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Inventory of the J. Walter Thompson Company. Legal Department Records, 1936-1979

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Descriptive Summary

Repository
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University
Creator
J. Walter Thompson Company.
Title
J. Walter Thompson Company. Legal Department Records, 1936-1979
Language of Material
Material in English
Extent
10.6 Linear Feet

7900 Items
Abstract
Founded in 1864, the J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT) is one of the largest and oldest enduring advertising agencies in the United States.
The J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT) Legal Department Records contain releases for models and photographers associated with JWT campaigns between 1936-1979, and especially the 1950s. The collection also contains publications associated with JWT clients which required model releases. Companies represented in the collection include Ford, Gillette, Kodak, Lever Brothers, Pacific Mills (Cocheco Manufacturing Company), Pan American World Airways, Quaker Oats, Radio Corporation of America (RCA), Seven-Up, Singer, and Uncle Ben's. Photographers mentioned or whose work appears in the collection include Richard Avedon, Ralph Bartholomew, Anton Bruehl, Horst, Otto Mayo, Valentino Sarra, and Francesco Scavullo. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
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Administrative Information

Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
However, materials may not be photocopied.
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
J. Walter Thompson Legal Department Records, 1936-1979, Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The J. Walter Thompson Legal Department Records, were pulled from storage by the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library in 1986.
Processing Information
Processed by Ferriss Buck, July 1986
Encoded by Jessica Wood, March 2009
Accessions 2644, 32A9, 34A2, 34A1, 36A1, 6464, 6612, 68A1, 8107, 8648, 8858, 9578, 10363, 10365, 10396, 11165, 12180, 12180, 12874, 12882, 17038, 3342, 10277, 12337, 13006, 13746, 13777, 14295, 19029, 22586, 22588, 24764, 25789, 19396, 19397, 19400, 16063, 19432, 20851, 20912, 20945, 20963, 20964, 20965, 20966, 20967, 38A15, 63A22, 24707, 26821, 34A5, 37B16, 38A16, 39A26, 77A7 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
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Collection Overview

The JWT Legal Department Records date from 1936-1979, with the majority of materials dating from the 1950s. The collection primarily contains release forms, photographs and publications associated with JWT campaigns. The collection also contains routine legal contracts which list the terms of agreement between the client, talent and the J. Walter Thompson Company. Companies represented in the collection include Ford, Gillette, Kodak, Lever Brothers, Pacific Mills (Cocheco Manufacturing Company), Pan American , Quaker Oats, Radio Corporation of America (RCA), Seven-Up, Singer, and Uncle Ben's. Photographers mentioned or whose work appears in the collection include Richard Avedon, Ralph Bartholomew, Anton Bruehl, Horst, Otto Mayo, Valentino Sarra, and Francesco Scavullo.

Collection Arrangement

The collection is divided into six series: Model Releases, Photographers, Publications, Reports, Model-Client-Date Cards, and Overscale Talent Releases. The Model Releases Series and the Photographers Series contain photographs and photostats of models as they often appeared in an advertisement. Attached to the visual is a signed release by the model specifying the length of the contract, the client and the date. The Publications Series contains an assortment of publications requiring model releases, and especially Ford newsletters from the 1950s. The Reports Series consists of contour sheets for Pacific Mills, as well as a Kodak marketing consideration. The Model-Client Date Cards Series consist of index cards of models used by the various clients. The Overscale Talent Releases Series include routine legal contracts which list the terms of agreement between the client, talent and the J. Walter Thompson Company. They specify the length of the contract, the client and the date. The bulk of the contracts are in their original format and therefore have actual signatures of the talent. "Overscale" refers to the fact that these contracts remunerated above normal union scale wages.
The Model Releases are arranged alphabetically by client and then by model and date. The Photographers files are arranged alphabetically by photographer and then by client and date. The Publications are arranged alphabetically by client and then by the name of the publication and date. Reports are arranged by client. The Model-Client index cards are arranged alphabetically by model in the first two boxes and by client (Kodak only) in the third box. The Overscale Talent Releases are arranged alphabetically by client, then by the talent name and then by date.

