J. Walter Thompson Company. Eleanor Newman papers, 1974-1985 and undated

Using These Materials Teaser

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke...
More about accessing and using these materials...

Summary

Creator:
J. Walter Thompson Company
Abstract:
Founded in 1864, the J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT) is one of the largest and oldest enduring advertising agencies in the United States. Eleanor Newman was an Account Representative and Office Manager with JWT during the years 1976-1985. The Eleanor Newman Papers cover the years 1974-1985, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1979-1983, roughly the period during which Newman served as Office Manager of the J. Walter Thompson (JWT) Entertainment Group, and as Account Representative for the Health & Tennis Corporation account. The collection includes media plans, schedules, budgets, invoices, market research, proofs, tear sheets, photographs, conference call reports, memoranda and correspondence, and proposals related to the advertising campaigns of various JWT clients. Companies represented include Dentcare, Genesco, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, Jack La Lanne Spa, Vertical Club, Cover Girl, Freirich Meats, Beatrice Foods, Samsonite, Cable Shop, and Screenvision. Also included in the collection are media plans for the New York Arrows indoor soccer team, the 1981-1982 seasons of the New York City Opera, and several Broadway musicals including Mr. Lincoln, Really Rosie and Snow White.
Extent:
9.5 Linear Feet
6225 Items
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.00732

Background

Scope and content:

The Eleanor Newman Papers cover the years 1974-1985, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1979-1983, roughly the period during which Newman served as Office Manager of JWT's The Entertainment Group, and as Account Representative for the Health & Tennis Corporation (later part of Bally Total Fitness Corporation) account. The collection includes media plans, schedules, budgets, invoices, market research, proofs, tear sheets, photographs, conference call reports, memoranda and correspondence, and proposals related to the advertising campaigns of various JWT clients. Companies and products represented include Dentcare, Genesco, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, Jack La Lanne Spa, Vertical Club, Covergirl, Freirich Meats, Beatrice Foods, Samsonite, Cable Shop, and PIAF/Screenvision. Also included in the collection are media plans for the New York Arrows indoor soccer team; the 1981-1982 seasons of the New York City Opera; and several Broadway musicals including Mr. Lincoln, Really Rosie and Snow White.

The collection is arranged into thirteen categories: General Files; Broadway; Cruise Tours; Dentcare; Fitness; Footwear; Freirich Meats; New York City Opera; Outdoor Advertising; Samsonite; Sports; Television; and Oversize Materials. The General Files include JWT directories, market research, office memoranda and forms, and correspondence relating to Mark Schoenfeld, Media Director at JWT Entertainment Group. Broadway files include media plans relating to the musicals Mr. Lincoln, Really Rosie, Snow White, Vaudeville Show, among others. The files on sightseeing cruise tours, Freirich Meats, the New York City Opera, Cable Shop and PIAF/Screenvision include advertising proofs, tear sheets, television and radio advertising schedules, and media plans. The Footwear files include proposals, advertising copy, proofs, media plans and market research for Covergirl and Genesco's Charm Step and Easy Street lines of shoes. Samsonite, the largest category of files in the collection, includes several booklets of research findings on the 1980s luggage market, marketing proposals and recommendations, and advertising tracking studies. The Outdoor Advertising files includes photographs, market research and correspondence related to billboard, bus and bus shelter advertising of Broadway musicals in New York City. Oversize Materials consist of large-format items removed from other series and housed separately.

Many of the marketing proposals and market research findings arrived in binders labeled with a title sheet or subject headings. Items were removed from binders, and original titles were used. Several sections were removed from their respective series into a separate oversize box.

Biographical / historical:

Eleanor Newman graduated from Brooklyn College, majoring in English and Theater. Before joining JWT, she taught English to the gifted at the New York City Board of Education for six years.

Newman began working for the J. Walter Thompson (JWT) Company's New York office in 1976, first as secretary to the Director of Corporate Press. She was then promoted to Administrative Assistant, responsible for editing press releases; researching for annual reports; and writing articles for J. Walter Thompson News, the company newsletter. She also researched and wrote a major speech on the future of government advertising, presented at the American Association of Advertising Agencies convention in the spring of 1977. At the founding of the JWT Entertainment Group in September 1977, Newman was promoted to Office Manager, and made responsible for office services, hiring, and communication with the New York East Side Office. In 1978, she was promoted to Account Representative of the Entertainment Group. She subsequently handled the accounts of Caesars World, Radio City Music Hall, Ford's Theatre, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, and several Broadway shows. While at the Entertainment Group, she participated in the JWT Management Trainee Program, which culminated in a four-day seminar at Princeton University in 1980. In June 1981, Newman returned to the JWT East Side Office to become Account Representative for Health & Tennis Corporation, handling all the advertising for the forty-eight Jack La Lanne, Holiday Health Spa, and European Health Spa clubs, as well as the Vertical Club. She also handled Cable Shop responsibilities for Charm Step shoes on the Genesco account. In June 1982, she was promoted to Account Supervisor.

Newman also ghost-wrote articles for Penthouse, Playboy and the Chicago Tribune; and edited children's books on health, science, and Africa, in addition to a book on tennis and a biography of Elton John.

Acquisition information:
The Eleanor Newman Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 1993.
Processing information:

Processed by Jessica Wood, September 2008

Encoded by Jessica Wood, September 2008

Accession 93-054 was processed and described in this finding aid.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

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.

Before you visit:
Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], J. Walter Thompson Company. Eleanor Newman Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University