MenuInventory of the J. Walter Thompson Company. Don Johnston Papers, 1964-1996 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. Don Johnston held many positions at JWT, beginning his career as a trainee in the Detroit mailroom and retiring as CEO and President.
The Don Johnston Papers span the years 1964-1996 and document his career in various positions with JWT. The collection includes international and domestic inter-office correspondence, personal and administrative files, management manuals, presentations, speeches, budgets, billings and profit reports, and video-cassettes that relate to planning for JWT projects, committee meetings, marketing research, contracts with clients, management directives, and JWT's corporate mission and philosophy. The papers also touch on Joseph O'Donnell's attempted hostile takeover of the JWT Group, and the purchase of JWT by the WPP Group. Clients represented include: Ford Motor Company, Unilever, Chevron, General Foods, and Uniroyal Tire. Offices represented include: Buenos Aires, Toronto, Chicago, Santiago, Detroit, Paris, Frankfurt, Bombay (Mumbai), London, Tokyo, New York, and Johannesburg.
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
- Creator
- J. Walter Thompson Company.
- Title
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Don Johnston Papers, 1964-1996 and undated
- Language of Material
- English
- Extent
- 17.5 Linear Feet, 12000 Items
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Collection Overview
The Don Johnston Papers span the years 1964-1996 and document his career in various positions with JWT. The collection includes international and domestic inter-office correspondence, personal and administrative files, management manuals, presentations, speeches, budgets, billings and profit reports, and video-cassettes materials that relate to planning for JWT projects, committee meetings, marketing research, contracts with clients, management directives, and JWT's corporate mission and philosophy. The papers also touch on Joseph O'Donnell's attempted hostile takeover of the JWT Group, and the purchase of JWT by the WPP Group. Clients represented include: Ford Motor Company, Unilever, Chevron, General Foods, and Uniroyal Tire. Offices represented include: Buenos Aires, Toronto, Chicago, Santiago (Chile), Detroit, Paris, Frankfurt, Bombay (Mumbai), London, Tokyo, New York, and Johannesburg (South Africa).
The collection is organized into four series: Memoranda, Administrative Files, Personal Files, and Audiovisual Materials.
The Memoranda Series includes business correspondence to and from Johnston during his career with JWT and mainly pertains to the day to day operations throughout the worldwide operations of JWT as a transnational entity.
The Administrative Files Seriesincludes reports, plans, inter-office correspondence, general administrative files, as well as information on fund-raising for the JWT archives at Duke University.
The Personal Files Series includes newspaper and periodical clippings, as well as personal correspondence.
The Audiovisual Materials Series consists of promotional works and interviews by Johnston during his tenure with JWT.
Related materials within the JWT Archives may be found in these collections: the Burt Manning Papers, the Thomas Sutton Papers, the Rena Bartos Papers, the Harry Clark Papers, the Joseph O'Donnell Papers, the Greg Bathon Papers and the Denis Lanigan Papers.
Administrative Information
A majority of collections are stored off site and must be requested at least 24 business hours in advance for retrieval. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »
Access Restrictions
Collection is restricted.
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.
Original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use. Use copies are available in the 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 AllMemoranda Series, 1974-1984
Consists of memoranda to and from Johnston from 1969-1984. Includes inter-office memoranda as well as inter-business correspondence. Arranged chronologically.
Includes general files, client files, correspondence between Johnston and various JWT offices, historical material on JWT, reports and speeches. The series is organized into five subseries--Administrative Files, Client Files,Historical, Inter-Office Correspondence, and Projects, Reports and Speeches--and alphabetically therein.
[Includes a poster of London Board of Directors; materials pertaining to a Latin American Managers' meeting in London; a visitor's guide to Soho.]
Meek (1895-1981) was Vice President in Charge of International Operations until his retirement in 1964.
Contains memoranda about the meetings in 1980 and 1981 at the Troutbeck Inn in Amenia, N.Y. to discuss the creation and implementation of the JWT Group.
Treasure was Chairman of JWT London from 1967-1974.
Entirely in Spanish.
