Inventory of the J. Walter Thompson Company. International Offices Records, 1929-1998 and undated
Abstract
The J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT), founded in 1864, is one of the oldest and largest enduring advertising agencies in the United States. Beginning with the opening of its London office in 1899, JWT has continually expanded its international activities, and currently operates out of over 200 offices in nearly 100 countries.
The International Offices Records cover the years 1929-1998, with the bulk of materials dating from the 1970s-1980s. The collection primarily consists of financial records, correspondence, presentations, campaign drafts, account lists, meeting minutes and printed materials. Also includes slides from several presentations, videocassettes and audiocassettes. Countries and offices most heavily represented in the collection include Argentina (Buenos Aires), Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), Canada (Toronto and Vancouver), Colombia (Bogota), India (Bangalore, Calcutta, Madras, Mumbai, New Delhi), Japan (Tokyo), Mexico (Mexico City), Philippines (Manila), and Puerto Rico (San Juan). Client companies represented include: Air-India, Continental Airlines, Kodak, Ford, Hall's, Harayana Breweries, Kellogg's, Lotto, Nabisco, Nestlé, Oscar Mayer, Pepsi, Pizza Hut, Pond's (Unilever), and Warner-Lambert. 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.
- Title
- J. Walter Thompson Company. International Offices Records, 1929-1998 and undated
- Language of Material
- English,, Spanish,, German,, French,, Portuguese
- Extent
- 25.56 Linear Feet, 19170 Items
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Collection Overview
The International Offices Records cover the years 1929-1998, with the bulk of materials dating from the 1970s-1980s. The collection primarily consists of financial records, correspondence, presentations, campaign drafts, account lists, meeting minutes and printed materials. Also includes slides from several presentations, videocassettes and audiocassettes. Countries and offices most heavily represented in the collection include Argentina (Buenos Aires), Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), Canada (Toronto and Vancouver), Colombia (Bogota), India (Bangalore, Calcutta, Madras, Mumbai, New Delhi), Japan (Tokyo), Mexico (Mexico City), Philippines (Manila), and Puerto Rico (San Juan). Client companies represented include Air-India, Continental Airlines, Kodak, Ford, Kellogg's, Nabisco, Nestlé, Oscar Mayer, Pepsi-Cola, Pizza Hut, Pond's (Unilever), and Warner-Lambert.
Administrative Information
Collections are on the move for the renovation of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »
Access Restrictions
RESTRICTED: Unpublished materials are closed to non-JWT researchers for 15 years from the date of creation.
In addition, original audiovisual materials are closed to research until Use Copies can be produced. Contact Research Services staff for more information.
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
General Office Files, 1944-1994 and undated
Series includes account lists, newsletters, lists of accounts gained and lost, product categories, and home addresses of JWT international employees and affiliates. Also includes several slide presentations relating to the company's overall international organization and performance, including maps, billings, and client alignment. Original folder titles were maintained and items were arranged alphabetically. Large-format items removed to Oversize Materials.
[Lists include fields for type of service; product; country; brand; local company name; date acquired; and JWT division.]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials]
[Caroline Demy served as JWT Vice President and International Media Director in charge of all multi-national media recommendations, programs, budgeting and national media planning for overseas offices.]
[Includes entries for active and dropped clients, with information about company name changes, parent and subsidiary companies, office locations, and year of acquisition. Cards removed from the Rolodexes and placed in index card boxes.]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials]
[Includes slide presentations for Le Pen, Heineken and Persil.]
Includes reports of gains and losses, and changes in account status, as well as account lists, new business prospects and reports, newsletters, campaign presentations, account reviews and financial records, including several bound volumes of handwritten expense logs and campaign proposals. Clients represented include Air-India, Continental Airlines, Kodak, Harayana Breweries, Nestlé, Pepsi, and Wills Cigarettes. Original folder titles were maintained and items arranged alphabetically, first by office, then by title. Large-format items have been removed to Oversize Materials.
