Finding Aid for Ad Council: Washington Conference File, 1944-2002, 2007 | University of Illinois Archives

Title: Ad Council: Washington Conference File, 1944-2002, 2007

ID: 13/2/306

Primary Creator: Advertising Council

Extent: 1.6 cubic feet

Arrangement: by type of material and chronological thereunder

Subjects: Advertising Council, Public Service Advertising

Formats/Genres: Motion Pictures/Videotapes, Papers

Languages: English

Washington Conference file including programs, correspondence, invitation lists, press releases, speeches, presidential quotations, fact sheets and other material relating to Advertising Council conferences in Washington D.C. where the Board of Directors is briefed by federal officials and greeted by the United States President. Conferences held annually from 1944 to 1977, then biennially from 1979 to 1990, then once every presidential term from 1990 to present. Photographs from this event are located in the Photographs Series, RS 13/02/284.

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

Repository: University of Illinois Archives

Accruals: 3/3/1986, 2/25/2008, 6/4/2008

Other Note: 1 Pages

URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/1302306.pdf

PDF finding aid for Ad Council: Washington Conference File (13/2/306)