlton was the chair of the Committee on Credentials for the Advertising Agents Convention held at the Astor House. In 1877 he discussed the purchase of the Lady's Book with Mr. [Louis Antoine] Godey. There are a few mentions of Mr. Carlton's employee, "Thompson" [James Walter Thompson], including social occasions he shared with Mr. Carlton. James Walter Thompson bought the William J. Carlton agency from Mr. Carlton in 1878 and renamed it the J. Walter Thompson Company.

The biography briefly describes William James Carlton's early years, including his family and education. The bulk of the Biography describes William Carlton's military service and the 48th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. The biography Appendix includes information from secondary sources, such as biographical sketches of members of the 48th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry and other military officers; excerpts from reports and published sources about the 48th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry; and other aspects of the Civil War. The biography Outline includes scattered, brief references to the William J. Carlton's advertising business but is predominantly descriptive of family life.

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.