[Includes New Business Prospects and issues of MMAR Digest]
[Includes clippings, correspondence, and account lists]
[Includes clippings, correspondence, and account lists]
[Taquiña account status report]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials.]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials.]
[Includes clippings, correspondence, and account lists]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials.]
[Includes clippings, correspondence, and account lists]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials.]
[Includes clippings, correspondence, and account lists]
[Includes clippings, correspondence, and account lists. Some items removed to Oversize Materials.]
[Includes clippings, correspondence, and account lists]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials.]
[Includes billboard designs.]
[Some items removed to oversize.]
[Includes clippings, correspondence, and account lists]
[Includes clippings, correspondence, account lists, account status reports]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials.]
[Includes account lists]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials.]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials.]
[Includes clippings, correspondence, and account lists]
[Includes account lists]
[Includes billing reports and account lists]
[Includes correspondence, account status reports and account lists]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials]
[Issue honors the life of Enrique Martí Coll.]
[Includes correspondence and account lists]
[Includes clippings, correspondence, and account lists]
[Includes correspondence and account lists]
[Includes correspondence and account lists]
[Includes correspondence and account lists]
[Includes correspondence and account lists]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials.]
[Includes correspondence and account lists]
[Some items removed to Oversize Materials.]
Oversize Materials
Series contains printed materials, newsletters, proofs, meeting photographs, financial records, memorabilia and campaign materials removed from previous series. Also includes one scrapbook compiled by Bob Doyer of the Amsterdam Office. Clients represented include Ford, Nestlé and Pond's. Items arranged first by size and then alphabetically by title.
[Brochure on office building where Frankfurt Office moved in 1996.]
[Photocopy of scrapbook compiled by Bob Doyer, former head of the JWT Amsterdam office. Includes materials dating from 1954-1975, including photographs, news clippings, proofs and tearsheets.]
Series includes primarily video cassettes of historical ad spots of JWT international offices clients. Includes one audio cassette of an interview with John Holmes, JWT President of Latin America and the Caribbean. Clients represented include: Durex, Hall's, Kellogg's, Kodak, Lotto, Nabisco, Nestlé Oscar Mayer, Pepsi, Pizza Hut, and Warner Lambert. Items arranged alphabetically, first by office, then by title.
RESTRICTED: Original audiovisual materials are closed to research until Use Copies can be produced. Contact Research Services staff for more information.
[Includes spots for Durex, Lotto, Kodak, Mastercard, Hall's, Top Cream, Salsa de Tomate, Sonapal, among others.]
[Includes spots for Kellogg's, Warner Lambert, Kodak, Nestlé, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Pizza Hut, Ford.]
[Includes spots for Red Rose Tea, Pepsi and French version of commercial JWT Does That.]
Restricted Materials
RESTRICTED: Unpublished materials are closed to non-JWT researchers for 15 years from date of creation.
