J. Walter Thompson Company. Harry Clark papers, 1945-1992 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
J. Walter Thompson Company
Abstract:
Founded in 1864, the J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT) is one of the largest and oldest enduring advertising agencies in the United States. Harry Clark was an advertising executive who served as Director of JWT's Frankfurt Office and eventually of JWT's New York Office; Managing Director of Landsdowne Advertising, a JWT subsidiary; and co-founder of Smith Clark Associates, a consulting firm based in Princeton, N.J. The Harry Clark Papers cover the years 1945-1992, with the bulk of materials dating from the 1970s, the period during which Clark served as Director of the JWT Frankfurt Office, and during 1984-1986, when he served as Director of JWT in New York. The collection primarily consists of correspondence, administrative forms, presentations, speeches, meeting files, proofs, and financial reports, with extensive records from the Frankfurt Office. Companies represented include Braun, Chevron, De Beers, Eastman Kodak Company, Kellogg Company, Pan American Airways, PepsiCo, Rustenburg Platinum Mines, and Unilever. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Extent:
16.85 Linear Feet
12,640 Items
Language:
Material in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Norwegian, Japanese, German.
Collection ID:
RL.00695

Background

Scope and content:

The Harry Clark Papers cover the years 1945-1992, with the bulk of materials dating from the 1970s, the period during which Clark served as Director of the JWT Frankfurt Office, and during 1984-1986, when he served as Director of JWT in New York. The collection primarily consists of correspondence, administrative forms, presentations, speeches, meeting files, proofs, and financial reports, with extensive records from the Frankfurt Office. The collection also includes agency slide presentations, tear sheets, as well as photographs and other memorabilia of advertising events. Companies represented include Braun, Chevron, De Beers, Eastman Kodak Company, Kellogg Company, Pan American Airways, PepsiCo, Rustenburg Platinum Mines, and Unilever. Correspondence and other items exist in several languages and have not been translated into English.

Biographical / historical:
Chronology
Date Event
1935, Sept. 5
Born Harold Frank Clark, Jr., Norwalk, Conn.
1957
BA, Amherst College, Amherst, Mass.
1957-1959
MA, English Literature, Stanford University
1959
International Representative, JWT New York Office
1965
Account Supervisor, JWT Frankfurt Office
1967
PhD, English Literature, Columbia University; dissertation titled Dickensian Journalism: A Study in "Household Words"
1969
Director, JWT Frankfurt Office
1970
Managing Director, JWT Frankfurt Office; Management Supervisor on major accounts
1974
Senior Vice President of JWT, relocated to New York
1977
Group Account Director on Labatts, Reader's Digest and, in 1979, Burger King accounts
1983
Managing Director, Landsdowne Advertising, a division of JWT-USA
1984
Senior Vice President, Director of Communications and Development.
1988
Retired from JWT; co-founded Smith Clark Associates, a consulting firm based in Princeton, N.J.
2009 Feb. 4
Died, Princeton, N.J.

Clark served on the Princeton (N.J.) Borough Zoning Board, the Amenia (N.Y.) Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Master Planning Committee; member of the Board of Directors of the McCarter Theatre, Princeton Singers and Trenton Children's Chorus. He was also active in the theater and appeared in several local productions. [Sources: J. Walter Thompson Company Biographical Information; Princeton Town Topics obituary Feb. 18, 2009]

Acquisition information:
The J. Walter Thompson Company. Harry Clark Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as gifts in 1987 and 1993.
Processing information:

Processed by Kai Evers, August 1996; additional processing by Jessica Wood, March 2010

Encoded by Stephen Douglas Miller, 1996; Jessica Wood, April 2010

Accessions 791114B, 820712, 830202, 830502, 830718, 830817, 830819, 831130, 870807, 93-043 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into eleven series: General Office Files, Client Files, Correspondence, Frankfurt Office, International Offices, Meetings, New Business, Reports, Writings and Speeches, Audiovisual Materials, and Oversize Materials. General Office Files contain administrative forms, personnel lists, financial records, and other files related primarily to the running of JWT's U.S. offices. Client Files include correspondence, contracts, marketing plans, presentations, and promotional materials relating to domestic and international accounts. Correspondence includes Clark's correspondence with JWT employees, as well as with charitable and other organizations. Frankfurt Office files include client files, correspondence, and new business files relating to Clark's career as Managing Director of the Frankfurt Office, 1970-1973. International Offices files contain correspondence, marketing plans, and other documents related to JWT's international offices. Meetings consist of charts, presentation scripts, memoranda and logistical information, and notes pertaining to various JWT meetings and general advertising events. New Business files contain presentations, plans, meeting files, and marketing plans related to JWT new accounts prospects. Reports consist of annual reports and operations reviews documenting the financial and organizational performance of JWT domestic and international offices. Writings and Speeches include primarily printed texts of speeches given by Clark and other JWT advertising executives. Audiovisual Materials consist of audio cassettes related to the 1984 World Advertising Forum. Oversize Materials include large-format items removed from the previous series.

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.

However, original audiovisual materials are closed to researchers until Use Copies can be produced.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

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.

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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], J. Walter Thompson Company. Harry Clark Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.