J. Walter Thompson Company. W. Lee Preschel papers, 1964-2001 and undated

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Collection is open for research. However, original audiovisual materials are closed to researchers. Use copies are available in the collection. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and...
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Summary

Creator:
J. Walter Thompson Company
Abstract:
The J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT), founded in 1864, is one of the largest and oldest enduring advertising agencies in the United States. W. Lee Preschel founded JWT Venezuela in 1964 and served as President of JWT Latin America from 1980-1987. Preschel also acted as Interim Director-Manager of JWT Italy in 1968, served on the JWT Board of Directors beginning in 1980, and became the chairman of the Latin America-Asia Pacific region in 1987. He was named Advertising Personality of the Year in 1987 by the Venezuelan Federation of Advertising Agencies. The W. Lee Preschel Papers span the years 1964-2001 and document Preschel's career as president of the J. Walter Thompson Company's Latin American operations. The collection includes correspondence, memoranda, speeches, presentations, reports, newsletters, clippings, photographs, conference programs and agendas, awards, publications, scrapbooks, memorabilia, and audiovisual materials. Major correspondents include Denis Lanigan and Don Johnston, among others within the company. Clients mentioned include Ford, Kellogg's, Kodak, Draft, Lever, Pond's, Warner-Lambert, R.J. Reynolds/Nabisco, Burger King, and Banco Mercantil y Corpoven. The collection contains materials in English and Spanish, with the majority of the materials in Spanish.
Extent:
6.6 Linear Feet
About 4950 Items
Language:
Material is in English and Spanish
Collection ID:
RL.00740

Background

Scope and content:

The W. Lee Preschel Papers span the years 1964-2001 and document Preschel's career as president of the J. Walter Thompson Company's Latin American operations. The collection includes correspondence, memoranda, speeches, presentations, reports, clippings, photographs, conference programs and agendas, awards, publications, scrapbooks, memorabilia, and audiovisual materials. Major correspondents include Denis Lanigan and Don Johnston, among others within the company. Clients mentioned include Ford, Kellogg's, Kodak, Draft, Lever, Pond's, Warner-Lambert, R.J. Reynolds/ Nabisco, Burger King, and Banco Mercantil y Corpoven. The collection contains materials in English and Spanish, with the majority of the materials in Spanish.

The collection is organized into three series: Personal Files, Administrative Files, and Audiovisual Materials. The Personal Files Series documents the personal and professional achievements of Preschel, and provide secondary biographical information through a number of industry publications. The series also includes two scrapbooks, compiled by Preschel, documenting his dismissal from and subsequent return to JWT in 1987. The Administrative Files Series documents various aspects of Preschel's career with JWT and includes correspondence, memoranda, speeches, presentations, reports, clippings, photographs, conference programs and agendas, company newsletters and other publications, and memorabilia. The Audiovisual Materials Series includes audiocassettes and VHS videocassettes. Audiocassettes contain recordings of presentations at two conferences attended by Preschel. Large-format materials have been removed from their original series locations and relocated to Oversize Materials. Relocated items have been replaced in the Detailed Description of the Collection by dummy folders enclosed in brackets.

Biographical / historical:
Chronology
Date Event
1933 Oct. 7
Born Wolf Lee Preschel, Kovno, Lithuania
1956
Received Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, Cornell University
1957 June
Joined J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT)
1964
Founded JWT Venezuela
1968
Interim Director-Manager, JWT Italy
1969
Vice President, JWT International
1977
Nationalized as Venezuelan citizen
1980
Executive Vice President, JWT Latin America; member, JWT Board of Directors
1980-1987
President, JWT Latin America
1986
President, JWT Central Pacific
1987
Named Advertising Personality of the Year by Venezuelan Federation of Advertising Agencies (FEVAP)
1987 May
Dismissed from JWT
1987
Returned to JWT as chairman of Latin America-Asia Pacific region
1990 Oct.
Retired from JWT
2003 Jan.
Published Rebel with a Cause: The Successful Management of Global Advertising Agencies
Acquisition information:
The J. Walter Thompson Company. W. Lee Preschel Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 1993.
Processing information:

Processed by Angela McClendon, Rita Johnston, January 2008

Encoded by Angela McClendon, Rita Johnston

Completed January 2008

Accession 1993-0006 is 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 open for research.

However, original audiovisual materials are closed to researchers. Use copies are available in the collection.

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. 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. W. Lee Preschel Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.