Wells Rich Greene Inc. records, 1954-1998 and undated
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Summary
- Creator:
- Wells Rich Greene, Inc.
- Abstract:
- The Wells Rich Greene, Inc. (WRG) advertising agency was founded in 1966 by Mary Wells, Richard Rich, and Stewart Greene, who were associates at Jack Tinker and Partners agency. Until its demise in 1998, WRG was ranked as one of the top 15 advertising agencies in the United States. 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). Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
- Extent:
- 250 Linear Feet
7500 Items - Language:
- Material in English
- Collection ID:
- RL.01365
Background
- Scope and content:
-
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.
- Biographical / historical:
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Date Event 1966 Opened upon the departures of Mary Wells, Richard Rich, and Stewart Greene from Jack Tinker and Partners1967 Won American Motors Company (AMC) account1968 Won Trans World Airlines (TWA) accountInitial public offering1969 Richard Rich left WRG1970 AMC Gremlin launchWon Alka-Seltzer account (Miles Laboratories)1971 Agency of record, Procter & Gamble1974 WRG reverted to private ownershipStewart Greene left WRG1979 Won Ford Motor Company corporate account1990 Mary Wells Lawrence resigned as CEO, replaced by Ken Olshan1991 Majority stake sold to BDDP; renamed Wells Rich Greene BDDP1996 Sold to GGT PLC (London)1997 Renamed Wells BDDP; soon after sold to Omnicom Group1998 Dissolved by OmnicomAmong 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 TechnologyMarried Bert Wells1951 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 agency1957-1963 Worked at Doyle Dane Bernbach1964-1966 Worked at Jack Tinker and Partners; primary responsibility for Braniff Airlines account1965 Divorced Bert Wells1966 Opened Wells Rich Greene, Inc. with Richard Rich, and Stewart Greene, associates from Jack Tinker and Partners1967 Married Harding Lawrence, CEO of Braniff Airlines1968 Upon WRG Initial public offering, became first woman CEO of a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange1969 Considered the highest-paid woman in U.S. advertising industryInducted into Copywriters' Hall of Fame1970 Honorary Doctor of Law, Babson College1971 Named Advertising Woman of the YearHonorary Doctorate, Carnegie-Mellon University2002 Memoir, A Big Life in Advertising, publishedHarding Lawrence diedSources: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
- Acquisition information:
- The Wells Rich Greene Inc. Records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 1998.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Richard Collier, Jessica Wood, April 2009
Encoded by Richard Collier, April 2009
Accessions 98-290, 98-396 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.
- Arrangement:
-
Collection is arranged into two Series: Print Advertisements and Documentation; and Audiovisual Materials.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.
- Subjects:
- Advertising agencies
Advertising agencies -- United States
Television commercials -- United States
Advertising agencies -- United States -- History
Television advertising -- United States - Format:
- Digital audio tapes
Clippings (information artifacts)
Photographic prints
Audiotapes
Videocassettes
Audiocassettes
Proofs (printed matter)
Slides (photographs) - Names:
- Philip Morris Incorporated
Pan American World Airways, Inc.
Ralston Purina Company
Procter & Gamble Company
Trans World Airlines
Seagram Company
Wells Rich Greene, Inc.
Warnaco (Firm)
American Motors Corporation
Bristol-Myers Company
Cadbury Beverages, Inc.
Continental Airlines
Ford Motor Company
International Business Machines Corporation
ITT Corporation
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
MCI Communications Corporation
Miles Laboratories
New York. Department of Commerce
Lawrence, Mary Wells
Contents
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[Identification of item], Wells Rich Greene Inc. Records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
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- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m11f02