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Inventory of the Ohio Outdoor Advertising Corporation Records , 1929-1993 and undated

Abstract

The Ohio Outdoor Advertising Corporation was an outdoor advertising company that operated in northern Ohio from 1965 to 2000.

The Ohio Outdoor Advertising Corporation Records span the years 1929 to 1993 and include clippings, corporation reports, negatives, photograph albums, photographs, poster boards, promotional materials, regional maps, slides, and trade literature that document the operational history of Ohio Outdoor and related companies. The bulk of this collection consists of photographs and slides of billboards in northern Ohio from 1937 to 1993. Also included are photographs of Ohio street locations and outdoor advertising activities. Other outdoor advertising companies represented in the collection reflect mergers, acquisitions, and business connections between Ohio Outdoor and other firms, and include Dingeman Advertising, Inc.; Outdoor Communications, Inc. (OCI); Outdoor Graphics, Inc.; Indiana Outdoor Advertising Corporation; Kentucky Outdoor Advertising Corporation; E.A. Eckert Advertising Company; and T.R. Sammons Outdoor Advertising Company.

Descriptive Summary

Repository
David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
Creator
Ohio Outdoor Advertising Corporation
Title
Ohio Outdoor Advertising Corporation Records, 1929-1993 and undated
Language of Material
English
Extent
5.5 Linear Feet, 4300 Items
Location
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Series Quick Links

Collection Overview

The Ohio Outdoor Advertising Corporation Records span the years 1929-1993 and include clippings, corporation reports, negatives, photographs, poster boards, promotional materials, regional maps, slides, and trade literature that document the operational history of Ohio Outdoor and related companies. The bulk of this collection consists of photographs and slides of billboards in northern Ohio from 1937-1993. Also included are photographs of Ohio street locations and outdoor advertising activities. Other outdoor advertising companies represented in the collection reflect mergers, acquisitions, and business connections between Ohio Outdoor and other firms, and include Dingeman Advertising, Inc.; Outdoor Communications, Inc. (OCI); Outdoor Graphics, Inc.; Indiana Outdoor Advertising Corporation; Kentucky Outdoor Advertising Corporation; E.A. Eckert Advertising Company; and T.R. Sammons Outdoor Advertising Company.

The collection is organized into two series: Business Files and Photographs, Negatives and Slides. The Business Files Series includes clippings, corporation reports, poster boards, promotional materials, and regional maps. Large regional maps and poster boards in this series were used for presentations. The Photographs, Negatives and Slides Series makes up the bulk of the collection, and chiefly consists of photographs and slides of billboards in northern Ohio from the 1930s-1990s. Photographs by the E.A. Eckhert Company also document Ohio street locations and outdoor advertising activties. Included are photographs of actress and Westinghouse spokeswoman Betty Furness and a 1938 photograph of a handmade sign in support of Adolph Hitler hanging over a billboard. Slides, which range from 1967-1978, were used in business presentations for outdoor advertising staff or to improve public relations through community outreach.

Large-format materials have been removed from their original series locations and relocated to Oversize Materials. Relocated items have been replaced in the Detailed Description of the Collection by dummy folders enclosed in brackets.

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 »

warning Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, 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.

warning 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

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Consists of administrative records, clippings, corporation reports, lecture notes, trade literature, and promotional materials that document the organizational history of Ohio Outdoor Advertising Corporation and related companies. Includes a matted press release and photographic reproduction announcing the sale of outdoor advertising plants from Foster & Kleiser to Ohio Outdoor. Arranged alphabetically.

Restrictions on access: Contains unsleeved photographs; gloves are required when handling.

American Display Systems, Inc. promotional booklet, 1986
Box 1
Clippings, 1983-1991 and undated
Box 1
Community profiles, 1974-1977
Box 1
Draft corporation records, 1974-1979 and undated
Box 1
Business plans, 1975-1976
(2 folders)
Box 1
Exhibits, 1975
Box 1
Rate schedules, 1977, 1985
Box 1
Business Plans, 1975
Box 1
Exhibits, 1975
Box 1
[Foster & Kleiser matted press release, 1965, removed to Folder 1]
Box 1
Lecture notes, undated
Box 1
[Draft regional maps, circa 1970s, removed to Oversize Materials Box 7]
Box 1
[Maps and miscellaneous, circa 1970s, removed to Folder 1]
Box 1
Operating territory maps, 1977 and undated
Box 1
[Presentation boards, circa 1970s, removed to Oversize Materials Box 6]
Box 1
Promotional materials, circa 1990s
Box 1
[Regional presentation maps, circa 1970s, removed to Oversize Materials Box 7]
Box 1
[Presentation boards, circa 1970s, removed to Oversize Materials Box 6]
Box 1
Standard Outdoor Advertising, Inc. promotional booklet, circa 1950s
Box 1
Trade literature, 1951-1990 and undated
(2 folders)
Box 1
[Miscellaneous maps and sign, circa 1970s, removed to Oversize Materials Box 6]
Box 1

Consists of photographs, negatives, and slides that document billboards and the outdoor advertising industry in northern Ohio. Series is arranged into three categories: Loose photographs and negatives; Photograph albums; and Slides. The Loose photographs and negatives and Photograph albums categories share similar content. The bulk of photographs are of northern Ohio billboards from the 1970s-1990s that promoted both local and national products and services. The majority of outdoor advertising companies represented in this series were linked with Ohio Outdoor Advertising Company through business ties, with the exception of Hart Advertising, Inc., which was a rival to Ohio Outdoor. The earlier E.A. Eckhert photographs (1937-1970s) also include images of Ohio street locations and outdoor advertising activities. Included are photographs of actress and Westinghouse spokeswoman Betty Furness posing with members of the Advertising Club of North Central Ohio, and a 1938 photograph of a handmade sign in support of Adolph Hitler hanging over a billboard. Slides, which range from 1967-1978, were used in instructional presentations for outdoor advertising staff or to improve public relations through community outreach. Some slide sets in this collection were developed by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) and designed to be distributed to outdoor advertising companies across the United States for use in their local community presentations to city councils and the general public.