Restrictions on Access: Materials may not be photocopied.
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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.
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Related Material

Related materials may be found in the following Hartman Center collections of the J. Walter Thompson Company Archives:
List of Series in Collection
Model Releases, 1940-1966
Photographers, 1953-1967
Publications, 1953-1970
Reports, 1949-1953, 1970
Model-Client-Date Cards, 1936-1949
Overscale Talent Releases,1959-1978
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Detailed Description of Collection

Model Releases, 1940-1966

16 boxes
Consists of photographs and photostats of models as they often appeared in an advertisement. Attached to the images is a signed release by the model. The model releases are arranged alphabetically by client and then by model and date.
Box 1
Alexander Smith, 1954, 1957
Aquascutum
Archie Campbell, 1957
Major Wylie, 1955
Ballantine, 1954  (5 folders)
Burroughs Adding Machine
Fernando Arias, 1956
Box 2
Chesebrough Pond's, 1927-1959  (7 folders)
Box 3
Chesebrough Pond's, 1927-1959 (continued)  (10 folders)
Box 4
Chesebrough Pond's, 1927-1959 (continued)  (11 folders)
Box 5
Ford, 1953-1964  (8 folders)
Box 6
Lever Brothers, Lux, 1954-1973  (6 folders)
Box 7
Lever Brothers, Lux, 1954-1973 (continued)  (7 folders)
Box 8
Lever Brothers, Lux, 1954-1973 (continued)  (9 folders)
Box 9
Lever Brothers, Lux, 1954-1973 (continued)  (12 folders)
Box 10
Lever Brothers, Lux, 1954-1973 (continued)  (9 folders)
Box 11
Lever Brothers, Lux, 1954-1973 (continued)  (8 folders)
Box 12
Liebman Breweries, Inc., 1962-1963
Oneida
Donald W. Douglas, Jr., 1957
Allen B. DuMont, 1957
Richard Halliday, 1958
Bob Hope, 1957
Art Linkletter, 1958
Pacific Mills, 1946-1955  (6 folders)
Pharma-Craft Corporation, 1952-1954  (3 folders)
Prince Matchabelli
Carroll Morrow, Jr., 1963-1964
Pro-phy-lac-tic Brush Co., 1962
RCA
Pearl S. Buck, 1965
Erich Leinsdorf, 1965
Mary Martin, 1965
Otto Preminger, 1966
Radio Free Europe, 1950-1956
Religion in American Life
Norman Rockwell, 1965
United Church Canvas, 1952-1954
U.S. Brewers
Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, 1960
Esther Williams, 1960
Box 13
U.S. Lines, 1951-1963  (7 folders)
Box 14
U.S. Lines, 1951-1963 (continued)  (7 folders)
Box 15
U.S. Lines, 1951-1963 (continued)  (8 folders)
Box 16
United States Treasury, 1952-1954
Webb Young Trader, 1946-1947
J.B. Williams Co., 1940-1952

Photographers, 1953-1967

1 box
Contains photographs and photostats of models as they often appeared in advertisements. Attached to these images are signed releases by models. Items are arranged alphabetically by photographer and then by client and date.
Box 2
Richard Avedon
Champion Spark Plugs, 1956
Chesebrough Pond's, 1965-1966
Ford, 1957-1958
Owens Illinois Glass, circa1966
Pacific Mills, 1955-1956  (2 folders)
Singer, 1966
Ralph Bartholomew
Brillo, 1953-1954  (2 folders)
Anton Bruehl
Ballantine, 1954
R.T. French, 1956
J.B. Williams Co., 1955
Horst P. Horst
Chesebrough-Pond's, 1964
Fieldcrest, 1956
Lever Brothers, 1953
Pacific Mills, 1953
Scott Paper, 1958
Singer, 1964-1965
J.B. Williams Co., 1956-1957
Wool Bureau, 1956, 1958
Otto Maya
Pacific Mills, 1955
Valentino Sarra
Lever Brothers, 1953
Institute of Life Insurance, circa 1950s
Francesco Scavullo
Chesebrough-Pond's, 1965
Pacific Mills, 1954-55  (2 folders)
Pan Am, 1967
Burlington, 1956
Wool Bureau, 1958
Harry Watts
Alexander Smith, 1954

Publications, 1953-1970

1 box
Contains an assortment of publications which required model releases, and especially Ford newsletters from the 1950s. The materials are arranged alphabetically by client and then by the name of the publication and date.
Box 18
Citizen's Committee
"March...March...March...The Fifth Year of the March," 1959-1960
Annual report, 1960-1961
Ford
Clues, 1955-1966  (9 folders)
Buyer's Digest, 1960-1966  (4 folders)
Facts, 1956-1960  (5 folders)
Ford News Flash, 1959-1960  (2 folders)
Ford Owner Newsletter, 1963-1965  (3 folders)
Ford Truck Times, 1970
U.S. Brewer's Foundation
ABC of Beer Advertising, 1953

Reports, 1949-1953, 1970

1 box
Consists of two folders relating to JWT clients Pacific Mills and Kodak. The Pacific Mills folder contains files related to the introduction of contour sheets from the years 1949-1953. The Kodak folder details a marketing consideration from 1970. The folders were arranged alphabetically by client.
Box 19
Kodak, Sid Olson, 1970
Pacific Mills, reports, 1949-1953

Model-Client-Date Cards, 1936-1949

3 boxes
Series includes three black boxes with index cards of models used by the various clients. Items are arranged alphabetically by model in the first two boxes and by client (Kodak only) in the third box.
Box 20
Abbott, Ruth--Hylan, James
Box 21
Ibsen, Leonore--Szore, Joseph
Box 22
Taconelli, Sergio Cavalla--Zwill, Adrianna (Kodak only), 1943-1949

