Inventory of the J. Walter Thompson Company. Arnold Grisman Papers, 1934-1997 and undated, bulk 1969-1987
[top]Descriptive Summary
Repository
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke
University
Creator
J. Walter Thompson Company
Title
J. Walter Thompson Company. Arnold Grisman Papers,
1934-1997 and undated, bulk 1969-1987
Language of Material
Material
in English
Extent
4.2 Linear Feet
3150 Items
Abstract
3150 Items
The J. Walter Thompson
Company (JWT), founded in 1864, is one of the oldest and largest enduring advertising agencies in the United States. Arnold Grisman joined JWT as a copywriter in 1955. Grisman held a number of positions during his career with JWT, and rose to become Creative Director of the New York Office and an Executive Vice President. A prolific writer, Grisman produced numerous short stories, three published novels, and speeches for other JWT executives.
The Arnold Grisman Papers span the years 1934-1997, with the bulk of materials spanning 1969-1987, and includes correspondence, speeches, presentations, memoranda, manuscripts, photographs, videocassettes and publications that document Grisman's work on a number of projects. Materials in collection represent work on a proposed collection of the writings of early JWT executive James Webb Young; research on the JWT London Office; Grisman's consultant work for the 1969 NASA Space Task Force Report; interviews with Dick Lord, Frank Stanton, John Goodyear, Bob Dilenscheider, Ron Kovas, Joe O'Donnell, and Jack Peters, for JWT's 1986 Annual Report; internal executive reports; publications by and about JWT; proceedings from an experimental TV commercial workshop; a 1973 presentation to the Ford Motor Company; a typescript of
"We aim to bring results"
by John Philip Jones (later edited and published as Does It Pay To Advertise? by Lexington Books, Lexington, Mass., 1989); and notes and early drafts of a writing project entitled Rush Hour. Other JWT staff represented in the collection include George Black, George Butler, Sidney Bernstein, Steve Darland, Colin Dawkins, Ken Hinks, Marion Howington, Don Johnston, Stephen King, Howard Kohl, Denis Lanigan, Burt Manning, Sam Meek, Donald Marschner, and Nancy Stephenson.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is open for research.
However, original audiovisual materials are closed to researchers; Use Copies
are available in the collection.
Collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of
Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this
form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in
Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour
delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare
Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Copyright Notice
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred
to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the
Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special
Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], J. Walter Thompson Company. Arnold Grisman
Papers, Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke
University.
Provenance
The J. Walter Thompson Company. Arnold Grisman Papers were received
by the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a transfer in
1987, with additions in 2001.
Processing Information
Processed by Stacy Lavin, May 2007; additional processing by Richard Collier, March 2008
Encoded by Richard Collier, Ruth E. Bryan, and Stacy Lavin, May
2007 and March 2008
Accessions 870305, 810908, 831209, 2001-0149 were merged into one
collection, described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory:
DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our
local
Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
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Biographical Note
| 1920 Sept. 5 | Born, Arnold Ellis Grisman |
| 1941 | B.A. in English, Harvard University |
| 1942 | M.A. in English, Columbia University |
| 1947 | Left Columbia University without completing Ph.D in English |
| 1955 | Joined JWT as copywriter; worked primarily for Ford Thunderbird account |
| 1960 Feb. 15 | Leave of Absence to work on Ford Canadian Car "X" account |
| 1960 May 16 | Worked on Shell Oil Co. account |
| 1963 | Elected vice president of JWT |
| 1966 | Named Creative Supervisor |
| 1971 | Appointed Creative Director, New York and elected Executive Vice President of JWT |
| 1985 | Celebrated 30th anniversary of employment with JWT |
In addition, Grisman wrote extensively and published three novels: Early to Rise (1958); Bongo (1961); and The Winning Streak (1985).
[top]Collection Overview
The Arnold Grisman Papers span the years 1934-1997, with the bulk of materials spanning 1969-1987, and includes correspondence, speeches, presentations, memoranda, manuscripts, photographs, videocassettes and publications that document Grisman's work on a number of projects. Materials in collection represent work on a proposed collection of the writings of early JWT executive James Webb Young; research on the JWT London Office; Grisman's consultant work for the 1969 NASA Space Task Force Report; interviews with Dick Lord, Frank Stanton, John Goodyear, Bob Dilenscheider, Ron Kovas, Joe O'Donnell, and Jack Peters, for JWT's 1986 Annual Report; internal executive reports; publications by and about JWT; proceedings from an experimental TV commercial workshop; a 1973 presentation to the Ford Motor Company; a typescript of
"We aim to bring results"
by John Philip Jones (later edited and published as Does It Pay To Advertise? by Lexington Books, Lexington, Mass., 1989); and notes and early drafts of a writing project entitled Rush Hour. Other JWT staff represented in the collection include George Black, George Butler, Sidney Bernstein, Steve Darland, Colin Dawkins, Ken Hinks, Marion Howington, Don Johnston, Stephen King, Howard Kohl, Denis Lanigan, Burt Manning, Sam Meek, Donald Marschner, and Nancy Stephenson.
