Inventory of the Irving Sonn Papers, 1963-1977 and undated

Abstract

Irving Sonn was a copy writer for several advertising agencies including: Ted Bates & Co.; Ogilvy & Mather; Compton Advertising, Inc.; and Needham, Harper & Steers.

The Irving Sonn Papers span the years 1963-1977 and contain general correspondence, clippings, memorabilia, photographs and presentation slides that primarily document the periods of Sonn's employment at Ted Bates & Co. and Needham, Harper & Steers. Also includes recordings of advertising spots and jingles in a variety of formats, including audiotape and cassettes; VHS and Umatic videocassettes; and 16mm film. Clients include: Burger King; Kodak; Kentucky Fried Chicken; and Toyota. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.

Descriptive Summary

Repository: David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
Creator: Sonn, Irving.
Title: Irving Sonn Papers, 1963-1977 and undated
Language of Material: English
Extent: 3.25 Linear Feet, 2000 Items
Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Series Quick Links

General files, 1963-1977 and undated
Slides, 1974-1977 and undated
Audiovisual materials 1967-1977 and undated
Award plaques and trophies, 1967-1977 and undated

Collection Overview

The Irving Sonn Papers Span the years 1963-1977 and contain general correspondence, clippings, memorabilia, photographs and presentation slides that primarily document the periods of Sonn's employment at Ted Bates & Co. and Needham, Harper & Steers. Also includes recordings of advertising spots and jingles in a variety of formats, including audiotape and cassettes; VHS and Umatic videocassettes; and 16mm film. Clients include Burger King; Kodak; Kentucky Fried Chicken; and Toyota.

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 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.

In addition, original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use. Technical Services staff need to produce use copies before contents can be accessed.

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

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General files, 1963-1977 and undated

(1 box)

Series contains correspondence, presentation scripts, clippings and photographs primarily related to Sonn's employment at Ted Bates & Co. Also includes awards won by Sonn.

Advertising Writers Association of New York Award, 1963

Box 1

Clio Awards, 1970

Box 1

Correspondence and a meeting schedule, 1977 and undated

Box 1

Diaper Wonder Book, slide show script, undated

Box 1

Kentucky Fried Chicken Recommendations, 1977

Box 1

Newspaper clippings, advertising magazines, 1968-1977

Box 1

Photographs, undated

Box 1

Presentation to Burger King, 1976, Aug

(3 folders)

Box 1

Ted Bates & Company, company information booklet, undated

Box 1

Ted Bates Unique Selling Proposition, A Disciplined Philosophy of Advertising that Maximizes Sales Effectiveness, undated

Box 1

Slides, 1974-1977 and undated

(2 boxes)

Series contains slides used in print advertising campaigns of various Ted Bates clients. Also includes slides for speeches and general market presentations, such as toiletries, household and drugs. Clients represented include Amtrak, Chevy, Burger King, Colgate, Datsun, Hertz, Hills Bros., J.C. Penney, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Kodak, Kool, Listerine, Maybelline, McDonald's, Ortho, Panasonic, Pizza Hut, Prudential, Sheraton, Singer, Toyota, and the U.S. Navy, among others. Many of the times came organized in wonder books of slides devoted to particular clients or topics.

A-Z miscellaneous, undated

[Includes Flair, Ital Line, Jordan, Bufferin, Calgon, Chase Manhattan, Crazy Canadian, Davies County, Facelle, Manhattan Shirts, Matsushita Electric, Mars Corp., Industrial National Bank, Nair, NY Clearing House, Ocean Spray, RCA, Roses Lime Juice, Schmidts, Schweppes, Upjohn, Warner Lambert, Expeed, Xerox, and Yardley.]

(2 folders)

Box 2 (continued)

Airline, Wonder Book, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Allied Van, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Amtrak, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Apex, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Beaulieu speech, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Burger King, Wonder Book, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Burlington, Wonder Book, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Case studies, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Chevy trucks, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Colgate, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Datsun, Wonder Book, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Disposable diapers, Wonder Book, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Disposable diapers, Wonder Book, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Electrolux, Wonder Book, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Far East presentation, 1977

Box 2 (continued)

Food, 1974-1975

Box 2 (continued)

Gasoline, Wonder Book, undated

Box 2 (continued)

General development, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Gino, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Hamm's Beer, Wonder Book, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Hertz, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Hills Bros., undated

Box 2 (continued)

Household and drugs, 1974-1975

Box 2 (continued)

I.T.T., undated

Box 2 (continued)

J.C. Penney, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Julius Wile Benedictine, Wonder Book, undated

Box 2 (continued)

