Gotham Inc. records, 1967-1997 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
Gotham, Inc.
Abstract:
The Gotham Inc. advertising agency was established by the Interpublic Group in 1994 as an independent agency of the global marketing services holding company. Gotham Inc. is one of New York's leading integrated communication agencies. The Gotham Inc. Records contain primarily video and print advertisements created for clients by Gotham's predecessor companies Daniel & Charles and Laurence, and Charles, Free & Lawson. The materials span 1967-1997 and include videocassettes, slides, magazine and newspaper advertisements, and memorabilia as well as agency brochures and limited general information. Clients represented in the collection include: Bristol-Myers (Ban, Bufferin, Comtrex); Clairol (Herbal Essence, Infusium); Dial; Drackett (Endust, Renuzit, Vanish); GAF Corporation; Ross Laboratories (Ensure, Selsun Blue); Thompson Medical (Cortizone, Dexatrim); and American Home Food Products. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Extent:
113.5 Linear Feet
5000 Items
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.00468

Background

Scope and content:

The Gotham Inc. Records contain primarily video and print advertisements created for clients by Gotham's predecessor companies (Daniel & Charles, and Laurence, Charles, Free & Lawson). The materials span 1967-1997 and include videocassettes, slides, magazine and newspaper advertisements, and memorabilia as well as agency brochures and information. Clients represented in the collection include: Bristol-Myers (Ban, Bufferin, Comtrex); Clairol (Herbal Essence, Infusium); Dial; Drackett (Endust, Renuzit, Vanish); GAF Corporation; Ross Laboratories (Ensure, Selsun Blue) Thompson Medical (Cortizone, Dexatrim); and American Home Food Products.

Biographical / historical:

Since its inception, Gotham Inc. has been characterized in corporate literature as one of the first New Wave creative agencies that rides the cutting edge of advertising by hiring novice professionals who are driven by instinct and not afraid to try new approaches. Gotham Inc.'s self-described philosophy is "disciplined creativity" which refers to a blend of maverick creativity, rigorous research, and carefully developed marketing strategies. Gotham's basic creative strategy is to present an advertising concept in a variety of ways rather than constant repetition of a single advertisement. Gotham Inc. has a strong record for starting with single products and winning over additional products lines from the same parent company. Radio and television broadcast advertising represent their largest advertising format.

Source: Gotham Inc. website, company prospectus.

Chronology List
Date Event
1952
Daniel & Charles (D&C) founded by Charles Goldsmith and Daniel Karsch
1963
Larry Dunst joins D&C as a copy writer.
1967
Larry Dunst named head of the Creative Department and a Senior Vice President at D&C. At 25 years old, Dunst is identified in company promotions as a "member of the New Wave of young creative sparks" which were infusing fresh energy and new talent into the advertising world.
1969
Dunst named President of D&C, the youngest head of a major advertising agency. Under his leadership the agency grows competitive with the larger agencies, and wins clients from JWT, McCann-Erickson, Ogilvy & Mather, and others.
1969
F. William Free & Company founded by F. William Free.
1972
D&C is sold to Mickelberry Corporation, an investment holding company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. D&C operates as an independent subsidiary.
1980
D&C acquires the Bufferin account as a result of its successful campaigns for Comtrex and Ban Roll-On, two other accounts Daniel & Charles handled for Bristol-Meyers.
1981
D&C acquires F. William Free & Company to form Laurence, Charles, & Free (LC&F). Daniel Karsch leaves Gotham to become Executive Vice President of Creamer, Inc. Charles Goldsmith (former chair of D&C) named chair. The merger brings together American Tobacco products Tareyton (D&C), Lucky Strike (D&C), and Carlton (Free); and forces the agency to resign from D&C’s Schenley Industries (Ancient Age, Canadian, DeBouchette, etc.) account in favor of Free’s Heublein account (Black Velvet, Jose Cuervo, etc.). Free also acquires accounts from Adidas, Alfa Romeo, and Coca Cola Foods (Active Yogurt).
1985
Ad Age ranks LC&F as the 17th largest agency on the East Coast and 43rd in the US.
1986
Tom Lawson joins LC&F and the name changes to Laurence, Charles, Free & Lawson (LCF&L). Offices in New York, N.Y.; Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; and Milwaukee, Wisc.
1994
Gotham Inc. founded.
Acquisition information:
The Gotham Inc. Records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 1998.
Processing information:

Processed by Jennifer Malone, June 2009

Encoded by Jennifer Malone, June 2009

Accession 98-153 is described in this finding aid.

Arrangement:

The Collection is arranged into four series by type of material: Audiovisual Materials, organized alphabetically by client and product; Slides and Memorabilia, arranged alphabetically by product; Print Advertisements, organized alphabetically by product into two subseries according to size; and Agency Information relating to Gotham predecessor companies Daniel & Charles, and Laurence Charles & Free.

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.

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

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.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Gotham Inc. Records, 1967-1997 and undated, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University