Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Preliminary Inventory to the John Thomas Collection of Television Commercials

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1324
Creators:
Thomas, John E.
Dates:
1959-1998, undated
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
12 Cubic feet
12 boxes
Repository:
Collection of primarily television commercials on 16mm film, audio tapes, and video cassette tapes amassed by teacher of English and Media Studies John E. Thomas. In addition, there are public service announcements and resource materials relating to advertising and commercials.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Collection consists primarily of approximately seventeen hundred television commercials on 16mm film, audio tapes, and video cassette tapes. The commercials were created to advertise automobiles, food, clothing, tobacco, household uses, the airlines, pets, personal care, and other products by major American companies. Such companies included Crush International, Incorporated; Safeway, Incorporated; PepsiCo, Incorporated; Suburban Trust and Savings Bank; Washington Post; Coco Cola Company; and Miller Brewing Company. There are also public service announcements included with the materials. In addition, resource materials relating to television commericals were acquired for classwork use.
Collection is arranged in two series: Series 1, Resource Materials, 1959-1998, undated; and Series 2, Audio Visual Materials, 1965-1977, undated.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is arranged in two series.
Series 1, Resource Materials, 1959-1998, undated
Series 2, Audio Visual Materials, 1965-1977, undated
Subseries 2.1, Audio Cassette and Reel-to-Reel Tapes, 1965-1977
Subseries 2.2, Video Cassette Tapes, 1960s-1970s
Subseries 2.3, 16mm Film, 1960s-1970s

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
John E. Thomas, retired teacher of English and Media Studies, amassed his collection by asking local television stations to save for him the commercials they would normally discard. He also purchased some commercials and public service announcements (PSAs).

Administration

Author
Analiese Oetting and Vanessa Broussard Simmons
Processing Information
Collection processed by Analiese Oetting, film archivist, 2024; and Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist, 2024. Finding aid encoded by Meredith Clowse, intern, 2024.
Ownership and Custodial History
Donated to the Archives Center in 2014 by John E. Thomas.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research and access on site by appointment.
Preferred Citation
John Thomas Collection of Television Commercials, circa 1959-1998, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Related Materials
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Allen Balcom Du Mont Collection, NMAH.AC.0018
George H. Clark Radioana Collection, NMAH.AC.0055
NW Ayer & Sons, Incorporated Advertising Agency Records, NMAH.AC.0059
Community Life TV Soaps Collection, NMAH.AC.0108
Pepsi Generation Oral History and Documentation Collection, NMAH.AC.0111
Alka-Seltzer Oral History and Documentation Project, NMAH.AC.0184
Marlboro Oral History and Documentation Project, NMAH.AC.0198
Western Union Telegraph Company Records, NMAH.AC.0205
Medical Sciences Film Collection, NMAH.AC.0222
Federal Express Advertising History Collection, NMAH.AC.0306
Stanley Lomas Television Commercial Collection, NMAH.AC.0342
Walter Shearer Pamphlet Collection, NMAH.AC.0347
Sohmer & Company Records, NMAH.AC.0349
Archives Center Miscellaneous Film and Videotape Collection, NMAh.AC.0358
Campbell Soup Advertising Oral History and Documentation Project, NMAH.AC.0367
Cover Girl Advertising Oral History & Documentation Project, NMAH.AC.0374
Paul Cadwell Banjo Collection, NMAH.AC.0387
John Caples Papers, NMAH.AC.0393
Hills Bros. Coffee Company, Incorporated Records, NMAH.AC.0395
Computer World Smithsonian Awards, NMAH.AC.0425
Stan Freberg Advertising Collection, NMAH.AC.0444
Nike Advertising Oral History and Documentation Collection, NMAH.AC.0448
Gladys Reid Holton Ephemera Collection, NMAH.AC.0466
Carvel Ice Cream Records, NMAH.AC.0488
Fred/Alan MTV Network Collection, NMAH.AC.0453
Kraft Television Theatre Oral History Project, NMAH.AC.0464
Landor Design Collection, NMAH.AC.0500
Industry on Parade Film Collection, NMAH.AC.0507
Frederick and Mary Hill Fried Folk Art Archives, NMAH.AC.0528
Men and Women: Costume and Gender TV Commercials Collection, NMAH.AC.0529
Francis M. Mair Papers, NMAH.AC.0548
Caroline R. Jones Papers, NMAH.AC.0552
Eskimo Pie Corporation Records, NMAH.AC.0553
Formica Collection, NMAH.AC.0565
Ann and Thomas Damigella Collection, NMAH.AC.0583
Ella Fitzgerald Papers, NMAH.AC.0584
Maidenform Collection, NMAH.AC.0585
Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation Records, NMAH.AC.0594
Nathaniel Mathis Collection of Barbering and Beauty Culture, NMAH.AC.0641
International Battle of the Bands Records, NMAH.AC.0677
American Petroleum Institute Photograph and Film Collection, NMAH.AC.0711
Simmons Company Records, NMAH.AC.0731
Willie Mosconi Papers, NMAH.AC.0744
Video Press Kit Collection, NMAH.AC.0748
George Sidney Collection, NMAH.AC.0867
Joseph Pedott Papers, NMAH.AC.0898
Leonard and Mary Gaskin Papers, NMAH.AC.0900
Safko International, Incorporated Records, NMAH.AC.0911
Reddy Kilowatt Records, NMAH.AC.0913
Revlon, Incorporated Advertising Collection, NMAH.AC.0939
Bobby Short Papers, NMAH.AC.0946
Bobcat Company Records, NMAH.AC.1129
National Cotton Council of America Photographs and Film, NMAH.AC.1177
Mr. Wizard Papers, NMAH.AC.1326
Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies Collection, NMAH.AC.1343
Andy Granatelli Collection, NMAH.AC.1403
Spanish Language Broadcasting Collection, NMAH.AC.1404
Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros Papers, NMAH.AC.1430
Fuller Brush Company Records, NMAH.AC.1459
Phillip Haultcoeur Papers, NMAH.AC.1501
Byron Lewis Papers, NMAH.AC.1583

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Advertisements -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Advertising agencies Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- Airlines Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- Automobiles Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- Banks Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- Beer -- 1950-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- Beverages Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- Clothing trade -- 1970-2010 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- Food Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Advertising, Public service Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Advertising -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- Soft drinks Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- Tobacco Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Banks and banking Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Beverages -- 20th century Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Business Advertising -- Tobacco Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clothing -- American Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Commercials Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Commercials -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
House cleaning Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Film Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Marketing Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Motion pictures (visual works) -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television advertising Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
16mm films Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Snack foods Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu