Race and Ethnicity in Advertising

Ted Wilson was an executive at the J. Walter Thompson Company from 1947-77. His papers span 1966-1977 and include his correspondence - particularly office memos to clients and other employees at JWT - as well as marketing concepts and articles. The collection includes concepts for Saga Mink, Pan American, Phillips Petroleum, and other corporations, as well as interoffice communication regarding corporate downsizing and cutting costs. In particular, Wilson’s memos to the Scott Paper Company in Box 2 indicate a growing interest in the casting of minority performers and having minorities working in the advertising industry. His pamphlets on the JWT training program in box 3 provide details on the hands-on job training provided to a small number of disadvantaged black and Puerto Rican young adults.

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