Consists of black and white and color photographs and negatives. Arranged in alphabetical order within category, with the exception of the Hart photographs, which have been kept in original order.

Automobiles, services and accessories, 1987-1990 and undated
(3 folders)
Box 1
Beer and wine, undated
Box 2
Commercial services, undated
Box 2
Education, 1989 and undated
Box 2
Food, supermarkets and restaurants, 1983-1994 and undated
(2 folders)
Box 2
Health and fitness, 1989 and undated
(2 folders)
Box 2
Insurance and financial institutions, 1988 and undated
(2 folders)
Box 2
Mass media, 1988 and undated
Box 3
Non-profits and miscellaneous, 1985-1991 and undated
Box 3
Political, 1989 and undated
(2 folders)
Box 3
Residential and commercial products and services, 1988 and undated
(3 folders)
Box 3
Retail businesses, 1994 and undated
(2 folders)
Box 3
Special events, 1990-1994 and undated
(2 folders)
Box 4
Unrelated, undated
Box 4
E.A. Eckhert billboards, 1942-1960 and undated
Box 4
Other outdoor advertising company billboards, 1942-1976 and undated
Box 4
Other photographs, 1947-1960 and undated
Box 4
Street location photographs, undated 1959 and undated
Box 4
T.R. Sammons billboards, 1929-1938 and undated
(2 folders)
Box 4
Hart billboard photographs and negatives, 1978
(3 folders)
Box 4
Ohio Outdoor billboard photographs, 1980 and undated
Box 4

Consists of black and white and color photographs and negatives that were originally kept in photograph albums. Much of the content is similar to photographs in Loose photographs and negatives. Arranged in original order.

Computer Image Systems, Inc. photograph album, 1992-1993
Box 5
Dingeman and OCI photograph albums, 1982-1988 and undated
(2 folders)
Box 5
E.A. Eckhert photograph album, circa 1940s-1960s
Box 5
[Indiana Outdoor photograph album, 1971, removed to Oversize Materials Box 8]
Box 5
[Kentucky Outdoor photograph album, 1973, removed to Oversize Materials Box 8]
Box 5
OCI best design contest photograph album, 1992
Box 5
[Ohio Outdoor photograph album, 1974, removed to Oversize Materials Box 8]
Box 5

Consists of color slides that were used for presentations. Arranged in original order.

Basic Bulletin, circa mid-1970s
Box 5
Billboards, 1968
Box 5
Billboards Painesville, 1968
Box 5
Freshen Up-Going Up, 1975-1978 and undated
Box 5
Hart Boards, 1978
Box 5
Long handled posting and scrape, paint Elynia, cedar trim, 1974-1978 and undated
Box 5
Naegele, 1967-1973
Box 5
City Councils, 11a- Urban Ordinance Committee, circa 1970s
Box 5
City Council Presentation
Box 5
General presentation
(2 folders)
Box 5
No Outdoor in Europe: Rebuttal,
Box 5
OOAC good pics, 1968
Box 5
OOAC: How the Plant Should Not Look, 1974
Box 5
Urban Ordinance, circa mid-1970s
Box 5
Miscellaneous maps and sign, circa 1970s
Box 6
Ohio Outdoor presentation boards, circa 1970s
Box 6
Presentation boards, circa 1970s
Box 6
Ashtabula through Fremont
Box 7
Fremont-Tiffin through Norwalk
Box 7
Norwalk-Bellevue through Tiffin
Box 7
Cleveland West through Fremont-Tiffin
Box 7
Lorain through Toledo suburban
Box 7
Foster & Kleiser matted press release, 1965
Box 7 Folder 1
Ohio Outdoor regional presentation maps, circa 1970s
Box 7
Indiana Outdoor photograph album, 1971
Box 8
Kentucky Outdoor photograph album, 1973
Box 8
Ohio Outdoor photograph album, 1974
Box 8

Historical Note

Chronology List

DateEvent(s)
1965Ohio Outdoor Advertising Corporation was founded as a subsidiary of American Bakeries Company. The company was owned by Norman Knight and managed by Howard N. Johansen.
1971Outdoor Graphics, Inc. founded as a subsidiary of American Bakeries Company
1978Ohio Outdoor purchased by Howard Johansen
1988Ownership of Ohio Outdoor transferred to Claire F. Johansen and Nancy L. Freeman, daughters of Howard Johansen
1989Outdoor Communications, Inc. (OCI) acquired Dingeman Advertising, Inc. (a subsidiary of Ohio Outdoor)
1998Lamar Advertising Company acquired OCI
2000Lamar Advertising Company purchased Ohio Outdoor

During the 1970s, Indiana Outdoor Advertising Corporation and Kentucky Outdoor Advertising Corporation were founded.

Subject Headings

Related Material

Related Material

Materials related to this collection may be found in other Hartman Center collections, including the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) Archives, OAAA Poster Design Collection, and the OAAA Slide Library.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Ohio Outdoor Advertising Corporation Records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Provenance

The Ohio Outdoor Advertising Corporation Records were received by the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a gift in 1997; 2006.

Processing Information

Processed by Rita Johnston, December 2007

Encoded by Rita Johnston, December 2007

Accessions 2002-0195; 2007-0104 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.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.