Finding Aid for Ad Council: Campaign Video Recordings, 1961, 1965, 1972, 1982-2015 | University of Illinois Archives

Title: Ad Council: Campaign Video Recordings, 1961, 1965, 1972, 1982-2015

ID: 13/2/280

Primary Creator: Advertising Council

Extent: 43.0 cubic feet

Arrangement: Chronological

Subjects: Advertising Council, Public Service Advertising, Television Broadcasting

Formats/Genres: Motion Pictures/Videotapes

Languages: English

Recordings of Advertising Council television public service announcements on film, videocassette, and DVD. Includes "Finding Solutions" (Dec. 20, 1983), a 24 minute tape on the Advertising Council, public service advertising and how a campaign (Take a Bite out of Crime) is designed and carried out, as well as 10, 15 and 20 second "historical spots" of television film used in campaigns. Also includes television public service campaign materials including advertising update guides and fact sheets, storyboards, reply cards, and information cards for the satellite and electronic distribution format.

The Advertising Council was formed in 1941 to use advertising to promote the public good. The advent of World War II accelerated the Council's growth, due to the increased need for public service messages to benefit the war effort. Beginning in 1942, the Council, then known as the "War Advertising Council," worked in conjunction with the Office of War Information.¹ It sought to create campaigns and disseminate information inducing people to take "actions necessary to the speedy winning of the war.""²

Volunteerism was the main impetus for creating these campaigns. The Council appointed a volunteer campaign manager and a staff manager to oversee operations. These coordinators selected a task force from a list of volunteer agencies to work in concert with OWI and the government bureaus needing assistance. The completed campaigns went to advertisers, via sponsorship committees, who donated space and airtime for public service messages. ³ Campaigns during the 1942-45 period focused on women in the workforce, conservation projects, war bond sales, the Red Cross, forest fire prevention, victory in Japan, and anticipated peacetime problems.⁴

Upon the conclusion of WWII, the Council shifted to new projects, believing that its work would be just as essential during the rebuilding process as it was during the war. Its name changed from the "War Advertising Council" to "The Advertising Council." The name change coincided with the Council's consideration of requests from private organizations not connected with the government.

In 1945, the Council created the Public Advisory Committee.⁵ Comprised of private citizens from sectors having an interest in public issues, the committee reviewed requests for Council assistance. Acceptable requests had to be in the public interest, potentially successful via using advertising methods, timely, non-commercial, non-partisan, non-sectarian, and not designed to influence legislation. ⁶ Requests required a three-fourths vote of the committee for approval.⁷ In 1947, the "Public Advisory Committee" became the "Public Policy Committee," though its function remained the same. During that year, the Council created the Industries Advisory Committee Composed of business leaders, the committee advised the Council about projects under consideration that involved business, suggested new projects, advised the board of directors of Council operations, assisted with Council fund-raising, and developed greater public understanding of democratic government and the American Free Enterprise system. ⁸

In 1948, the Council's messages first appeared on television. Since then, with growing support from the business community, the Council's messages have focused on helping to solve national problems. Recent campaigns have centered on drunk driving, drug abuse, racism, and child abuse.

1. The Second Year of the War Advertising Council, March 1, 1943 to March 1, 1944, page 2.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid., page 4.

4. Ibid., pp. 5-7; Third Year...March 1, 1944 to March 1, 1945, pages 4-7.

5. The Fourth Year of the Advertising Council, March 1945 to March 1946, page 7.

6. Annual Report 1966-67, pages 3-4.

7. The Fourth Year, page 7.

8. The Sixth Year of the Advertising Council, March 1947 to March 1948, page 9.The Advertising Council was formed in 1941 to use advertising to promote the public good. The advent of World War II accelerated the Council's growth, due to the increased need for public service messages to benefit the war effort. Beginning in 1942, the Council, then known as the "War Advertising Council," worked in conjunction with the Office of War Information.

Advertising Council
Public Service Advertising
Television Broadcasting

Repository: University of Illinois Archives

Accruals: 7/10/86; continual

Access Restrictions: These materials are stored offsite, and retrieval can take forty-eight hours or more. Researchers interested in using these materials should contact the Archives in advance.

Use Restrictions: Copyright of these materials is held by the Ad Council and co-sponsoring organizations.

Physical Access Note: These materials are stored offsite, and retrieval can take forty-eight hours or more.�??????�?????�????�???�??�?�  Researchers interested in using these materials should contact the Archives in advance.

Other Note: 46 Pages

URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/1302280.pdf

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