J. Walter Thompson Company. James Webb Young papers, 1927-1984

Using These Materials Teaser

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:
Access to the originals is restricted. Photocopies are available for general use. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. All or portions of...
More about accessing and using these materials...

Summary

Creator:
J. Walter Thompson Company
Extent:
1.2 Linear Feet
circa 275 Items
Language:
English.
Collection ID:
RL.00763

Background

Scope and content:

The James Webb Young Papers chiefly consist of correspondence, memoranda, reports, and publications and span the years 1927-1984. These materials provide insights into Young's career as well as the operational aspects of the J. Walter Thompson Company, especially the early development of their international branch offices.

From the perspective of James Webb Young's entire career in advertising, this collection reflects a small portion of his contributions to the J. Walter Thompson Company and the advertising business as a whole, for which he was awarded in 1945 the Gold Medal for a distinguished career in advertising. While these papers represent Young's pioneering work in establishing the J. Walter Thompson Company abroad as well as reflect some his contributions to public service advertising and advertising strategy, primarily through The Compleat Angler,A Footnote to History, and other works in the Publications category, they are an incomplete record of his distinguished career.

The International Branch Notebooks category primarily contains correspondence, minutes, memoranda, research reports and tables which pertain to the organization and initial operations of J. Walter Thompson branch offices abroad, particularly in London, Africa, South America, and Europe during the late 1920s and early 1930s. A substantial amount of this material focuses upon J. Walter Thompson's advertising for General Motors, especially for markets in Europe and South America. Though Young officially retired in 1928, he served as Consultant and director (1928-1964) and became a key figure in establishing the earliest international branch offices for the J. Walter Thompson Company. Among the correspondents in this series are Sam Meek, Stanley Resor, and Henry C. Flowers.

In the Publications category are works written by Young, some of which were privately printed by the Piñon Press in Coapa, New Mexico. The works published by the Piñon Press have been individually cataloged and can be searched by author and title. The Publications category includes editions of A Technique for Producing Ideas and How to Become an Advertising Man. As a whole, these works reflect aspects of Young's advertising philosophy and strategies, and partially document his involvement in public service advertising in the United States as well as his early career from an autobiographical perspective.

Biographical / historical:
Chronology
Date Event
1886, Jan. 20
Born in Covington, Ky.
1907
Appointed Advertising Manager and Book Designer of the Western Methodist Book Concern, Covington, Ky.
1907
Married Elizabeth Johnson
1912
Joined the J. Walter Thompson Company Cincinnati Office as a copywriter
1913
Promoted to Manager, J. Walter Thompson Company Cincinnatti Office
1916
Appointed Vice President of the J. Walter Thompson Company
1917
Appointed Senior Vice President in charge of the Western Division of the J. Walter Thompson Company
1927
Traveled to Europe to open J. Walter Thompson offices in Europe
1928
Retired from the J. Walter Thompson Company and lived on a ranch near Pena Blanca, N.M.
1928-1964
Consultant and Director of J. Walter Thompson Company
1931
Appointed Professor of Business History and Advertising, School of Business, University of Chicago
1939-1941
Founded the War Advertising Council, which later became the Advertising Council.
1940
Published A Technique for Producing Ideas
1964
Retired again from the J. Walter Thompson Company
1973, Mar. 6
Died, Santa Fe, New Mexico

In addition to his roles in the J. Walter Thompson Company, Young developed for the Creel Committee for Public Information a propaganda plan to be implemented on the Western Front during World War I and held a number of public and private positions, including President of the Board of Trustees of the Laboratory of Anthropology, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Acquisition information:
The papers of James Webb Young were transferred to the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library from the J. Walter Thompson Company in 1987.
Processing information:

Processed by: Donna Longo DiMichele and Daniel L. Daily

Processing of this collection was supported in part by gifts from the J. Walter Thompson Company Fund and the John and Kelly Hartman Foundation.

Encoded by Stephen Douglas Miller

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:

Access to the originals is restricted. Photocopies are available for general use.

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 the J. Walter Thompson Company Archives have not been transferred to Duke University. For further information, see the section on copyright in the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Before you visit:
Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], J. Walter Thompson Company Archives: James Webb Young Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.