Inventory of the J. Walter Thompson Company. Samuel W. (Samuel Williams) Meek Papers, 1917-1980 and undated, bulk 1945-1962
[top]Descriptive Summary
TitleJ. Walter Thompson Company. Samuel W. (Samuel
Williams) Meek Papers,
1917-1980 and undated, bulk
1945-1962
Creator
J. Walter Thompson Company.
Extent
3.5 Linear Feet
ca. 800 Items
Repository
ca. 800 Items
Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special
Collections Library
Language
English.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is open for research.
However, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal
Responsibility and Privacy Rights 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.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in the J. Walter Thompson Company Archives
have not been transferred to Duke University. For further information, see the
section on copyright in the Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book,
Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], J. Walter Thompson Company. Samuel W.
(Samuel Williams) Meek Papers, Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections
Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The papers of Samuel Williams Meek were transferred to the Rare
Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library from the J. Walter Thompson
Company in 1987.
Processing Information
Processed by: Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special
Collections Library Staff
Completed 1996
Encoded by Stephen Douglas Miller
Processing of this collection was supported in part by gifts from
the J. Walter Thompson Company Fund and the John and Kelly Hartman Foundation.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
[top]
Biographical Note
| 1895 September 22 | Born, Nashville, Tennessee |
| 1913 | Graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy |
| 1917 |
Received A.B. from Yale University, New Haven,
Conn.;
Commissioned as 2nd lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps August
27
|
| 1918 | Promoted to 1st lieutenant and then temporary captain, U.S.Marine Corps |
| 1919 |
Decorated with the Silver Star, the Purple Heart with one
Oak Leaf Cluster; France's Croix de Guerre with Palm; the Victory Medal with
Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel and Defensive Sector clasps and three bronze stars; and
the French Fourragere for valiant service.
Discharged April 3.
|
| 1920 | Joined the Charles W. Hoyt Co. |
| 1921 October 14 | Married Priscilla Mitchel |
| 1922-1970 | Served on the board of Time Magazine |
| 1925 | Joined J. Walter Thompson as manager of the London office |
| 1929 | J. Walter Thompson Co. opened offices in Argentina, Australia, Canada, India, Poland, and Uruguay |
| 1930 | Returned to New York office, elected Vice President and Director of International Operations |
| 1940-1944 | Served as a Special Consultant to the Secretary of the Navy for Air and member of the Navy Civilian Advisory Committee. Made several trips to the Pacific area and visited the Carribean and South America for the Navy. |
| 1945 | Awarded a Presidential Citation by President Truman and a Navy Distinguished Service Medal |
| 1946 | Invited to join a Civilian Advisory Committee to work with the Navy on its postwar program. Upon the recommendation of the Army, Navy, and Marines, awarded the Medal for Merit for his service to the U.S. Navy. |
| 1949 | Awarded the Navy's Distinguished Public Service Award for outstanding services to the U.S. during World War II. |
| 1955 | Promoted to Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of J. Walter Thompson Co. |
| 1956 | One of five purchasers of The Greenwich Times, Greenwich, Conn. |
| 1959 | Helped to found The Episcopalian |
| 1962-1981 | Operated Walker and Company, a book publisher |
| 1964 January 28 | Retired from the J. Walter Thompson Co. |
| 1964-1969 | President and Director of the Rome Daily American in Italy |
| 1981 August 15 | Died in a Greenwich, Connecticut hospital of complications following a heart attack |
Collection Overview
The Samuel W. Meek Papers span the years from 1917-1980, although the
bulk of the material dates from 1945-1962 and a few items are undated. Samuel
Meek served as Vice President in Charge of International Operations of the J.
Walter Thompson Company from 1930 to 1964. Working out of the New York office
as the head of the International Department, Meek established offices around
the world, provided continuing support and advice to the heads of these
international offices, made policy decisions related to international
operations, and served as a consultant to a number of U.S. government and
private agencies concerned with international relations and commerce. The
Series arrangement created by the J. Walter Thompson archivist reflects Meek's
activities and has been retained. Several categories of material are included:
correspondence, market surveys and research reports, letters, official
documents (such as the records of Meek's military service), and the transcripts
of talks.
