Charles W. Hoyt Company records, 1894-1973 and undated, bulk 1909-1928

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Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Access to one scrapbook in the Charles W. Hoyt Papers is closed for...
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Summary

Creator:
Charles W. Hoyt Company
Extent:
4.4 Linear Feet
3,300 Items
Language:
English.
Collection ID:
RL.00218

Background

Scope and content:

The records of the Charles W. Hoyt Company advertising agency span the years 1894-1973 with the bulk dating between 1909-1928. The collection primarily documents the founding and operation of the company, and to a lesser extent the personal activities of the Hoyt family (Charles, Effie, Winthrop, and Everett) and Winthrop's service during World War II in the U. S. Army Air Force. Materials include correspondence, scrapbooks, company publications and manuals, financial records, clippings, diaries, writings, drawings, photographs, house advertisements, Nazi medals, song lyrics, and printed material. Very little information exists in the collection concerning the Hoyt Company's clients. The only client advertisements that survive were produced for Merck and Co. The Hoyt company scrapbooks document some activities for clients including Arnold Bakers, Golden Blossom Honey, Jamaica Tourist Board, KLM, Stanley Home Products, the Charles B. Woolson Co. and the State of New Hampshire. The collection contains correspondence between family members as well as between the company and Merck and Co., the Charles B. Knox Co., and William Benton, one of the founders of the Benton and Bowles advertising agency. Another notable person mentioned in the collection is Hoyt Company employee Samuel Meek, who would go on to become an important executive for the J. Walter Thompson Company advertising agency. The collection is organized into the Company Series; the Family Series; and the Winthrop Hoyt World War II Series. Large-format items are located in the Oversize Materials.

The Company Series contains the bulk of material in the collection and is concerned with the founding, and subsequent operation of the Charles W. Hoyt Company from 1909 to 1965 by Charles W. Hoyt (until his death in 1928), and then by his sons Winthrop and Everett "Red" Hoyt. The Company produced and sold advertising and marketing plans to clients in addition to providing other advertising services. Charles Hoyt's philosophy of "planned" advertising is well-documented.

The Family Series consists of personal diaries, correspondence, photographs and other printed materials relating to Hoyt family members as distinct from the activities of the Charles W. Hoyt Company. Family members for whom materials exist include Charles W. Hoyt, Effie Smith Hoyt, Winthrop Hoyt, and Everett "Red" Hoyt.

The Winthrop Hoyt World War II Records Series documents Hoyt's service during the war as an intelligence officer in the United States Army Air Force. It includes correspondence and writings, photographs, Nazi medals and other materials.

Oversize Materials include items removed from other series due to their size.

Biographical / historical:
Charles W. Hoyt
Date Event
1862
Born
1889-1891
Traveling salesman throughout New England
1891-1894
Attended Yale University; graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering
1894-1899
Traveling salesman for his father's wholesale company
1899-1904
Secretary and treasurer of a large wholesale firm selling to grocery and general store trade
1903-1928
Ran a small mail order stationery business, the George B. Woolson Co., selling Woolson Economy Expense Books
1904
Became manager of the New Haven branch of Armour and Company
1904-1909
General superintendent of the Southern New England Division of Armour and Company
1909 Apr.
Opened the Charles W. Hoyt Advertising Agency in New Haven, Conn.
1910
Hoyt Agency opened branch office in New York run by C.B. Donovan
1913 and 1918
Published Scientific Sales Management
1913
Traveled with wife Effie Smith Hoyt to Europe
1914
Hoyt Agency incorporated as Hoyt Service, Inc. Hoyt registered the phrase "Planned Advertising" and began to sell plans for $1000
Hoyt Family moved to Garden City, N.Y.
1916 June
Became Charter member of the New York Sales Managers' Club
1923
Hoyt Service, Inc. changed its name to Charles W. Hoyt Company, Inc.
1924 July-Oct.
Traveled with Effie, along with sons Winthrop and Everett Hoyt, to England for the International Meeting of the Advertising Clubs of the World
1928 Sept. 16
Killed in a riding accident
Winthrop and Everett "Red" Hoyt took over the agency, with Winthrop as President and Everett as Secretary; Ralph Talley became Chairman of the Board
1963 Jan. 23
Effie Smith Hoyt died
Winthrop Hoyt
Date Event
1900 Dec. 2
Born to Charles W. and Effie Smith Hoyt in New Haven, Conn.
1918-1922
Attended Yale University, where he worked on the Yale News
1922-1924
Employed with the American Agriculturist
1924-1925
Employed with W.S. Crawford, Ltd., advertising agency, London, England
1925
Joined the Charles W. Hoyt Company, Inc.
1928
Took over the Hoyt Company as president following the death of Charles W. Hoyt
1942
Resigned as President of agency to serve in World War II as an intelligence officer with the US Army Air Force
1946
Rejoined the Charles W. Hoyt Company, Inc. and was elected Chairman of the Board
1949 Feb. 5
Married Lyn Chappel in Darien, Conn.
1953-1954
Served as Secretary-Treasurer of the American Association of Advertising Agencies
1989 Sept. 9
Died
Everett
Date Event
1905
Born to Charles W. and Effie Smith Hoyt in New Haven, Conn.
1923-1927
Attended Yale University; graduated with a BA
1927
Worked in the Springfield, Mass. office of the Charles W. Hoyt Company, Inc.
1928 Sept. 16
Became secretary of the Hoyt Company following the death of Charles W. Hoyt
1942
Named President of Charles W. Hoyt Company, Inc.
The Charles W. Hoyt Company, Inc.
Date Event
1909 Apr.
The Charles W. Hoyt Advertising Agency opened in New Haven, Conn.
1910
Hoyt Agency opened branch office in New York run by C.B. Donovan
1914
Hoyt Agency headquarters moved from New Haven, Conn. to New York, N.Y. and agency incorporated as Hoyt Service, Inc. Hoyt registered the phrase "Planned Advertising" and began to sell plans for $1000
1923
Hoyt Service, Inc. changed its name to Charles W. Hoyt Company, Inc.
1928 Sept. 16
Following the death of Charles W. Hoyt, Winthrop and Everett "Red" Hoyt took over the agency, with Winthrop as President and Everett as Secretary; Ralph Talley became Chairman of the Board
1929
Agency discontinued selling plans and adopted a more conventional style of advertising
1965
Charles W. Hoyt Company, Inc. was sold to Rumrill Agency and became the Rumrill-Hoyt Agency. Later Rumrill-Hoyt was absorbed into the Saatchi and Saatchi and Rowland agency.
Acquisition information:
The Charles W. Hoyt Company Records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 1995. The records were donated by Tony Hoyt on behalf of the Hoyt family.
Processing information:

Processed by Phoebe Evans. Processing was supported in part by gifts from the John and Kelly Hartman Foundation.

Completed August 24, 1998

Encoded by Richard Collier, Katherine Rose

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.

Access to one scrapbook in the Charles W. Hoyt Papers is closed for preservation reasons; a photocopy is available for use. Two Nazi Medals may be used only with staff supervision. For further information, consult a reference archivist.

In addition, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. There may be a 48-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.

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], Charles W. Hoyt Company Records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

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