J. Walter Thompson Company. International Offices records, 1929-2015
Navigate the Collection
Summary
- Creator:
- J. Walter Thompson Company
- Abstract:
- The J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT), founded in 1864, is one of the oldest and largest enduring advertising agencies in the United States. Beginning with the opening of its London office in 1899, JWT has continually expanded its international activities, and currently operates out of over 200 offices in nearly 100 countries. The International Offices Records cover the years 1929-1998, with the bulk of materials dating from the 1970s-1980s. The collection primarily consists of financial records, correspondence, presentations, campaign drafts, account lists, meeting minutes and printed materials. Also includes slides from several presentations, videocassettes and audiocassettes. Countries and offices most heavily represented in the collection include Argentina (Buenos Aires), Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), Canada (Toronto and Vancouver), Colombia (Bogota), India (Bangalore, Calcutta, Madras, Mumbai, New Delhi), Japan (Tokyo), Mexico (Mexico City), Philippines (Manila), and Puerto Rico (San Juan). Client companies represented include: Air-India, Continental Airlines, Kodak, Ford, Hall's, Harayana Breweries, Kellogg's, Lotto, Nabisco, Nestlé, Oscar Mayer, Pepsi, Pizza Hut, Pond's (Unilever), and Warner-Lambert. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
- Extent:
- 33.0 Linear Feet
- Language:
- Material in English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch
- Collection ID:
- RL.00716
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection primarily consists of financial records, correspondence, presentations, campaign drafts, account lists, meeting minutes and printed materials. Also includes slides from several presentations, videocassettes and audiocassettes. Countries and offices most heavily represented in the collection include Argentina (Buenos Aires), Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), Canada (Toronto and Vancouver), Colombia (Bogota), India (Bangalore, Calcutta, Madras, Mumbai, New Delhi), Japan (Tokyo), Mexico (Mexico City), Philippines (Manila), and Puerto Rico (San Juan). Client companies represented include Air-India, Continental Airlines, Kodak, Ford, Kellogg's, Nabisco, Nestlé, Oscar Mayer, Pepsi-Cola, Pizza Hut, Pond's (Unilever), and Warner-Lambert.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Dates JWT International Offices Opened:
AFRICA- Egypt: Alexandria, 1927
- South Africa: Cape Town, 1930
- South Africa: Johannesburg/Sandton, 1932
- South Africa: Port Elizabeth, 1928
ASIA/PACIFIC- Australia: Brisbane, 1984
- Australia: Melbourne, 1929-1934, 1937
- Australia: Perth, 1984
- Australia: Sydney, 1929
- Hong Kong, 1977
- India: Bangalore, 1958-1959, 1979
- India: Bombay, 1929
- India: Calcutta, 1934
- India: Madras, 1955
- India: New Delhi, 1944
- Indonesia: Jakarta, 1930, 1982
- Japan: Osaka, 1931, 1957
- Japan: Tokyo, 1956
- Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, 1975
- New Zealand: Aukland, 1976
- New Zealand: Wellington, 1930, 1974
- Philippines: Manila, 1956
- Singapore, 1978
- Sri Lanka: Colombo, 1956, 1981
- Taiwan: Taipei, 1983
- Thailand: Bangkok, 1983
CANADA- Montreal, 1929
- Toronto, 1911-1916, 1930
- Vancouver, 1958
EUROPE- Austria: Vienna, 1930, 1960
- Belgium: Antwerp, 1927
- Belgium: Brussels, 1930, 1958
- Denmark: Copenhagen, 1927, 1967
- Finland: Helsinki, 1985
- France: Paris, 1927-1940, 1949
- Germany: Berlin, 1927
- Germany: Düsseldorf, 1983
- Germany: Frankfurt, 1952
- Germany: Hamburg, 1983
- Greece: Athens, 1974
- Italy: Milan, 1951
- Italy: Rome, 1962
- Netherlands: Amsterdam, 1957
- Netherlands: The Hague, 1928
- Norway: Oslo, 1985
- Poland: Warsaw, 1929
- Portugal: Lisbon, 1929, 1967, 1973, 1981
- Romania: Bucharest, 1929
- Slovenia: 1993
- Spain: Barcelona, 1932, 1966
- Spain: Madrid, 1927, 1966
- Sweden: Stockholm, 1927, 1969
- Switzerland: Zug, 1964
- Switzerland: Zurich, 1965
- Turkey: Istanbul, 1930, 1985
- United Kingdom: London, 1899-1916, 1919
- United Kingdom: Manchester, 1980
LATIN AMERICA- Argentina: Buenos Aires, 1929
- Bolivia: La Paz, 1978
- Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, 1931
- Brazil: São Paulo, 1929
- Chile: Santiago, 1929, 1944
- Colombia: Bogotá, 1944
- Ecuador: Guayaquil, 1982
- Ecuador: Quito, 1982
- Mexico: Mexico City, 1943
- Panama: Panama City, 1955
- Puerto Rico: San Juan, 1955-1978
- Uruguay: Montevideo, 1929
- Venezuela: Caracas, 1955, 1964
JWT's first international office was set up in London in 1899. By 1923, it had opened six other European offices; by 1927, that number had doubled. Between 1927 and 1931, the company added additional offices in South Africa, India, Canada, Australia, Japan and South America. These offices were opened primarily so that advertisements could be geared more specifically to cultures of different regions.
- Acquisition information:
- The J. Walter Thompson Company. International Offices Records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a transfer in 1987 with additions in subsequent years.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Jessica Wood, January 2010; Additions processed by Richard Collier, Apr. 2023
Encoded by Jessica Wood, January 2010
Accessions 801209B, 810908, 811230, 820513, 830901, 840920, 840822A, 850619, 93-045, 93-046, 93-047, 93-049, 93-050, 93-052, 93-053, 93-088, 93-094, 93-127, 94-106, 1998-0270, 2000-164 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.
- Arrangement:
-
Organized into the following series: General Office Files; Specific Offices and Countries; Audiovisual Materials.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.
- Subjects:
- Advertising agencies -- Finance
Advertising agencies -- Colombia
Advertising agencies -- Canada
Advertising agencies -- Australia
Advertising agencies -- Argentina
Advertising agencies
Advertising campaigns
Advertising agencies -- Philippines
Advertising agencies -- Puerto Rico
Advertising agencies -- Marketing
Advertising agencies -- Mexico
Advertising agencies -- India
Advertising agencies -- Japan - Format:
- Audiocassettes
Videocassettes
Slides (photographs) - Names:
- Nestlé
Nabisco, Inc.
Kellogg Company
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
Warner-Lambert Company
Unilever (Firm)
Pepsi-Cola Company
Eastman Kodak Company
Continental Airlines
J. Walter Thompson Company. Bangalore Office
Ford Motor Company
Air-India
J. Walter Thompson Company. Manila Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Melbourne Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Mexico City Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Mumbai Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Bogotá Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Buenos Aires Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Calcutta Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Madras Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Toronto Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Vancouver Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. New Delhi Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. San Juan Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Sydney Office
J. Walter Thompson Company. Tokyo Office
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
Contents
Using These Materials
- Using These Materials Links:
-
Using These Materials
- Restrictions:
-
Access note. Collection contains fragile audiovisual/photographic formats that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.
- 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.
- Before you visit:
- Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], J. Walter Thompson Company. International Offices Records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1034t