Overscale Talent Releases,1959-1978

3 boxes
Includes routine legal contracts which list the terms of agreement between the client, talent and the J. Walter Thompson Company. They specify the length of the contract, the client and the date. The bulk of the contracts are in their original format and therefore have actual signatures of the talent. "Overscale" refers to the fact that these contracts remunerated above normal union scale wages.
Box 23
Brillo
Arnold Stang, 1965
Burger King
Phyllis Hyman, 1977
Champion Spark Plug
Tom Bosley, 1976
Roger Maris, 1969
Pat Summerall, 1969
Chase & Sanborn
Mr. and Mrs. McCluskey, 1970
Congoleum
Cyril Ritchard, 1969
Dymo Visual Stephens
Ann Flood, 1977
Eaton
John S. Palmer (Bud), 1971, 1976
First National City Bank
Marion Hailey, 1968
Steve Lawrence/Edie Gorme, 1968
Bob and Ray, 1969
Ford
Jane Bizzell, 1971
Rogue Brown, 1966
Jack Christianson, 1966
Sid Caesar, 1970
Roy Clark, 1975
Vic Damone, 1966-1967
Ann Davis, 1966
Art Devlin, 1966
Fearsome Four, 1966
John Fitch, 1970
Ernie Ford, 1966
Walt Frazier, 1970
Jim Gibbons, 1966
Harry Gilmar, 1966
Buddy Greco, 1966
Merle Haggard, 1976-1978
Ron Kramer, 1966
J.P. McCarthy, 1970
Louis Nye, 1966
Milt Plum, 1966
Gene Rayburn, 1969
Tom Ryan, 1976
Chris Schenkel, 1963
Serendipity Singers, 1966
Jackie Stewart, 1978
Wayne Walker, 1966
Tommy Watkins, 1966
James Whitmore, 1970
Tammy Wynette, 1975-1976
Gillette
Henry Aaron, 1970
Alou Bros., 1972
Robert Bonds, 1971
John Brodie, 1970
Lenny Dawson, 1970
Tom Gorman, 1972
Ray Hodges, 1972
Calvin Murphy, 1972
Tony Oliva, 1972
Jersey Joe Wolcott, 1972
Theodore Hamm Brewing Co.
Rocky Graziano, 1969-1970
Sugar Ray Robinson, 1969-1970
Institute of Life Insurance
Byron Carlson, 1965-1966
Irving Trust
Alfred Drake, 1970
Box 24
Kodak
Don Adams, 1978
Joanna Barnes, 1971
George Burns, 1976
Vicki Carr, 1977
John Forsythe, 1971
Burl Ives, 1977
Peggy Lee, 1975
Art Linkletter, 1969
Janet Lynn, 1974
Barry Manilow, 1975
Elizabeth Montgomery, 1969
Louis Nye, 1970
Jesse Owens, 1972
Vic Perry, 1972
Carl Reiner, 1971-1972
Don Scardino, 1977
Spinners, 1975
Burr Tillstrom, 1971
Dick Van Dyke, 1970-1972
Lever Brothers
Jane Fonda, 1965
Patsy Kelly, 1978
Cheryl Ladd, 1977
Gillis McGill, 1965
Betsy Palmer, 1971
Pamela Powell, 1972
Debbie Reynolds, 1964
Sharon Tate, 1966
Libby, McNeill & Libby
Tony Randall, 1969
Liggett & Myers, 1964-1966
Eva Gabor, 1964-1966
David Madden, 1966-1967
Wayne Tippit, 1966-1967
Box 25
Manufacturers National Bank of Detroit
Dom de Louise, 1970
Miles Labs
Mel Blanc, 1971
John Carradine, 1969
Peggy Fleming, 1970
Patrick Fox, 1969
Peter Graves, 1976
Shari Lewis, 1972
Ed Reimers, 1968
Michael Rives, 1969
Monroe Auto
Dick Weber, 1975
Pan Am
Jon Charles Castaga, 1967
Henry Clive, 1967
Geary Decker, 1966
Susan Dougherty, 1967
Jim Galbraith, 1966-1967
Elizabeth Josephson, 1967
Robert Lamouroux, 1967
Virginia and William Lock, 1960-1964
Janice Pennington, 1966
Annabel Popovic, 1966-1967
Joe E. Roxx, 1966
Society of Seven, 1969
Cathy Steele, 1967
Phillips Petroleum
Mel Allen, 1972
Johnny Bench, 1971
Joe Garagiola, 1968
Curt Gowdy, 1968
Gale Sayers, 1970
Tom and Nancy Seaver, 1970
Quaker Oats
Tom Ewell, 1969
RCA
Don Adams, 1968
Bruce Gordon, 1969
David Huddleston, 1976
Ted Lewis, 1968
Vaughn Monroe, 1969
Greg Morris, 1969
Cyril Ritchard, 1969
Reader's Digest
Danny Thomas, 1978
R.J. Reynolds
Stephen Scott, 1970
Myra Waldo, 1972
Scott Paper
Kristina Holland, 1970
Jenna McMahon, Richard Clau, 1967
Carol Morley, 1975
Mae Questel, 1972
Seven-Up
Irwin Corey, 1968
Geoffrey Holder, 1970
Gary Middlecoff, 1966
Singer
Don Ho, 1967
Standard Brands
Kate Smith, 1969-1970
Squibb Beech-Nut
Orson Bean, 1971
Uncle Ben's
Ed McMahon, 1969-1971
U.S. Marines
Christopher George, 1976
Warner-Lambert
Jeanne Evert, 1978
Clint Howard, 1978
Y.A. Tittle, 1966
William Wyndom, 1970
Water Pik
Robert Fuller, 1976
Whitehall Pharmaceuticals
Warren Hull, 1966
W.F. Young
Don McNeill, 1972
Don Wilson, 1969
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Separated Material

Correspondence, mundane visuals and releases, and advertisements were removed from the collection. The advertisements were relocated in RG 10 Proof Collection. Drafts of the releases and correspondence pertaining to the releases have been removed from the collection. [Per JWT Archivist notes prior to the transfer of records to Duke University.]