J. Walter Thompson Company. London Office. Tom Rayfield papers, 1968-1996

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Access note. Collection contains fragile audiovisual formats that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access. Transcripts are available in collection.
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Summary

Creator:
J. Walter Thompson Company. London Office
Abstract:
Founded in 1864, the J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT) was one of the oldest and largest advertising agencies in the United States. The London Office first opened in 1899. Tom Rayfield was an advertising executive who served as Creative Director with the London Office. Collection consists of manuscript drafts and versions of Rayfield's unoficial history of JWT's London Office, "50 in 40"; audiocassette tapes of interviews with JWT staff and executives; and typewritten transcripts of the interviews. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Extent:
4.0 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.13080

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of manuscript drafts and versions of Rayfield's unoficial history of JWT's London Office, "50 in 40"; audiocassette tapes of interviews with JWT staff and executives; and typewritten transcripts.

Biographical / historical:

Founded in 1864, the J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT) was one of the oldest and largest advertising agencies in the United States. It was headquartered in New York. In 2023 the agency was absorbed into marketing and communications firm VML. The London Office first opened in 1899.

Thomas Rayfield (1941-2015) joined the JWT London office as a trainee copywriter in 1962 after graduating from Cambridge University. He relocated briefly to JWT's New York office (1966-1967) but returned to London. Rayfield was named a Creative Director in 1978 and served as Chairman and Creative Director of JWT's direct marketing unit. He retired in 1995.

Acquisition information:
The J. Walter Thompson Company. London Office. Tom Rayfield papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift from the J. Walter Thompson Company in 1998.
Processing information:

Processed by Richard Collier, April 2024;

Accessions described in this collection guide: 1998-0509, 1998-0519.

Arrangement:

Organized into the following series: Interviews and Transcripts; Manuscripts and Drafts.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

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Subjects:
Advertising agencies -- Great Britain -- History
Advertising executives -- Great Britain
Advertising -- Great Britain -- History
Names:
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
Rayfield, Tom

Contents

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Restrictions:

Access note. Collection contains fragile audiovisual formats that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access. Transcripts are available in collection.

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. London Office. Tom Rayfield papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m16x73