J. Walter Thompson Company. Don Ayers papers, 1968-1988

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Summary

Creator:
J. Walter Thompson Company
Abstract:
Founded in 1864, the J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT) is one of the oldest and largest enduring advertising agencies in the United States. It is headquartered in New York. In 2018 JWT merged with Wunderman to form Wunderman Thompson. Don Ayers was an advertising executive and creative director at JWT during the 1960s to 1980s, mainly with the New York Office. Collection includes clippings, correspondence, memoranda, notes, and scripts for radio and television commercials. Materials primarily relate to Ford but other clients including Lever Brothers, Planters, and Warner-Lambert are also represented. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Extent:
1.2 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.12004

Background

Scope and content:

Collection includes clippings, correspondence, memoranda, notes, and scripts for radio and television commercials. Materials primarily relate to Ford but other clients including Lever Brothers, Planters, and Warner-Lambert are also represented.

Biographical / historical:

Founded in 1864, the J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT) is one of the oldest and largest enduring advertising agencies in the United States. It is headquartered in New York. In 2018 JWT merged with Wunderman to form Wunderman Thompson. Don Ayers was an advertising executive and creative director at JWT during the 1960s to 1980s, mainly with the New York Office.

Donald Campbell Ayers was born in 1927 in Westfield, N.J. After graduating from high school, Ayers served in the U.S. Navy (1945-1946) before becoming a newspaper journalist and advertising copywriter. Ayers graduated from Lafayette College in 1951 and worked at Erwin Wasey, BBDO and Cunningham Walsh agencies before joining JWT in 1965 as Associate Creative Supervisor. Ayers was promoted to Vice President (1966), Senior Vice President (1976), Creative Director, and Executive Vice President (1986). Ayers worked on a number of accounts for JWT but achieved his greatest success with Ford trucks, helping to make Ford a top-selling truck brand in the U.S. Ayers died in 2020.

Source: Ancestry.com; J. Walter Thompson Company biographical information.

Acquisition information:
The J. Walter Thompson Company. Don Ayers papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 1991.
Processing information:

Processed by Richard Collier, May 2022;

Accessions described in this collection guide: 91-097.

Arrangement:

Organized into two series: General and Administrative Files; Ford Motor Company Account Files.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], J. Walter Thompson Company. Don Ayers papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.