J. Walter Thompson Company. Edward G. Wilson papers, 1906-1991, bulk 1946-1971

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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. Edward G. Wilson was an executive with JWT from 1930 until his retirement in 1971, and held the positions of General Counsel, Executive Vice-President and Secretary of the Company. The Edward G. Wilson Papers span the period 1906-1991 and includes clippings, correspondence, inter-office memoranda, reports, writings, speeches and personal diaries that highlight Wilson's 40 year career (1930-1971) as an executive with the J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT). The bulk of materials fall between 1946 and 1971, and covers the period from Wilson's return to JWT following military service in World War II until his retirement. As General Counsel and head of JWT's Legal Department, Wilson oversaw contractual relations pertaining primarily to the sponsorship of radio and television programs for a number of clients--including DeBeers Consolidated Mines, Ltd., the Eastman Kodak Company, the Ford Motor Company, the Scott Paper Company and Unilever. The collection reveals JWT's relationships with radio and television personalities--such as Fred Allen and Edgar Bergen--and professional organizations including the Radio Writers Guild and the Television Writers of America. In addition, materials in the collection touch on the anti-communist movement and blacklisting within the U.S. entertainment industry of the 1950s--involving personalities such as Jean Muir and John Henry Faulk, among others. The collection also includes records from a number of JWT international offices, with heavier representation from offices in London; Bombay (Mumbai), India; and Johannesburg, South Africa, along with records kept by some of Wilson's predecessors, such as Donald Foote and Sam Meek, and the South African advertising executive and politician James Hamilton Russell.
Extent:
43 Linear Feet
30,500 Items
Language:
Material is in English
Collection ID:
RL.00758

Background

Scope and content:

The Edward G. Wilson Papers cover the period 1906-1991 and highlight Wilson's 40 year career (1930-1971) as an executive with the J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT). The bulk of materials fall between 1946 and 1971, and covers the period from Wilson's return to JWT following military service in World War II until his retirement, and includes Wilson's writings and speeches, clippings, correspondence and memoranda. As General Counsel and head of JWT's Legal Department, Wilson oversaw contractual relations pertaining primarily to the sponsorship of radio and television programs for a number of clients--including DeBeers Consolidated Mines, Ltd., the Eastman Kodak Company, the Ford Motor Company, the Scott Paper Company and Unilever. The collection reveals JWT's relationships with radio and television personalities--such as Fred Allen and Edgar Bergen--and professional organizations like the Radio Writers Guild and the Television Writers of America. In addition, materials in the collection touch on the anti-communist movement and blacklisting within the U.S. entertainment industry of the 1950s--involving personalities such as Jean Muir and John Henry Faulk, among others. The collection also includes records from a number of JWT international offices, with heavier representation from offices in London; Bombay (Mumbai), India; and Johannesburg, South Africa, along with records kept by some of Wilson's predecessors, such as Donald Foote and Sam Meek, and the South African advertising executive and politician James Hamilton Russell.

The papers are organized into twelve series--International Offices (Restricted), Trip Files, Client Files, Chronological Files (Restricted), Legal Files (Restricted), Subject Files, Financial Files (Restricted), Personnel Files (Restricted), Domestic Policy and Procedures, International Policy and Procedures, Writing & Speeches, and Personal Files. The bulk of materials is contained in three large series--International Offices, Chronological Files, and Legal Files. Large-format materials have been located in Oversize Materials. Sensitive personnel materials pertaining to individual employee matters are closed to non-JWT users until 2045, and have been physically removed to Restricted Materials.

The International Offices Series (Restricted) contains files documenting Wilson's tenure as head of JWT's international operations, including information on the England, India and South African offices. The bulk of the records date from the 1950s and 1960s.

The Trip Files Series contains clippings, correspondence, and memoranda detailing trips Wilson made during his tenure as the head of JWT's international operations. Also includes Wilson's reports on the regional offices as well as their clients.

The Client Files Series contains correspondence between Wilson and the managers of individual JWT offices relating to specific clients, such as Caltex, the Campbell Soup Company, S.C. Johnson, Kraft, Pan American Airlines, and the Shell Oil Company and Unilever.

The Chronological Files Series (Restricted) consists of letters and memoranda that reflect the company's routine operations.

The Legal Files Series (Restricted) contains files relating to entertainment law--contract negotiations between the professional unions such as the Radio Writers Guild and the advertisers and agencies; and contractual and billing information pertaining to radio personalities like Fred Allen and Edgar Bergen. Legal actions, disputes, lawsuits, and the blacklisting of entertainers--as well as to corporate affairs, such as stock ownership, profit-shairing, client relations, and lawsuits against JWT are also represented.

The Subject Files Series consist of Wilson's office files and include reports, correspondence, articles and printed materials that cover topics such as Agent-Client relationships, employee evaluations and recruitment, management meetings, and client records, especially for the Eastman Kodak Company, the Ford Motor Company and the Scott Paper Company.

The Financial Files Series (Restricted)include Finance Committee minutes and background materials, along with organizational information on regional offices.

The Personnel Files Series (Restricted) consists of statistical records of departmental personnel, as well as biographical information, clippings, and correspondence relating to transfers, promotions, and job responsibilities of individual executives and office managers.

The Domestic Policies and Procedures Series and International Policies and Procedures Series document the operational guidelines for JWT's domestic and international offices.

The Writing and Speeches Series contains primarily speeches given by Wilson, including several made after his retirement.

The Personal Files Series includes correspondence, interviews and articles about Wilson that reflect in large part Wilson's ongoing relationship with JWT after his retirement.

Biographical / historical:
Chronology
Date Event
1909 Mar. 23
Born Edward George Wilson, Richmond, Ind.
1930
Received AB Degree, Earlham College, Richmond, Ind.
1930
Joined J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT), Treasurer's Office
1934
Received JD from New York University Law School, New York, N.Y.
1936-1938
Left JWT to join Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Lumbard (law firm)
1938
Returned to JWT as Assistant Secretary and Head of Legal Department
1942-1943
Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasure, JWT
1943-1945
Military service during World War II (U.S. Naval Reserve, OSS Middle East and Asia); discharged as Lieutenant
1945
Awarded Legion of Merit, U.S. Army Forces in the Middle East
1946-1960
General Counsel, JWT
1946-1966
Member, Finance Committee, JWT
1949
Awarded Santimala (Peace) Medal from the King of Thailand
1954
Vice President and Trustee of Company Profit Sharing Trust, JWT
1957
Director, JWT
1959
Treasurer and member of Executive Committee, JWT
1961
Senior Vice President, JWT
1962
Succeeded Sam Meek as Executive Vice President (EVP) in charge of international operations
1965
Executive Vice President-Corporate and Secretary of the Company, JWT
1967
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Earlham College
1971
Director, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
1971
Retired from JWT
1976
Honorary Doctorate, Earlham College
1977
Honorary Lifetime Trustee, Earlham College
1987
Presented Distinguished Service Award in Trusteeship by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
1993 July 24
Died in Sharon, Conn.
Acquisition information:
The J. Walter Thompson Company. Edward G. Wilson Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 1987.
Processing information:

Processed by Richard Collier, Ginny Daley, Margaret Miller, Brooke Stanley, Ashley Urquhart, August 2006

Encoded by Richard Collier, Ginny Daley

Completed August 2006

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

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Restrictions:

Collection is restricted.

Sensitive personnel materials pertaining to individual employment are closed to non-JWT users for 75 years from the date of the file creation.

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.

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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. Edward G. Wilson Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.