J. Walter Thompson Company. International Offices records, 1929-2006 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
J. Walter Thompson Company
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.
Extent:
33.0 Linear Feet
Language:
Material in English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch
Collection ID:
RL.00716

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

Dates JWT International Offices Opened:

AFRICA
  1. Egypt: Alexandria, 1927
  2. South Africa: Cape Town, 1930
  3. South Africa: Johannesburg/Sandton, 1932
  4. South Africa: Port Elizabeth, 1928
ASIA/PACIFIC
  1. Australia: Brisbane, 1984
  2. Australia: Melbourne, 1929-1934, 1937
  3. Australia: Perth, 1984
  4. Australia: Sydney, 1929
  5. Hong Kong, 1977
  6. India: Bangalore, 1958-1959, 1979
  7. India: Bombay, 1929
  8. India: Calcutta, 1934
  9. India: Madras, 1955
  10. India: New Delhi, 1944
  11. Indonesia: Jakarta, 1930, 1982
  12. Japan: Osaka, 1931, 1957
  13. Japan: Tokyo, 1956
  14. Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, 1975
  15. New Zealand: Aukland, 1976
  16. New Zealand: Wellington, 1930, 1974
  17. Philippines: Manila, 1956
  18. Singapore, 1978
  19. Sri Lanka: Colombo, 1956, 1981
  20. Taiwan: Taipei, 1983
  21. Thailand: Bangkok, 1983
CANADA
  1. Montreal, 1929
  2. Toronto, 1911-1916, 1930
  3. Vancouver, 1958
EUROPE
  1. Austria: Vienna, 1930, 1960
  2. Belgium: Antwerp, 1927
  3. Belgium: Brussels, 1930, 1958
  4. Denmark: Copenhagen, 1927, 1967
  5. Finland: Helsinki, 1985
  6. France: Paris, 1927-1940, 1949
  7. Germany: Berlin, 1927
  8. Germany: Düsseldorf, 1983
  9. Germany: Frankfurt, 1952
  10. Germany: Hamburg, 1983
  11. Greece: Athens, 1974
  12. Italy: Milan, 1951
  13. Italy: Rome, 1962
  14. Netherlands: Amsterdam, 1957
  15. Netherlands: The Hague, 1928
  16. Norway: Oslo, 1985
  17. Poland: Warsaw, 1929
  18. Portugal: Lisbon, 1929, 1967, 1973, 1981
  19. Romania: Bucharest, 1929
  20. Slovenia: 1993
  21. Spain: Barcelona, 1932, 1966
  22. Spain: Madrid, 1927, 1966
  23. Sweden: Stockholm, 1927, 1969
  24. Switzerland: Zug, 1964
  25. Switzerland: Zurich, 1965
  26. Turkey: Istanbul, 1930, 1985
  27. United Kingdom: London, 1899-1916, 1919
  28. United Kingdom: Manchester, 1980
LATIN AMERICA
  1. Argentina: Buenos Aires, 1929
  2. Bolivia: La Paz, 1978
  3. Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, 1931
  4. Brazil: São Paulo, 1929
  5. Chile: Santiago, 1929, 1944
  6. Colombia: Bogotá, 1944
  7. Ecuador: Guayaquil, 1982
  8. Ecuador: Quito, 1982
  9. Mexico: Mexico City, 1943
  10. Panama: Panama City, 1955
  11. Puerto Rico: San Juan, 1955-1978
  12. Uruguay: Montevideo, 1929
  13. 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.

Acquisition information:
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; Additions processed by Richard Collier, Apr. 2023

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.

Arrangement:

Organized into the following series: General Office Files; Specific Offices and Countries; Audiovisual Materials.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.

Subjects:
Advertising agencies -- Finance
Advertising agencies -- Colombia
Advertising agencies -- Canada
Advertising agencies -- Australia
Advertising agencies -- Argentina
Advertising agencies
Advertising campaigns
Advertising agencies -- Philippines
Advertising agencies -- Puerto Rico
Advertising agencies -- Marketing
Advertising agencies -- Mexico
Advertising agencies -- India
Advertising agencies -- Japan
Format:
Audiocassettes
Videocassettes
Slides (photographs)
Names:
Nestlé
Nabisco, Inc.
Kellogg Company
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
Warner-Lambert Company
Unilever (Firm)
Pepsi-Cola Company
Eastman Kodak Company
Continental Airlines
J. Walter Thompson Company. Bangalore Office
Ford Motor Company
Air-India
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. Bogotá Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Buenos Aires Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Calcutta Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Madras Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Toronto Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Vancouver 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
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History

Contents

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Restrictions:

Access note. Collection contains fragile audiovisual/photographic formats that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.

Terms of access:

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.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], J. Walter Thompson Company. International Offices Records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.