Inventory of the J. Walter Thompson Company. Publications Collection, 1887-2005
Abstract
The J. Walter Thompson Company, founded in 1864, is one of the largest enduring advertising agencies in the U.S.
The J. Walter Thompson Company Publications Collection spans the years 1887 to 2005 and includes printed materials produced by the various offices, partners, subsidiaries and related firms of the J. Walter Thompson Company. Materials include promotional pamphlets, informational bulletins, regional market analyses, research reports, and industry overviews, as well as corporate annual reports, office directories and aggregate client lists. Materials are primarily in English, but several other languages are also represented.
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
- Creator
- J. Walter Thompson Company.
- Title
- J. Walter Thompson Company. Publications Collection, 1887-2005
- Language of Material
- English, , French, , Spanish, , Portuguese, , Japanese, , German, , Danish, , Italian, , Dutch, , Swedish, , Arabic.
- Extent
- 75 Linear Feet, 3000 Items
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Series Quick Links
- Corporate Publications Series (Restricted), 1918-2005
- Domestic Publications Series (Restricted), 1887-2005 and undated
- International Publications Series (Restricted), 1914-2003 and undated
- Subsidiaries and Related Firms Publications Series (Restricted), 1950-2002 and undated
- Oversize Materials
- Alphabetical Listing of Publication Titles
Collection Overview
The J. Walter Thompson Company Publications Collection spans the years 1887 to 2005 and includes printed materials produced by the various domestic offices, partners, subsidiaries and related firms of the J. Walter Thompson Co. (JWT). Domestic offices include Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, New York and San Francisco. International materials originate primarily from the London Office, but other offices in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, India, South Africa, and Spain are also represented. The main subsidiaries and related firms represented in the collection include the British Market Research Bureau; Brouillard Communications, Inc.; Hill & Knowlton; Lord, Geller, Federico, Einstein; and the Simmons Market Research Bureau. Materials include promotional pamphlets, informational bulletins, regional market analyses, research reports, and industry overviews, as well as corporate annual reports, office directories and aggregate client lists. The oldest materials are domestic rather than international. Materials are primarily in English, but several other languages are also represented.
The collection is organized into four series: Corporate Publications, Domestic Publications, International Publications, and Subsidiaries and Related Firms Publications.
The Corporate Publications Series includes published documents relating to the organizational and corporate life of the agency. The series is organized into seven subseries--Worldwide Office Address Lists, Client Lists, Financial and Stockholder Reports, JWT Group Reports, Worldwide Office Fact Books, Profile Books, and Telephone Directories. Most of these subseries are self-explanatory. Both the JWT Group Reports and the Financial and Stockholder Reports include annual and quarterly reports sent out to stockholders as well as 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (JWT reorganized as the JWT Group in 1980, and maintained that name until it became part of the WPP Group in 1986). Both the Worldwide Office Fact Books and the Profile Books contain summary information about JWT's structure, client base, offices and billings for particular years.
The Domestic Publications Series include materials published in the U.S. The series is organized into General Publications, Interurbia, and Individual Offices Publications. General Publications include materials published by the main headquarters in New York and pertain to broad issues of interest throughout the company, such as employee training, research reports, regional market surveys and informational bulletins. Interurbia was a special series of reports and presentations begun in the 1950s, in which JWT sought to address the rapid expansion of metropolitan areas in the United States. Individual Offices Publications include materials published by specific JWT offices that address issues of concern to that office or its clients. Preceding the container list of publications are folders that contain correspondence relating to publications.
The International Publications Series includes material published outside the U.S. by JWT's international offices. The bulk of materials come from the London office, but other offices are also represented.
The Subsidiaries and Related Firms Series includes publications originating with JWT's subsidiaries, such as Brouillard Communications and the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB), as well as from firms with which JWT had close working relationships at one time, such as the Simmons Market Research Bureau, after which JWT modelled the BMRB.
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
Collection is restricted.
Materials less than 15 years old, other than advertisements, are closed to non-JWT users.
In addition, the 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
Includes directories, client lists, financial reports and other publications that pertain to corporate operations. Organized into seven subseries--Worldwide Office Address Lists, Client Lists, Financial and Stockholder Reports, JWT Group Reports, Worldwide Office Fact Books, Profile Books and Telephone Directories. Most reports in this series are periodically issued; thus, files are arranged by type or title, and chronologically therein.
Large-format materials have been relocated to Oversize Materials, and those items have been cross-listed in the series to which they pertain. An index of all titles is included at the end of the container list.
Restriction Note: Materials less than fifteen years old, other than advertisements, are closed to non-JWT users. Individual boxes are so marked. Where items have been removed and relocated to Restricted Materials, that item has been replaced by a dummy folder indicated by a title in brackets.
