The Story of the Ad Council
The idea for the Ad Council was born in November 1941. Days later, with the entry of the U.S. into World War II, we were christened The War Advertising Council and soon created a campaign to sell War Bonds. More than sixty years and hundreds of campaigns later, the Ad Council remains America’s leading producer of public service communications.
Read through the major events of our history on this page. For the full Ad Council story, download the Matters of Choice brochure.
http://www.adcouncil.org/timeline.html
When you’re done brushing up on our history, test your Ad Council knowledge with our Trivia Challenge!
1941
James Webb Young makes “What action can be taken?” speech, which spurs formation of an advertising council
1942
Group is christened “War Advertising Council”.
1942 - 1945
“Rosie the Riveter,” “Buy War Bonds” and “Loose Lips” campaigns created
1944
Smokey Bear created by Foote, Cone & Belding
1945
President Roosevelt urges Ad Council to continue its work in peacetime; Ad Council begins work with National Safety Council
1946
Campaigns focus on atomic weapons, world trade, religious tolerance
1947
Theodore Repplier becomes Ad Council president
1950
Eleanor Roosevelt and General Eisenhower appear in anti-communism ads. Korea conflict restarts war bond campaign
1953
Ad Council sponsors broadcast of CARE
1957
Fund-raising for Red Cross campaigns
1958
Campaign for Salk polio vaccine begins
1961
Peace Corps launches 30-year campaign, “The Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love”
1966
Robert Keim succeeds Theodore Repplier as Ad Council president
1972
UNCF launches “A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste” campaign
1973
“Crying Indian” wins two Clio awards
1978
McGruff the crime dog takes first bite out of crime
1981
Drug abuse and alcoholism campaigns begin
1982
Nancy Reagan asks America to “Just Say No”
1985
Vince & Larry, the crash-test dummies, encourage Americans to buckle up
1987
Ruth Wooden succeeds Robert Keim as Ad Council president
1988
First AIDS campaign begins
1995
Ad Council launches Commitment 2000 program addressing children’s issues
1999
Peggy Conlon succeeds Ruth Wooden as Ad Council president
2000
Ad Council selected to manage groundbreaking $1 billion ONDCP Media Match Program
2000-2001
Donated media soars to $1.5 billion; Ad Council expands search for new, nontraditional media venues
Sept. 2001
Industry elects Ad Council to lead the way in “Campaign for Freedom”
2002
Ad Council marks 60th anniversary of making a difference through public service advertising
2005
Addressing the obesity crisis confronting the nation and its children, Ad Council launches its Coalition for Healthy Children.
2007-2008
Donated media reaches $2 billion mark.
2009
Utilizing the latest social media tools, Ad Council joins Twitter, complimenting already established presences on Facebook and YouTube.
2000-2001
Donated media soars to $1.5 billion; Ad Council expands search for new, nontraditional media venues