The
International Offices Series,
1942-1964 and n.d. is comprised primarily of correspondence between
Samuel Meek and the heads of J. Walter Thompson's international offices. The
majority of the items relate to the offices in Vienna, Toronto, Paris, London,
Rome and Tokyo. The work of the offices in Denmark, Argentia, the Caribbean,
Greece, Holland, Mexico and Pakistan are less extensively documented. Market
surveys and research reports are also included. In addition to Samuel Meek,
correspondents include Robert M. Campbell, Wilfrid Sanders, Justin de Blank,
Kevin Farrell, Virgil D. Reed, Denys M. Scott, James H. Page, and Harry A. Lee.
Major clients represented include UniLever, Kodak, Nestles, Shell Oil,
Cheesbrough-Pond's, Rowntree, Olivetti, Oneida, Nabisco, Schick, Campbell Soup,
American Chicle Co., General Foods, Honeywell Co., and Sanyo-Scott.
The
International Department Series,
1930-1962 and undated is comprised of documents related to J. Walter
Thompson's role as an international advertising agency. Included are a 1957
personnel directory, letters outlining interational operations policy, and the
transcript of a 1961 interview with Stanley Resor related to the international
aspects of the company.
The
International Marketing Series,
1954-1962 and undated, includes correspondence with and reports from a
number of councils and agencies such as the Business Council for International
Understanding, the U.S. Information Agency, and the U.S. State Department.
Correspondence related to the planning of a Series of trade fairs, 1954-1961,
is also included. This material documents the role that the J. Walter Thompson
Company and other multinational businesses played in foreign relations in the
era of the Marshall Plan.
The
International Correspondents
Series, 1945-1962, includes correspondence and informal reports on
advertising conditions in various European and Middle Eastern countries.
Several of the items in this small collection seem to be preliminary
evaluations designed to help Samuel Meek decide whether conditions were
appropriate to the opening of a branch office in a particular locale. The
correspondents seem to be acquaintances of Meek or simply knowledgeable
individuals rather than J. Walter Thompson employees.
The
Personal Series, 1917-1979 and
undated is primarily concerned with Samuel Meek's personal life: records
of his military service, financial details of his retirement, his coat of arms,
and other issues. A few items of correspondence with James Webb Young and
information about Stanley B. Resor's death and the establishment of the Stanley
and Helen Resor Fund for Economic Research at Yale University are included.
The
Miscellaneous Series
includes several essays about advertising and a few other items.
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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.
- Meek, Samuel W. (Samuel Williams), b. 1895
- J. Walter Thompson Company.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. New York Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. International Offices.
- Advertising agencies.
- Advertising agencies History.
- Advertising executives.
- Advertising Management.
- Advertising Research.
- Marketing.
- Military records.
- Transcripts.
- John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Detailed Description of Collection
International Offices Series, 1942-1964, undated
The
International Offices Series spans the years
1942-1964, although the
bulk of the material dates from
1945-1960 and a few
items are undated. The records consist of correspondence and documents of
market research done at the
J. Walter Thompson offices outside the
United States. The majority of the items
relate to the offices in
Vienna,
Toronto,
Paris,
London,
Rome and
Tokyo. The work of the office in
Denmark from
1942-1962 and in
Argentina, the
Caribbean,
Greece,
Holland,
Mexico and
Pakistan during
1964-1966 is less
extensively documented. The correspondence is primarily between
Samuel Meek,Vice President in charge of
International Operations,
1930-1964, and the
directors of the various branch offices. Most letters and telegrams focus on
the practical aspects of establishing and running the
offices in foreign countries:
budgets,
personnel issues,
potential clients,
competition from other advertising agencies, and
market research. Others deal with the more
personal aspects of a
multi-national business: arranging gifts,
meetings and receptions for visiting dignitaries, assisting executives of
J. Walter Thompson and of client companies
with their travel plans, letters of condolence for the deaths of executives'
family members, etc.