Arranged alphabetically.
Arranged alphabetically.
Arranged alphabetically, and chronologically therein.
Arranged alphabetically, and chronologically therein.
Arranged alphabetically by report title and chronologically therein.
Arranged alphabetically by report title and chronologically therein.
Analysis of media coverage of WPP's takeover of JWT.
The Worldwide and Domestic Profile Books were created by the International Intelligence Unit, in response to the number of requests for information and slides for use in New Business presentations. The Profile Books are fact books designed for employee reference. The information has been extracted from annual assessment plans. Each book is arranged alphabetically by country and includes such information as population statistics, office opening dates, billings, client product listings and rankings. Employees could purchase slides of the appropriate page from the most current Profile Book. Out of date slides were transferred to the JWWT Archives, some of which were retained in the Iconographic Collection: Slides.
Organized into Domestic and Worldwide categories and arranged chronologically therein.
Organized into Domestic and International categories, and arranged alphabetically by office, therein chronologically.
Arranged chronologically.
Organized into four subseries--Correspondence Relating to Publications, General Publications, Interurbia, and Individual Offices Publications. General Publications are arranged chronologically, and alphabetically by title therein. Other subseries are arranged alphabetically.
Large-format materials have been relocated to Oversize Materials, and those items have been cross-listed in the series to which they pertain. An index of all titles is included at the end of the container list.
Restriction Note: Materials less than fifteen years old, other than advertisements, are closed to non-JWT users. Individual boxes are so marked. Where items have been removed and relocated to Restricted Materials, that item has been replaced by a dummy folder indicated by a title in brackets.
Publications that are not specific to a single office, though many were published by the New York office. Arranged chronologically and alphabetically therein.
Arranged alphabetically by office and publication title.
Organized into three categories--London Office Publications, London/Manchester Office Publications, and Other Offices Publications. London publications are arranged chronologically; other subseries are arranged alphabetically by office name and title.
Large-format materials have been relocated to Oversize Materials, and those items have been cross-listed in the series to which they pertain. An index of all titles is included at the end of the container list.
Restriction Note: Materials less than fifteen years old, other than advertisements, are closed to non-JWT users. Individual boxes are so marked. Where items have been removed and relocated to Restricted Materials, that item has been replaced by a dummy folder indicated by a title in brackets.
Arranged chronologically and alphabetically therein.
Arranged chronologically.
Arranged alphabetically by office and publication title.
Publications produced by JWT subsidiaries, partners and affiliated firms. Arranged alphabetically by corporate name and then by publication title. Restricted materials are collocated and at the end of the listings of corporate entities.
Large-format materials have been relocated to Oversize Materials, and those items have been cross-listed in the series to which they pertain. An index of all titles is included at the end of the container list.
Restriction note: Materials published by JWT or its subsidiaries that are less than fifteen years old, other than advertisements, are closed to non-JWT users. Materials published by non-JWT companies that are less than fifteen years old are open to researchers. Individual boxes are so marked. Where items have been removed and relocated to Restricted Materials, that item has been replaced by a dummy folder indicated by a title in brackets.
Oversize Materials
Subject Headings
- J. Walter Thompson Company.
- J. Walter Thompson Company--New York Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company--Chicago Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company--Detroit Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company--San Francisco Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company--Atlanta Office.
- J. Walter Thompson Company--London Office.
- Brouillard Communications, Inc.
- British Market Research Bureau, Ltd.
- Hill & Knowlton, Inc.
- Simmons Market Research Bureau.
- Lord, Geller, Federico, Einstein, Inc.
- Advertising--United States--19th century.
- Advertising--United States--20th century.
- Advertising--Great Britain--20th century.
- Advertising--Australia--20th century.
- Advertising--Belgium--20th century.
- Advertising--Canada--20th century.
- Advertising--France--20th century.
- Advertising--Germany--20th century.
- Advertising--India--20th century.
- Advertising--South Africa--20th century.
- Advertising--Spain--20th century.
- Corporation reports.
- Advertising agencies--History.
- Advertising agencies--United States--History.
- Advertising agencies--Great Britain.
- Advertising agencies--Great Britain--History.
- Marketing research.
- Publications.
- Research reports.
- John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], J. Walter Thompson Company. Publications Collection, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The J. Walter Thompson Company. Publications Collection was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a transfer in 1986, with additions in subsequent years.
Processing Information
Processed by Richard Collier, Loren Crippen, Barbara Heck, Brooke Stanley, December 2005
Encoded by Richard Collier
Completed January 2006
Accession(s) 99-312, 93-051, 93-052, 93-050, 93-146, 99-310, 99-311, 99-384, 97-095, 93-085, 93-148, 93-066, 96-093 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.