Contains fund-raising letters written by Johnston and other former and current JWT executives on behalf of the Hartman Center at Duke University.
Presentations at the Fifth JWT World Management Meeting in 1978. Presenters included Denis Lanigan, Burt Manning, and Marie Luisi.
Includes speeches by Denis Lanigan, John Treasure and Wayne Fickinger.
Contains personal correspondence that related mainly to the hostile takeover attempt of JWT by Joseph O'Donnell, the WPP takeover of JWT, and Johnston's retirement from JWT. Organized into two subseries--JWT History and Personal Correspondence--and alphabetically therein.
Original correspondence from notable individuals is closed to researchers. Photocopies can be found in the respective folders.
[Contains photocopies of letters written by Jacqueline Onassis, Henry Kissinger, and Jimmy Carter to Johnston. Originals are closed to patron use.]
Contains letters written by Jacqueline Onassis, Henry Kissinger, and Jimmy Carter to Johnston.
Consists of video tapes of presentations given by Johnston. Originals and Reference Master copies are closed to patron use.
Use Copy UC1 in Box 32.
Use Copy UC2 in Box 32.
Use Copy UC3 in Box 32.
Format: BetacamSP. Created: 2006.
Format: DVD. Created: 2006.
Oversize Materials
[Photographs and art with essay on Barcelona's main street. Text in Spanish.]
Historical Note
Chronology List
| Date | Event(s) |
|---|---|
| 1927 | Born George Donald Johnston, Elmira, NY |
| 1950 | B.S., Summa Cum Laude, in Journalism and Economics, Michigan State University |
| 1951 | Began career with JWT as a trainee in Detroit Office mail room |
| 1952 | M.A with Honors in International Economics, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University. Johnston attended on a JWT scholarship. |
| 1952 | Assistant International Account Representative, JWT New York |
| 1953 | Representative, JWT Colombia |
| 1956 | Account Representative and Account Supervisor, JWT New York |
| 1961 | Managing Director, JWT Amsterdam |
| 1964 | Managing Director, JWT Tokyo |
| 1966 | Vice President-Europe, JWT Frankfurt |
| 1967 | Vice President-Europe, JWT London |
| 1971 | Senior Vice President, JWT Latin America |
| 1972 | Executive Vice President-International JWT New York Member of Board of Directors and Executive Committee |
| 1974 | President and CEO of JWT Company |
| 1978 | Chairman of JWT |
| 1980 | Chairman of newly formed JWT Group Inc. Chairman of American Association of Advertising Agencies Won International Advertising Association Annual Award. |
| 1986 | Established Sarita and Don Johnston Professorship in Latin American Studies at Johns Hopkins University |
| 1987 | Retired from JWT |
Upon retirement from the JWT, Johnston was named Chairman of the International Executive Service Corps. Johnston is currently a Trustee Emeritus of Johns Hopkins University.
Subject Headings
- Advertising agencies--Management.
- Advertising agencies--United States.
- Advertising agencies--United States--History.
- Advertising agencies--Europe.
- Advertising agencies--Latin America.
- Advertising executives.
- Chevron Corporation.
- Ford Motor Company.
- General Foods Corporation.
- Advertising.
- Grisman, Arnold.
- Johnston, Don, 1927-
- J. Walter Thompson Company.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Buenos Aires Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Toronto Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Santiago (Chile) Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Paris Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Frankfurt Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Bombay (Mumbai) Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Tokyo Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. London Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. New York Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Johannesburg Office.
- O'Donnell, Joseph W.
- Unilever (Firm)
- Uniroyal, inc.
- WPP Group plc.
- John W. Hartman for for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
- Photographs (AAT)
- Speeches (AAT)
- Videocassettes (AAT)
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], J. Walter Thompson Company. Don Johnston Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Don Johnston Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as transfers in 1995 and 2003.
Processing Information
Processed by Greg Johnson and Andrea Franzius, May 15, 2006
Encoded by Greg Johnson
Completed June 15, 2006
Accessions 96-021, 96-092, 96-093, 96-112, and 03-0258 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our local Style Guide.