The Collection is organized into three series: Printed Materials, Photographs, and Audiovisual Materials. The Printed Materials Series consists primarily of speeches, presentations and memoranda, as well as research materials for a proposed collection of the writings of early JWT executive James Webb Young. The Photographs Series includes transparencies, prints, and negatives of JWT's U.S. and European staff. The Audiovisual Materials Series consists of 5 videotapes that accompanied Mr. Grisman's major presentations.
[top]
Subject Headings
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.
- Grisman, Arnold.
- Bernstein, Sidney Ralph, 1907-
- Black, George.
- Dawkins, Colin.
- Hinks, Kennett Webb, 1897-1982.
- Johnston, Don, 1927-
- Jones, John Philip.
- Jones, John Philip. Does it pay to advertise? : cases illustrating successful brand advertising.
- Kohl, Howard. [not LC]
- Lanigan, Denis, 1926-
- Manning, Burt.
- Meek, Samuel W. (Samuel Williams), b. 1895.
- Stanton, Frank, 1908-2006.
- Young, James Webb, 1886-
- Ford Motor Company.
- J. Walter Thompson Company.
- J. Walter Thompson. London office.
- United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration--History.
- Advertising executives--United States.
- Advertising agencies--Great Britain--History.
- Advertising agencies--United States--History.
- Business presentations.
- Television advertising.
- Speeches. [AAT]
- Memoranda. [AAT]
- Videocassettes. [AAT]
- Photographs. [AAT]
- John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Related Material
For further research, other materials relating to this collection may
be found in the following collections within The J. Walter Thompson Company
Archives: the Colin Dawkins Papers, the
Sidney Ralph Bernstein Company History Files, the
Don Johnston Papers, the Frankfurt Office. Denis Lanigan Papers, the
Frankfurt Office. George Black Papers and the
World War II Advertising Collection.
 | List of Series in Collection | |||||||
 |  | Printed Materials Series, 1934-1997 and undated | ||||||
| | Photographs Series, circa 1980-1982 and undated | ||||||
 | | Audiovisual Materials Series, 1976 and undated | ||||||
Detailed Description of Collection
Printed Materials Series, 1934-1997 and undated
(7 Boxes)
Contains speeches, interviews, presentations, proceedings,
clippings, and correspondence that document the work of key JWT staff,
including that of Grisman. Also contains a proposed collection of writings by
James Webb Young dating from the 1930s through 1960s. Arranged
alphabetically.
Grisman Personal Writings
"Desensitization of
America,"
1975-1976
(3 folders)
"Rush Hour"
draft and supporting materials, 1997 and undated
"What's New Pussycat?"
1965; and
"The Restless Scene,"
1966
"X-Rated Society,"
circa 1975
JWT Staff
Black, George, JWT Frankfurt Report,
1983
Butler, George,
"George Butler Remembers...,"
1985 and
"A History of Berkeley
Square,"
1977
Dawkins, Colin
Biographical,
1986-1987
JWT history project,
1978-1980
Writings,
1986 and
undated
Grisman, Arnold
"Before and After,"
1972
"How to Keep Your Television
Budget from Disappearing,"
drafts,
1985
Interviews for Annual Report, featuring Bob
Dilenschneider and Ron Kovas; Dick Lord; Frank Stanton; Joe O'Donnell and Jack Peters; and John Goodyear,
1986
(5 folders)
Box 2
Materials for NASA Space Task Force Assignment,
1969
(2 folders)
Memoranda and other materials,1981-1988
"Wrestling with the Corporate
Conscience,"
1983, with clipping
about Grisman from issue of
Madison Avenue,
1973
Hinks, Ken, original script for talk on JWT history,
1982
Howington, Marion,
"J. Walter Thompson: A Legend in his
own Time,"
1988
Johnston, Don
"American Association of
Advertising Agencies: A Report from the Chairman to the AAA Annual
Meeting"
1982
"American Consumer 1970-1990:
Great Expectations"
1977 (Adapted from a speech by Johnston.)
"JWT Recruit Program
(Original),"
1981
"Look at the Company You Have
Joined,"
1984
"Marketing in the Global
Village,"
1985
"Quick Tour Through The Past,
Present, and Future of Advertising,"
1981
"Re-examination of the Process
of Branding (Original),"
1981
"Trends in American Advertising
(Original),"
1981
"Voice and Conscience of an
Industry,"
1983
Jones, John Philip,
"We Aim To Bring Results,"
manuscript,
circa 1989
(2 folders)
King, Stephen,
"Market Modeling,"
circa 1978
Kohl, Howard
"Through the Years with Howard
Kohl,"
1985
Lanigan, Denis
"Advertising in Crisis Situations
(A Survival Manual for Bad Times),"
1983-1984
Box 3
"Advertising Wars,"
1985
"Cola Wars,"
1985-1986
"It's a Long Way Down to the
Creative Department, or Information and its Discontents,"
1986
"What is Multinationality? Can it
be Cured?"
