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jwtmeeksam Inventory of the J. Walter Thompson Company. Samuel W. (Samuel Williams) Meek Papers, 1917-1980 and undated, bulk 1945-1962 Processed by: David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library; Machine-readable finding aid created by: Stephen Douglas Miller

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Aleph Number: 003468882

Machine-readable finding aid derived from Microsoft Word 6.0 files. Processed by: Duke University. David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Staff 1996; Finding Aid encoded by Stephen Douglas Miller, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. February 4, 1997 Description is in English. 12-31-2005 PUBLIC "-//Duke University::David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library//TEXT (US::NDD::::J. Walter Thompson Company. Samuel W. (Samuel Williams) Meek Papers)//EN" "jwtmeeksam.xml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Also, the top level of the finding aid (above the dsc) changed to conform to current Rubenstein Library and NC EAD standards as laid out in the Inventory Style Guide and in the NCEAD Best Practice Guidelines. Within the dsc, dates for series were normalized. These changes were made by Michelle Belden. Also, container TYPE and LABEL attribute values were standardized according to the Rubenstein Library EAD 2002 manual and the NCEAD eadlocal.ent by Ruth E. Bryan. The tag list inside index was changed to indexentry by Ruth E. Bryan. June 29, 1998 Updated to EAD Version 1.0 from EAD Beta by Stephen Miller Inventory of the J. Walter Thompson Company. Samuel W. (Samuel Williams) Meek Papers, 1917-1980 and undated, bulk 1945-1962 The John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing HistoryDavid M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript LibraryDuke UniversityDurham, North Carolina

Descriptive Summary J. Walter Thompson Company. Samuel W. (Samuel Williams) Meek Papers, 1917-1980 and undated, bulk 1945-1962 J. Walter Thompson Company. 3.5 Linear Feet ca. 800 Items Duke University. David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. English. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection 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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript 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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], J. Walter Thompson Company. Samuel W. (Samuel Williams) Meek Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Provenance

The papers of Samuel Williams Meek were transferred to the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library from the J. Walter Thompson Company in 1987.

Processing Information

Processed by: Duke University. David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript 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.

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.

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. List of Series in Collection 1-4 International Offices Series, 1942-1964 and undated 4 International Department Series, 1930-1962 and undated 4-5 International Marketing Series, 1954-1962 and undated 5 International Correspondents Series, 1945-1962 6 Personal Series, 1917-1979 and undated 6 Miscelaneous Series 1-5 Oversize Materials International Department Series Miscelaneous Series Contents 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.

Folders are grouped by country and then arranged chronologically.

1 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 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) 3 Japan, Tokyo: Correspondence, 1958-1975 (9 folders) Japan, Tokyo: Market Research, 1951-1962 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.

The folders are organized alphabetically by topic.

4 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.

4 Business Council Correspondence, 1959-1962 (2 folders) 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.

Arranged alphabetically by country and then chronologically.

5 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.

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 6 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 7 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 (3 folders) History of an Advertisement, 1928