A Hundred Years of Women in Advertising

It was a century ago that the inaugural meeting of WACL (then the Women’s Advertising Club of London, now Women in Advertising and Communications Leadership) took place.

The group was created as part of preparations for the 1924 International Advertising Association Conference held in London and was responsible for the official welcome of female overseas delegates (primarily American). Over the last century WACL has grown in size, influence and status. They count many high-profile women among their members and are at the forefront of progressive change in the advertising and communications industries.

During the lead up to WACL’s 90^th anniversary in 2013, the archives for this important association were deposited with the History of Advertising Trust for permanent retention due to their historical significance. As part of our ongoing work we have repackaged the records into archive standard folders and boxes to help ensure their long-term preservation and catalogued them in detail to make them more accessible to researchers. This invaluable collection of records includes amongst its treasures, the earliest minute book confirming the date of that first meeting on the 3 September 1923 and we continue to receive new material periodically, keeping the archive up to date.

WACL press release 1970 entitled 'No Bird Brains Here'. Pictured standing left to right: Brenda Stacey, Judy Bagnall, Joan Rembridge, Sue Brickett. Seated: Joan Barrell (WACL_18_5)

Over the last year we have also been supporting members of WACL on a variety of projects designed to celebrate the society’s history during their centenary year, providing extensive research assistance and copies of material from our collections, including commercials, photographs and documents. Amongst them was the documentary 'Mad Women: The story of pioneering women making iconic TV ads that changed the world', which aired earlier this year on Channel 4. Research assistance was also provided for 'WACL 100: For women, for 100 years' a commemorative booklet which celebrates a century of women in advertising and communications leadership, an updated online history and timeline which can be viewed on the WACL website and other celebratory events.

For more information about the History of Advertising Trust and the WACL archive please see our website.

Contact us directly via:

enquiries@hatads.org.uk 
01508 548623.

Written by Mark Pitchforth, Assistant Archivist 29.08.23

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