1983-1984
"Where it Comes From, Where it is
Today, Where it Appears to be Going,"
1984
Manning, Burt
"Big Idea,"
1988
"Birth of a Giant,"
essay
by Donald Merschner with letter from Merschner to Manning,
1962, and
1988
"In Our Hands,"
circa 1987;
"The Soul of a Company,"
1988;
"How Bad Is It?"
circa 1988
"Responses to Questions by Media
Key,"
circa 1988;
"In Our Hands,"
1987; presentation and
notes,
1987
Untitled presentation and notes,
1987
Stephenson, Nancy,
"Why Women?"
1962
Unilever conference paper.
Wade, James,
"The Seventies: A Marketing
View,"
1971
Young, James Webb
Biographical material, circa 1975-1986
(2 folders)
Interviews, 1963-1986
[Interviewers: Colin Dawkins, Sidney Bernstein. Includes photocopy of Young's 1986 stockholder's affidavit]
Lectures
1934
Box 4
Posthumous publishing efforts by Grisman, et. al.,
1985-1988
(2 folders)
"What Jim Young Said and What He Didn't Say,"
speech given by Jeremy Bullmore, European Managers Meeting, 1978
JWT London office
"Close-Up London (A and B),"
1985
Explanatory letter from Hilda to Colin Dawkins about
Sam Meek,
1986
"For OCT/NOV JWT News: Before
Berkeley Square, JWT London,"
undated
"JWT London Office History,"
1966-1983
"JWT London Post WWII,"
1965-1983
JWT London research materials,
1958-1977 and
undated
"The New Sam Meek Piece,"
1986 and
undated
Presentations/Proceedings
"Around the World in 80
Years,"
circa 1984 and
"J. Walter Thompson Company,"
1987
European Managers' meeting,
1969
Ford presentation,
1973
(1-3 of 4 folders)
Box 5
Ford presentation (continued),
1973
(4 of 4 folders)
"How Long Should an Advertisement
Be?"
1956-1962 and
undated
"The Image of an Imaging
Company,"
Kodak presentation,
1983
"Institutional Investors, JWT
Presentation,"
1994 Aug. 24
Managers' meeting (Don Johnston and Denis Lanigan),
1984
"The Process of Self-Regulation in
Advertising: A Presentation by the National Advertising Review Council to the
U.S. Senate Commerce Committee,"
1981
"Project Alpha Experimental TV
Workshop,"
1971
Speeches,
1970-1979
(5 folders)
"The T-Plan File,"
1973
"Trouble at the Credibility
Gap,"
1974
"Worldwide Slide
Presentation/Profile Book,"
1985
Publications by and about JWT
Ad Week and
Advertising Age, 1987
[Features cover stories on JWT]
"Recent Events,"
(clipping collection),
1982
"Recent Events Book VI, News Coverage, JWT Syndication Situation,"
(clipping collection), 1982
"Recent Events VII, Second Quarter,
Gray Lawsuit,"
(clipping collection),
1982
Photographs Series, circa 1980-1982 and undated
(1 Box)
Includes color transparencies, black-and-white and color prints of JWT American and European staff.
Box 6 (continued)
J. Walter Thompson, undated
JWT European offices and staff,
circa 1980
JWT European offices and staff,
circa 1980
JWT New York, undated
Latin American Manager's Meeting,
1982
Audiovisual Materials Series, 1976 and undated
2 Boxes
Consists of videotapes that accompanied Grisman's major
presentations, Originals are closed to
researchers; use copies are available in the collection.
Originals (CLOSED)
OR 1.
"Kraft 75th Anniversary, part
one."
Format: Umatic. Undated. See use copy, UC1.
OR 2.
"Kraft 75th Anniversary, part
two."
Format: Umatic. Undated. See use copy, UC2.
OR 3.
"Roots of Human
Communication."
Format: Umatic. Undated. See use copy, UC3.
OR 4.
"Desensitization of America,
1976."
Format: Umatic. 1976. See use copy, UC4.
OR 5.
"Desensitization of
America."
Format: Umatic. Undated. See use copy, UC5.
Production Masters (Not for research use)
MC1-MC5. Masters for OR1-OR5. Format: Betacam SP. Created: 2008.
Use Copies
UC1-UC5. Use copies for OR1-OR5. Format: DVD. Created: 2008.
