The Ted Wilson Papers span the years 1966-1977, and document Wilson's career as an executive for the J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT). The papers comprise correspondence, office files, client files, reports, and speeches that depict Wilson as a skillful administrator coping with JWT's financial difficulties resulting from the world-wide economic hardship of the mid-1970s. In addition, the papers illustrate Wilson's involvement in the reorganization of the company, as well as his management of several advertising account teams, including the New Holland Machine Company and the Phillips Petroleum Company. The papers mention a variety of JWT company operations, including company programs such as Communispond, while touching on a variety of social issues including the employment of minorities and the Watergate affair. There is no material in this collection documenting the early years of Wilson's career or life after his retirement in 1977. The collection also lacks materials dating from 1971 through mid-1973, the period during which Wilson worked in JWT's Chicago Office.
The collection is arranged in three series: Client Files; Correspondence, and Subject Files.
The Client Files Series documents JWT's relationship with numerous clients such as Inter-Continental Hotels, Miles Laboratories, the New Holland Machine Company, Pan American Airlines, Phillips Petroleum, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), Scott Paper Company and Squibb Beech-Nut.
The Correspondence Series chiefly consists of outgoing letters and memos written by Wilson and his secretaries, originating from Wilson's office in New York. The materials concern a broad range of issues, including the reorganization of JWT, one of the most important administrative tasks Wilson undertook during his presidency.
The Subject Files Series pertains mainly to various company operations, and consists of office files, primarily reports and speeches, originating during the period when Wilson was Associate Manager in JWT's New York Office. The papers illustrate Wilson's career as an administrator as well as an advertising executive. Included are uncollated Review Board records, dating from 1966, for various clients.
Restrictions on access: Sensitive personnel materials pertaining to individual employee matters are closed to non-JWT users until 2045. In addition, Review Board records may be read, but cannot be photocopied.
Related materials within the JWT Archives include the Accounts Files Collection, the Review Board Records, the Dan Seymour Papers, and the Don Johnston Papers. The Biographical Information Files contain a folder for Wilson consisting of news clippings and other materials.