Kentucky Fried Chicken, undated

Box 3

Kodak, Wonder Book, undated

Box 3

Kool, undated

Box 3

Listerine, undated

Box 3

Maybelline (Coppertone), undated

Box 3

McDonald's, undated

Box 3

National Airlines, Wonder Book, undated

Box 3

Ortho, undated

Box 3

Panasonic, undated

Box 3

Pfizer, Visine and Swedish Tan, undated

Box 3

Pizza Hut, Wonder Book, undated

Box 3

Post Office, undated

Box 3

Prudential, undated

Box 3

Publishers Clearing House, undated

Box 3

Puerto Rico, Wonder Book, undated

Box 3

Railpax, Wonder Book, undated

Box 3

Selling in the 70s, undated

Box 3

Sheraton, undated

Box 3

Singer, Wonder Book, undated

Box 3

Standard Brands, Blue Bonnet, Egg Beaters, undated

Box 3

Toiletries, 1974-1975

Box 3

Toyota, undated

Box 3

Toyota, presentation, 1975

Box 3

U.S. Navy, undated

Box 3

U.S.P. Charts, undated

Box 3

Audiovisual materials 1967-1977 and undated

(1 box)

Contains audio and videotapes of advertising spots, out takes, songs and jingles related to Ted Bates & Co. clients. Formats include 1/4 inch audio tapes, audiocassettes, 16 millimeter film, VHS tapes and Umatic tapes. Items were organized by format and arranged alphabetically.

1/4 inch audiotapes

1. Black Radio, undated

Box 4

2. Everything's a Whopper at Burger King, undated

Box 4

3-4. Fresh Food, Not Just Fast Food, 1976

Box 4

5. Miscellaneous spots, 1976

Box 4

6. Now You Know Better, 1976

Box 4

7. Out takes, undated

Box 4

8. Soul, female vocalist, undated

Box 4

Datsun

9. Miscellaneous, undated

Box 4

10. Rebate/Radio, undated

Box 4

11. Irving Sonn, reel 1, undated

(includes spots for Friday's Child and Maybelline),

Box 4

12. Kentucky Fried Chicken, undated

Box 4

Audiocassettes

13. Burger King presentation, undated

Box 4

14. National Radio, undated

Box 4

15. Trident, Wash 'n Dri, undated

Box 4

16 millimeter films

16. Chase-Manhattan, undated

Box 4

17. Competitive commercials, undated

Box 4

18-19. Datsun, presentation, 1977, June

(2 reels)

Box 4

20. Selling in the 70s, undated

Box 4

21. Toyota, undated

Box 4

VHS tapes

22-23. Needham Bates, parts I-II

Box 4

Umatic tapes

24. Ted Bates presentation, 1977

Box 4

Award plaques and trophies, 1967-1977 and undated

(1 box)

Contains award plaques and trophies won by the Needham, Harper & Steers agency. Items arranged by format and listed alphabetically.

Plaques

Addy Awards

Consumer Magazines Ad Series, 1967

Box 5

Consumer Magazine Ad, black & white, 1968

Box 5

Direct Mail Piece, 1968

Box 5

Sales Promotion Material, 1968

Box 5

Undated

Consumer Magazine, black & white

Box 5

Consumer Magazine, color

Box 5

Trade Paper Campaign, black & white

Box 5

Art Directors Club, New Jersey, undated

Box 5

Dun's Review Advertising Excellence Award, Starch Score for Hertz Rent A Car, 1976

Box 5

Trophies

Addy Award

Direct Mail Piece, black & white, 1968

Box 5

Newspaper Advertisement, black & white, 1968

Box 5

American Radio Commercials Festival, Best Cosmetics, Toiletries, Pharmaceuticals, 1973

Box 5

Historical Note

Chronology List

Date	Event(s)
1926	Born
1949	Graduated from New York University; worked as news clerk at the New York Times
1955	Began employment at Cortez F. Enloe, a company specializing in ethical drug advertising
1957	Joined Ted Bates & Co.
1960	Copy Chief and Vice President, Compton Advertising, Inc. Worked on the Proctor & Gamble; Brown & Williamson; Pertussin; and Sterling Drug accounts
1963	Vice President, Associate Creative Director and Copy Group Head, Ogilvy, Benson & Mather
1965	Named the first New York Creative Director at Needham, Harper & Steers
1971	Rejoined Ted Bates & Co.
1979	Left Ted Bates & Co. Founded his own advertising boutique, Irv Sonn Advertising, Inc.
1980-1985	Executive Creative Director, McCann-Erickson, San Francisco
1992	Died, Monterey, Calif.