A frequent topic of the correspondence is how to reduce
xenophobia and to increase the acceptance of an
American advertising agency and
U.S. products in the face of the nationalistic
climate in many of the relevant countries. During the
1940s, the
London office was preoccupied with
counteracting
German anti-British propaganda in the
U.S.
Clients of the company represented in the International Offices
Series include
Lever,
Kodak,
Nescafe,
Shell Oil,
Cheesbrough-Pond's,
Rowntree,
Olivetti,
Oneida,
Nabisco,
Schick,
Campbell Soup,
American Chicle Co.,
General Foods,
Honeywell Co., and
Sanyo-Scott.
Correspondents include
Samuel Meek,
Robert M. Campbell
(Toronto Office),
Wilfrid Sanders
(Toronto Office),
Justin de Blank
(Paris Office),
Kevin Farrell
(Paris Office),
Ruth Waldo
(New York Office),
Virgil D. Reed
(London Office),
Denys M. Scott
(Paris Office),
James H. Page
(Tokyo Office),
Harry A. Lee
(San Francisco Office). Other correspondents
include officials of the
U.S. and other governments.
Austria, Vienna: Correspondence,
1960-1962
(3 folders)
Canada, Toronto:Correspondence,
1945-1965
(8 folders)
Market Research Reports,
1954-1956
Market Research Reports,
1957
"Mentholatum Rub: A
Plan for expanded Distribution in Canada,"
1956
"A Survey of Camera
Owners in Quebec,"
1956
Box 2
Canada, Toronto:Market Research Reports,
1957-1958
(2 folders)
(Client:
Campbell Soup Co.)
JWT-Canada Working Philosophy,
1964
Denmark: Market Research Report,
" A Survey of
Post-War Financial Needs,"
1946
(2 folders)
France: Correspondence,
1954
Market Research,
"French Exports to
the U.S.A.,"
1954
Great Britain: British-American Relations:
Correspondence,
1942-1979,
undated
(2 folders)
Trade,
1947-1949,
undated
Market Research:
"Office
Questionnaire on Attitudes Toward the British,"
1942-1948
Italy: Correspondence,
1953-1959
Market Research,
1953-1954
Japan, Tokyo: Correspondence,
1951-1957
(4 folders)
Box 3
Japan, Tokyo: Correspondence,
1958-1975
(9 folders)
Japan, Tokyo: Market Research,
1951-1962
Box 4
Scandinavian countries: Correspondence,
1942-1962
Miscellaneous:
Argentina,
Caribbean,
Greece,
Holland,
Mexico,
Pakistan,
1964-1966
International Department Series, 1930-1962and undated
The International Department Series is comprised of documents
related to
J. Walter Thompson's employing an
international advertising agency. A
1957 personnel
directory lists those employees of
J. Walter Thompson with international
backgrounds. The
" Policy Letters"
file
includes correspondence related to various international operations policy
issues. Touched on here are the undesirability of an apprenticeship system,
identifying optimal locations for agency offices, coordinating the
international offices, volume discounts for
advertisements, possible conflicts of interest in assuming a new client or
product, training employees for foreign offices, producing
speculative copy, principles of
house advertising, how to handle
unsolicited ideas,
business ethics, and the
creative process. The transcript of the
1961 interview with
Stanley Resor regards the international
aspects of the agency.
Advertising,
"Why Kodak Chose
JWT,"
1930
Agencies,
Correspondence,
Contacts,
1930-1946
"The International
Operations of the JWT Company: Analysis of an Expanding Venture with Policy
Recommendations,"
by
Carroll Wilson,
1945-1946
Personnel Directory,
1957-1962
Policy Letters,
1945-1962,
undated
(4 folders)
Stanley Resor Interview,
1961
International Marketing Series, 1954-1962, undated
The
International Marketing Series is comprised of
correspondence and reports of the
Business Council for International Understanding.
