The Wells Rich Greene, Inc. (WRG) Records contain primarily print advertisements and broadcast commercials and advertising spots for clients of WRG. Materials span 1966-1998 and include magazine and newspaper advertisements, proof sheets, audiocassettes, videocassettes, analog and digital audio tape. Corporate documentation includes press releases, clipping files, and staff photographs and slides. Clients represented in the collection include: American Motors; Bristol-Myers (Boost, Clairol, Herbal Essence, Vagistat); Cadbury (Canada Dry, Schweppes); Continental Airlines; Ford; IBM; ITT (Technology Institute, Sheraton); Liberty Mutual; MCI; Miles Laboratories (Alka-Seltzer); New York Department of Commerce; Pan Am; Philip Morris (Benson & Hedges, Player, Dunhill); Procter & Gamble (Gain, Oil of Olay, Pringles, Folder's, Sure); Ralston Purina (Chex, Dog Chow, Tender Vittles); Seagram; TWA; and Warnaco (Warner's lingerie).
NOTE: Throughout this finding aid, "TRT" refers to "Total Running Time," the total duration of content contained on a tape or film.
| Date |
Event |
| 1966 | Opened upon the departures of Mary Wells, Richard Rich, and Stewart Greene from Jack Tinker and Partners |
| 1967 | Won American Motors Company (AMC) account |
| 1968 | Won Trans World Airlines (TWA) account Initial public offering |
| 1969 | Richard Rich left WRG |
| 1970 | AMC Gremlin launch Won Alka-Seltzer account (Miles Laboratories) |
| 1971 | Agency of record, Procter & Gamble |
| 1974 | WRG reverted to private ownership Stewart Greene left WRG |
| 1979 | Won Ford Motor Company corporate account |
| 1990 | Mary Wells Lawrence resigned as CEO, replaced by Ken Olshan |
| 1991 | Majority stake sold to BDDP; renamed Wells Rich Greene BDDP |
| 1996 | Sold to GGT PLC (London) |
| 1997 | Renamed Wells BDDP; soon after sold to Omnicom Group |
| 1998 | Dissolved by Omnicom |
Among the notable campaign slogans created by WRG: "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz,""I can't believe I ate the whole thing," and "Try it, you'll like it" (all for Alka-Seltzer); "I (heart) New York" (New York State Commerce Commission); "Trust the Midas Touch" (Midas Muffler); "At Ford, Quality is Job 1" (Ford Motor Company); and "Raise Your Hand If You're Sure" (Procter & Gamble's Sure anti-perpirant).
| Date |
Event |
| 1928 May 25 | Born Mary Georgene Berg, Youngstown, Oh. |
| Circa 1945 | Attended Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater, New York, N.Y. |
| Circa 1947 | Attended Carnegie Institute of Technology Married Bert Wells |
| 1951 | Advertising writer, McKelvey's Department Store, Youngstown, Oh. |
| 1952 | Fashion Advertising Manager, Macy's Department Store, New York, N.Y. |
| 1953 | Copy Chief, McCann-Erickson agency |
| 1957-1963 | Worked at Doyle Dane Bernbach |
| 1964-1966 | Worked at Jack Tinker and Partners; primary responsibility for Braniff Airlines account |
| 1965 | Divorced Bert Wells |
| 1966 | Opened Wells Rich Greene, Inc. with Richard Rich, and Stewart Greene, associates from Jack Tinker and Partners |
| 1967 | Married Harding Lawrence, CEO of Braniff Airlines |
| 1968 | Upon WRG Initial public offering, became first woman CEO of a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange |
| 1969 | Considered the highest-paid woman in U.S. advertising industry Inducted into Copywriters' Hall of Fame |
| 1970 | Honorary Doctor of Law, Babson College |
| 1971 | Named Advertising Woman of the Year Honorary Doctorate, Carnegie-Mellon University |
| 2002 | Memoir, A Big Life in Advertising, published Harding Lawrence died |
Sources:Advertising Age Encyclopedia of Advertising (Fitzroy Dearborn 2003); The Ad Men and Women (Applegate 1994); Who's Who in Advertising (1963-); Wikipedia, Mary Wells Lawrence
