Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [ca. 1958-2006] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
11.90 m of textual records and other materials
1558 photographs : b&w and colour ; 20x25 cm or smaller
10 slides | negatives
88 audio cassettes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
John Drummond Francis, 1932- , was born in Calgary, Alberta to Harry Francis, 1905-1987, and Marjory Drummond. In 1954 he founded the advertising firm of J.D. Francis and Associates in Calgary. In 1966, the company bought out the public relations consulting firm Nattall & Maloney Ltd. which was founded in 1954 in both Edmonton and Calgary and he co-founded the firm of Francis, Williams and Johnson. In the late 1980s, the name of the firm changed to FWJ Communications Ltd., and then in the 1990s it was shortened to FWJ Advertising & Public Relations. FWJ continued to operate with majority partners Brad Stevens and Nancy McQuade until it was bought by TMP, a USA based large marketing company, in July of 2001, retaining its name of FWJ.
John Francis retired in the fall of 1999 after 40 years in the business. He served as National President of the Canadian Public Relations Society and as President of the Advertising Agency Association of Calgary. He actively encouraged the development of professional training in public relations at Calgary post-secondary institutions. His name is associated with his firm’s campaigns such as “Wear a Moustache” and “Butter is Better” for the Alberta Milk Producers in the 1970s. Other notable campaigns under his management included “Take an Alberta Break” for Alberta provincial tourism, and “Invite a Friend” to promote the Calgary Stampede and the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Gift of John D. Francis, 2007.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The fonds consists of the administrative records which accumulated during the operation of John D. Francis’ business.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Files removed include: duplicate files such as minutes, memos, client files, as well as blank worksheets/surveys/evaluation forms; unrelated (i.e. non-client) promotional materials, such as flyers, pamphlets, booklets, company profiles, etc.; unrelated audio cassette tapes (ambient music tracks); Miscellaneous newsletters and periodicals.
Accruals
System of arrangement
The fonds is divided into the following series:
- FWJ Historical Records, 1966-1999, consisting of personnel related records (except employee files), company event materials, company newsletters/pamphlets, as well as news clippings regarding the company or John D. Francis;
- FWJ Administrative Records, 1958-1999, consisting of operational records such as policy and procedure manuals, legal and financial records, correspondence, as well as speeches made by FWJ executives
- Client files, 1963-2005, consisting of project or client files containing drafts and finished products for advertising or public relations projects such as PR masterplans, communications plans, etc., as well as promotional materials
- Public Relations Resources, 1960-1985, consisting of training materials produced and collected to instruct clients in the area of public relations, assessment reports on clients’ public relations strategies, and as well to build the FWJ company and brand. This includes a collection of PR-related instructional cassette tapes, as well as recorded presentations from various National Advertising Agency Network (NAAN) presentations
- Miscellaneous, 1981-2006, consisting of various materials including a 50th anniversary commemorative booklet for the Glencoe Club, an informational document regarding the history of the Golden Arrow company, letters of reference, as well as other PR-related materials
- Clippings/Scrapbooks, 1964-1993, consisting of news clippings regarding FWJ Ltd. and John D. Francis, many of which have been organized into scrapbooks
- Photographs, 1960-2000, consisting of photographs of various company social events.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
File 02.02 may contain personal information
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
The material is in English with one file in Latin and one file in French
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents of records.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- FWJ Advertising and Public Relations (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Completed by KKo July 31, 2023