Historical Note
Dates JWT International Offices Opened:
- Egypt: Alexandria, 1927
- South Africa: Cape Town, 1930
- South Africa: Johannesburg/Sandton, 1932
- South Africa: Port Elizabeth, 1928
- Australia: Brisbane, 1984
- Australia: Melbourne, 1929-1934, 1937
- Australia: Perth, 1984
- Australia: Sydney, 1929
- Hong Kong, 1977
- India: Bangalore, 1958-1959, 1979
- India: Bombay, 1929
- India: Calcutta, 1934
- India: Madras, 1955
- India: New Delhi, 1944
- Indonesia: Jakarta, 1930, 1982
- Japan: Osaka, 1931, 1957
- Japan: Tokyo, 1956
- Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, 1975
- New Zealand: Aukland, 1976
- New Zealand: Wellington, 1930, 1974
- Philippines: Manila, 1956
- Singapore, 1978
- Sri Lanka: Colombo, 1956, 1981
- Taiwan: Taipei, 1983
- Thailand: Bangkok, 1983
- Montreal, 1929
- Toronto, 1911-1916, 1930
- Vancouver, 1958
- Austria: Vienna, 1930, 1960
- Belgium: Antwerp, 1927
- Belgium: Brussels, 1930, 1958
- Denmark: Copenhagen, 1927, 1967
- Finland: Helsinki, 1985
- France: Paris, 1927-1940, 1949
- Germany: Berlin, 1927
- Germany: Düsseldorf, 1983
- Germany: Frankfurt, 1952
- Germany: Hamburg, 1983
- Greece: Athens, 1974
- Italy: Milan, 1951
- Italy: Rome, 1962
- Netherlands: Amsterdam, 1957
- Netherlands: The Hague, 1928
- Norway: Oslo, 1985
- Poland: Warsaw, 1929
- Portugal: Lisbon, 1929, 1967, 1973, 1981
- Romania: Bucharest, 1929
- Slovenia: 1993
- Spain: Barcelona, 1932, 1966
- Spain: Madrid, 1927, 1966
- Sweden: Stockholm, 1927, 1969
- Switzerland: Zug, 1964
- Switzerland: Zurich, 1965
- Turkey: Istanbul, 1930, 1985
- United Kingdom: London, 1899-1916, 1919
- United Kingdom: Manchester, 1980
- Argentina: Buenos Aires, 1929
- Bolivia: La Paz, 1978
- Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, 1931
- Brazil: São Paulo, 1929
- Chile: Santiago, 1929, 1944
- Colombia: Bogotá, 1944
- Ecuador: Guayaquil, 1982
- Ecuador: Quito, 1982
- Mexico: Mexico City, 1943
- Panama: Panama City, 1955
- Puerto Rico: San Juan, 1955-1978
- Uruguay: Montevideo, 1929
- Venezuela: Caracas, 1955, 1964
JWT's first international office was set up in London in 1899. By 1923, it had opened six other European offices; by 1927, that number had doubled. Between 1927 and 1931, the company added additional offices in South Africa, India, Canada, Australia, Japan and South America. These offices were opened primarily so that advertisements could be geared more specifically to cultures of different regions.
Subject Headings
- J. Walter Thompson Company.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Bangalore Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Bogota Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Buenos Aires Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Calcutta Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Madras Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Manila Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Melbourne Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Mexico City Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Mumbai Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. New Delhi Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. San Juan Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Sydney Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Tokyo Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Toronto Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Vancouver Office.
- Air-India.
- Continental Airlines.
- Eastman Kodak Company.
- Ford Motor Company.
- Kellogg Company.
- Nabisco, Inc.
- Nestlé.
- Pepsi-Cola Company.
- Unilever (Firm)
- Warner-Lambert Company.
- Advertising agencies.
- Advertising agencies--Argentina.
- Advertising agencies--Australia.
- Advertising agencies--Canada.
- Advertising agencies--Colombia.
- Advertising agencies--Finance.
- Advertising agencies--India.
- Advertising agencies--Japan.
- Advertising agencies--Marketing.
- Advertising agencies--Mexico.
- Advertising agencies--Philippines.
- Advertising agencies--Puerto Rico.
- Advertising campaigns.
- Audiocassettes.
- Slides.
- Videocassettes.
- John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Related Material
Related materials may be found in the following Hartman Center collections of the J. Walter Thompson Company Archives:
International Advertisements Collection
Frankfurt Office. Herbert Brungs Papers
Frankfurt Office. Harry Clark Papers
Frankfurt Office. Denis Lanigan Papers
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], J. Walter Thompson Company. International Offices Records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The J. Walter Thompson Company. International Offices Records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a transfer in 1987 with additions in subsequent years.
Processing Information
Processed by Jessica Wood, January 2010
Encoded by Jessica Wood, January 2010
Accessions 801209B, 810908, 811230, 820513, 830901, 840920, 840822A, 850619, 93-045, 93-046, 93-047, 93-049, 93-050, 93-052, 93-053, 93-088, 93-094, 93-127, 94-106, 1998-0270, 2000-164 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.
