J. Walter Thompson Company. Don Johnston papers, 1964-1996 and undated

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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. Don Johnston held many positions at JWT, beginning his career as a trainee in the Detroit mailroom and retiring as CEO and President. The Don Johnston Papers span the years 1964-1996 and document his career in various positions with JWT. The collection includes international and domestic inter-office correspondence, personal and administrative files, management manuals, presentations, speeches, budgets, billings and profit reports, and video-cassettes that relate to planning for JWT projects, committee meetings, marketing research, contracts with clients, management directives, and JWT's corporate mission and philosophy. The papers also touch on Joseph O'Donnell's attempted hostile takeover of the JWT Group, and the purchase of JWT by the WPP Group. Clients represented include: Ford Motor Company, Unilever, Chevron, General Foods, and Uniroyal Tire. Offices represented include: Buenos Aires, Toronto, Chicago, Santiago, Detroit, Paris, Frankfurt, Bombay (Mumbai), London, Tokyo, New York, and Johannesburg.
Extent:
17.5 Linear Feet
12000 Items
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.00717

Background

Scope and content:

The Don Johnston Papers span the years 1964-1996 and document his career in various positions with JWT. The collection includes international and domestic inter-office correspondence, personal and administrative files, management manuals, presentations, speeches, budgets, billings and profit reports, and video-cassettes materials that relate to planning for JWT projects, committee meetings, marketing research, contracts with clients, management directives, and JWT's corporate mission and philosophy. The papers also touch on Joseph O'Donnell's attempted hostile takeover of the JWT Group, and the purchase of JWT by the WPP Group. Clients represented include: Ford Motor Company, Unilever, Chevron, General Foods, and Uniroyal Tire. Offices represented include: Buenos Aires, Toronto, Chicago, Santiago (Chile), Detroit, Paris, Frankfurt, Bombay (Mumbai), London, Tokyo, New York, and Johannesburg (South Africa).

The collection is organized into four series: Memoranda, Administrative Files, Personal Files, and Audiovisual Materials.

The Memoranda Series includes business correspondence to and from Johnston during his career with JWT and mainly pertains to the day to day operations throughout the worldwide operations of JWT as a transnational entity.

The Administrative Files Series includes reports, plans, inter-office correspondence, general administrative files, as well as information on fund-raising for the JWT archives at Duke University.

The Personal Files Series includes newspaper and periodical clippings, as well as personal correspondence.

The Audiovisual Materials Series consists of promotional works and interviews by Johnston during his tenure with JWT.

Related materials within the JWT Archives may be found in these collections: the Burt Manning Papers, the Thomas Sutton Papers, the Rena Bartos Papers, the Harry Clark Papers, the Joseph O'Donnell Papers, the Greg Bathon Papers and the Denis Lanigan Papers.

Biographical / historical:
Chronology List
Date Event
1927
Born George Donald Johnston, Elmira, NY
1950
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, in Journalism and Economics, Michigan State University
1951
Began career with JWT as a trainee in Detroit Office mail room
1952
M.A with Honors in International Economics, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University. Johnston attended on a JWT scholarship.
1952
Assistant International Account Representative, JWT New York
1953
Representative, JWT Colombia
1956
Account Representative and Account Supervisor, JWT New York
1961
Managing Director, JWT Amsterdam
1964
Managing Director, JWT Tokyo
1966
Vice President-Europe, JWT Frankfurt
1967
Vice President-Europe, JWT London
1971
Senior Vice President, JWT Latin America
1972
Member of Board of Directors and Executive Committee
Executive Vice President-International JWT New York
1974
President and CEO of JWT Company
1978
Chairman of JWT
1980
Chairman of newly formed JWT Group Inc.
Chairman of American Association of Advertising Agencies
Won International Advertising Association Annual Award.
1986
Established Sarita and Don Johnston Professorship in Latin American Studies at Johns Hopkins University
1987
Retired from JWT

Upon retirement from the JWT, Johnston was named Chairman of the International Executive Service Corps. Johnston is currently a Trustee Emeritus of Johns Hopkins University.

Acquisition information:
The Don Johnston Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as transfers in 1995 and 2003.
Processing information:

Processed by Greg Johnson and Andrea Franzius, May 15, 2006

Encoded by Greg Johnson

Completed June 15, 2006

Accessions 96-021, 96-092, 96-093, 96-112, and 03-0258 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.

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 restricted.

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

Original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use. Use copies are available in the collection.

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

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