Scope and Contents note
This subject category- Advertising Industry consists primarily of printed advertisements, cut books, correspondence on letterhead, bills and receipts, pamphlets, booklets, notices, articles, stock cuts, illustrations for advertisers, periodicals, registers, directories, streetcar advertisements, price lists for advertising space in newspapers, and books. Most of the material is from advertisers and advertising agencies. The bulk of the material dates from the latter part of the nineteenth century and early part of the twentieth century with materials created both in the United States and in foreign countries.
There is a significant amount of material from companies that manufactured and sold supplies for advertising agencies. Such supplies include signs, bill posters, printing plates, and advertising cards. A large majority of these companies supplied businesses with advertising cuts used for folders, inserts, blotters, envelopes, booklets, programs, labels, bags, calendars, letterhead, and newspaper and magazine advertisements. Such cuts could be ordered by selecting the number and requesting one or two colors.
Other businesses offered services for companies wishing to advertise. These services include instructions for writing advertisements, facilities for producing copies, designs, engraving, and printing, along with the production and maintenance of the work supplied.
There are a number of items, primarily receipts and correspondence on letterhead, from organizations for the advertising industry. Such organizations include the Advertising Federation of America, American Press Association, Associated Advertising Clubs of America, Outdoor Advertising Association, Old National Distributing Association, Association of National Advertisers, and the American Association of Advertising Agencies.
Among the publications in the materials are directories, registers, and supplements for advertisers. These materials date from 1913-1948 and include information such as listings of national and local advertising agencies, with their branches, personnel, recognition and memberships in organizations, and a listing of their accounts. There are also a number of publications which discus the general history of advertising. The bulk of the publications, however, are periodicals that relate to the advertising industry and date from 1866-1940.