MenuInventory of the J. Walter Thompson Company. Frankfurt Office. Herbert Brungs Papers, 1969-1988
Abstract
The J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT), founded in 1864, is one of the oldest and largest enduring advertising agencies in the United States. Herbert Brungs was the former chairman OMG (chief operating officer) and managing director (Geschäftsführer) at JWT Frankfurt, Germany, office.
The papers of Herbert Brungs span the years 1969 to 1988 and document Brungs' activities as representative to the German trade organization GWA and the as the executive in charge of employee education. The collection contains general files, client files, organizations files, and writings and speeches files. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
- Creator
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Frankfurt Office.
- Title
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Frankfurt Office. Herbert Brungs Papers, 1969-1988
- Language of Material
- English, German
- Extent
- 6 Linear Feet, 5000 Items
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Collection Overview
The Herbert Brungs Papers span the years 1969 to 1988, with the bulk from the 1980s. The papers document Brungs' activities as the representative to the German trade organization GWA and as the executive in charge of further education of employees and managers through seminars and classes. Specific topics documented the opening of the JWT office in Düsseldorf; the introduction of computers systems at JWT-Frankfurt; correspondence with academics interested in the advertising industry; relations with a few big clients such as CMA (agricultural industry) and Deutscher Wein (trade organization for German wine); communication with the GWA concerning the relationship between the industry and politicians; industry excellence awards; and internal and external seminars and their evaluations. The collection consists of typed and handwritten correspondence; external and internal memoranda; articles and presentations (typed or offprints) accompanied by charts and graphs; and some other printed material. Approximately 70 percent of the collection is in German. Only correspondence with foreign offices and clients as well as some of the subject material is in English.
Administrative Information
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Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
However, 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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
Contents of the Collection
Browse List of Series
Collapse All
Expand AllGeneral Files, 1980-1987
Contains Brungs' domestic and foreign correspondence, mostly with private individuals seeking information on JWT, clients, and other offices. Other items include internal memoranda and reports, background information on the advertising industry or specific campaigns, files on subsidiary offices (Düsseldorf) and organizations (Deltakos), personnel files, records relating to advertising competitions, and some presentation scripts. The series contains typed and hand-written letters in originals and photocopies, memoranda, reports, minutes, printed material, notes, telexes, charts and graphs, questionnaires, contracts, and other documents concerning JWT-Frankfurt. Arranged alphabetically by type of record, thereunder chronologically.
Client Files, 1969-1987, bulk 1981-1987
Consists of typed and handwritten domestic and foreign correspondence, telexes, notes, ad copy, contracts, memoranda (Haus-Mitteilungen), presentations and briefings, reports (Kontaktberichte), and research concerning the accounts with which Brungs was involved. Clients represented include Bacardi, Kraft, Deutscher Wein (German Wine), De Beers and Eckes. Organized alphabetically by client for the major accounts, followed by a brief series of various clients. Within some of the larger accounts, the files are divided by topic (thereunder chronologically).
Events, 1974-1988
Consists of typed and handwritten correspondence and telexes, booklets and pamphlets, orders and receipts, presentations and speeches, memos, and clippings from newspapers and journals. Also includes festival programs and numerous files related to marketing seminars. Divided into two main sections: internal seminars organized by JWT and attended by office members or outsiders; external seminars organized by outsiders and attended by members of JWT-Frankfurt. Thereunder organized by main topic of the seminar.
Organizations, 1981-1987
Consists of letters (Rundbriefe and Chefbriefe), photocopies, telexes, reports, papers, charts concerning JWT-Frankfurt's participation in GWA (Gesellschaft Werbeagenturen, later Gesamtverband Werbeagenturen), the German advertising industry's trade organization. Also includes general salary information and reports of JWT expenses. Arranged according to the categories established in Brungs' original material.
Writings and Speeches, 1982-1987
Consists of type-written and photocopied articles, talks, and presentations on marketing topics, occasionally annotated by the author or reader. Also includes some offprints of articles. Organized by language, thereunder chronologically.
Historical Note
Chronology List
| Date | Event(s) |
|---|---|
| 1927 | Born |
| 1948 | Graduated from high school with Abitur |
| 1949 | Graduated from Agricultural College, with Wine growing specialty |
| 1949-1951 | Attended University Bonn as a student in Economics and Chemistry |
| 1956-1958 | Employed as Assistant Manager in Advertising Department at Ford Motor Company |
| 1957-1959 | Attended advertising school |
| 1958-1959 | Served as Vice President for merchandising at Display International |
| 1959-1961 | Served as representative at the Heumann advertising agency |
| 1961 | Joined JWT |
| 1961-1963 | Served as account representative for Lux liquid, Suwa detergent, Maggi soups, Findus deep frozen food |
| 1964-1965 | Served as senior representative for Kraft cheese products |
| 1966-1967 | Served as account supervisor for all Kraft products |
| 1966-1967 | Served as head of sales promotion group |
| 1967-1968 | Served as acount representative for Kraft trade, Kraft coordinator for Central America and Oscar Mayer canned food at JWT-Chicago |
| 1969-1970 | Served as account supervisor and associate director for all Kraft products |
| 1970-1986 | Served as account supervisor and associate director for the German Wine council |
| 1970-1977 | Served as account supervisor and associate director for Birkel noodles |
| 1973-1979 | Served as management supervisor and director for Pepsi |
| 1973-1979 | Served as management supervisor for the German Fish council |
| 1976-1977 | Served as unit manager and director for all Kraft products, the German Wine council, the German Fish council, Pepsi and Birkel noodles |
| 1976-1979 | Served as unit manager and director for the Butter council |
| 1977-1979 | Served as unit manager and Geschäftsführer (executive director) all Kraft products, the German Wine council, the German Fish council, the Butter council, Pepsi, Warner Lambert, PanAm, and Südmilch |
| 1980-1986 | Served as chief executive officer in charge of Bacardi, German wine, and the German Sugar council |
| 1986 | Served as chairman OMG (chief operating officer) and Geschäftsführer (executive director) in charge of the German Sugar council, German wine, Computerland, Burger King, and Deutsche Bank |
Subject Headings
- J. Walter Thompson Company.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Frankfurt Office.
- Kraft Foods Company.
- PepsiCo, Inc.
- De Beers Consolidated Mines.
- Advertising--Germany.
- Advertising agencies--Europe.
- Advertising agencies--Management.
- Corporations--Public relations--Germany.
- Memoranda (AAT)
- Speeches (AAT)
- Clippings.
- John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Related Material
For related materials, see other collections in the J. Walter Thompson Company Archives, especially the papers of other Frankfurt office executives in the JWT Frankfurt Office Records, including:
Additional information may be found in the
Thomas Sutton Papers and the
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], J. Walter Thompson Company. Frankfurt Office. Herbert Brungs Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Herbert Brungs Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a transfer in 1995.
Processing Information
Processed by Norbert Schürer, 2000
Encoded by Jessica Wood, July 2009
Accession 1996-009 is 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.