Issues treated include ways to adapt products for
foreign markets and understanding that cultural
differences may make certain products unacceptable in a particular country. One
folder includes correspondence with the
Department of Commerce related to the planning
of trade fairs.
J. Walter Thompson's role as both an adviser
to the
U.S. government and as an ambassador of good
will towards the
U.S. and capitalism is reflected in the
Series of correspondence with the
U.S. Information Agency, the
Economic Cooperation ADM, the
Mutual Security Agency and the
U.S. State Department. The Agora Study,
1962, was
"designed to stimulate the democratic process at its
roots."
The
U.S.
Travel Promotion Plan was designed to promote
the travel of foreigners to the
United States.
Box 4
Business Council Correspondence,
1959-1962
(2 folders)
Box 5
Business Council Reports,
1956-1960
Marketing Information,
1961-1962
Trade Fair,
1954-1961,
undated
United States-Information Agency
Correspondence,
1955-1961,
undated
United States Trade Information:
Economic Coop. ADM,
1949-1950,
undated
Mutual Security Agency Correspondence,
1952-1953,
undated
State Department Correspondence,
1951-1952
United States Trade-Agora Study,
1962
U.S. Travel Promotion Plan Correspondence,
1960-1961
International Correspondents Series, 1945-1962
This small collection of miscellaneous correspondence includes an
evaluation of the advertising situation in
Switzerland
(1959),
"A Study of the
Advertising Agency Business in Switzerland and Sweden"
(1959), Impressions of
Beirut
(1961), and letters to
advertising companies in
Kuwait and
Greece. A report on the condition of
Holland's economy and infrastructure
(1945) and correspondence
with
Jan Fels and others in the
Netherlands. Also included are a report on
agency representation in
Portugal and correspondence related to the
potential for business in
Portugal and
Spain.
1959-1962,
Greece,
Kuwait,
Lebanon,
Switzerland,
Sweden,
Turkey
1945-1957,
Holland
1946-1961,
Portugal
1961-1962,
Spain
Personal Series, 1917-1979and undated
This miscellaneous correspondence discusses details of retirement
compensation and tax liability, stock holdings, arrangements for various talks
and luncheons, and
Meek's coat of arms. Several letters
(1937-1938,
1968) are exchanges
with
James Webb Young. Materials related to
Robert R. Mullen pertain to public relations
for the
Eisenhower-
Nixon campaign, the
United States Information Agency, and
Robert R. Mullen's public relations and
marketing company.
Box 6
Correspondence,
1947-1980,
undated
Correspondence with
James Webb Young,
1937-38, 1968.
Military Service Records,
1917-1964,
undated
Mullen, Robert R., and Co.,
1952-1973
Stanley B. Resor's death:
1921-1964
Brazil Office statement and obituary
clipping scrapbooks,
1962
Stanley and Helen Resor Fund for Economic Research,
Yale University,
1958-1962
Stocks,
1967-1969
Miscellaneous Series
Atlantic Treaty Association,
1974-1979
Communist Public Relations and Advertising, memo by
Lubertus Smilde,
1961
"The Creative
process at J. Walter Thompson,"
1961
Raymond Dickie, Inc.,
1961
"Increasing the
Knowledge Available for Advertising Decisions,"
1955
"Scientific
Advertising,"
by
Claude Hopkins, comments by
Alfred Politz,
undated
Oversize Materials
International Department Series
Advertisements, London Office
Clients include
Campbell Soup Co.,
Chesebrough-Pond's,
Gale's Honey,
Persil,
Rolex,
Rowntree,
Steel Co. of Wales,
Windolene
Miscellaneous Series
Follow-up Record,
1926-1929
Oversize Folder 5
History of an Advertisement,
1928
