Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-07
National Association Conceived in ST. Louis
Early Recoectons of Advertising Conventions Chroniced
by NJ. P. Linn-Ad-Mens Day Worlds Fair in
1904 Beginning of Organization.
BY VI. p. LINN.

BY VI r. LINN.
This sketch purports to be just a bit Of
history mostly from memory and conse-
quently may lie somewhat hazy, yet in
the main is fairly accurate.
My selection for chronlcling some Of the
early rec Elections Of the conventions Of
our national association doubtless was
/ prompted by the fact that my Identified
/ ton and activity with organized adyer-
Using movements In St Louis covers
I possibly as long n period and has been
[ as continuous as any member OF the Ad-
vertislnE club, going back OF the Adver-
Using Mems league, when there briefly
existed an Organization known as The
/ Asbestos club"
/ The annual gatherings OF the Associat ted
Advertising Clubs OF the World have be-
come one OF the most powerful factors
In the nations business life The world
OF advertising has come long way since
the Egyptian gentleman of Pharoah's
day scratched that drst classic advertise
ment concerning a runaway slave on a
piece Of papyrus. The advertising world
has come the greater part Of that long
way In the last generation and the Asso-
clated Advertising clubs. once Of America
now OF the world. have been a mighty
motor In advertising Development
Back In $50, the year ! graduated from
country TO metropolitan Journalism. there
was gathering held az Detroit which
possibly marks the start OF this world
wide movement II was in August Of
that year that Mabley & CO.. Detroit
clothing house. at the suggestion OF its
advertising manager. u. J. Mcdonald in
'ited a number OF advertising writer's 10
that city for a three day visit. The plan
was to spend part Of the time seeing the
sights, having n general good time aud
discuss advertising plans and methods Of
the different stores. There were six firms
represented, among them our own Byron
w. Orr. then from Louisville. A perma-
nent organization known as The Ad-
Writer'S club" was suggested. but II Il
was heard Of after this first meeting that
knowledge never came to my attention
AID MEMS
DAY IN 1904.
The next concerted movement that I
recall was "Ad- Mems Day" ct the
worlds fair. The meeting lasted two
days. October and :, 1904. This gath
ertng was known ms the International
Advertising association, and was held IN
festival hall, under the auspices of the
81. Louis Advertising Mems league The (
chairman Of the meeting was Frank L. (
Osborne OF the Peters Shoe Company /
then president OF the league. An in /
teresting program WIS had addresses |
being made by II. H. Paramore Of In /
dianapolis former United States Senator
Lafe Young of Des Moines, Phil A.
Crowne of New York, Tom Murray Of .
Chicago. Thomas Balmer OF New York /
and IT. F. McGarvie OF the worlds fair .
organization. The entertainment in [
Guided n trolley ride view of the yelled |
n lot a nd Of ~
Hotel Jefferson given by the Cunning
system.
Those familiar with the advertising
club movement know that the national
association was conceived In St Louis
and born In Chicago. There was nothing
unusual or accidental in organizing the
national association, for It grew out Of
natural development Of the needs and
progress Of advertising and It's impor-
lance to the business world The idea
was that of Charles II. Jones, at that
time-1004-a st. Louis man, who was
editor and publisher of a journal called
THE Ad-Writer," but who removed to
Chicago early in 1905
The first convention was held in Chi
cago, Oct. 12-14 1905: several hundred
delegates attended, of which the ST.
Louis club supplied about twenty five
The cities represented were Chicago. st.
Louis. Cincinnati, indianapolis. Peoria.
Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Mime
apolis. Milwaukee, Davenport, Elkhart,
Quincy and New York. The name pro
posed and adopted was National Fed.
Grafton Of Advertising Clubs Of Amer
lea" Charles II. Jones was president.
Byron w. Orr secretary and John Phil
lips Of ST. Louis treasurer.
The second convention of the national
association was held in st. Louis. Tues
day, Wednesday and Thursday, Oct O.
10 and II, 1906. The meetings were at
the Planters hotel. and it was estimated
that there were 500 in attendance Among
clubs represented were those from st.
Louis, Chicago, New York, Kansas City.
Cincinnati, Louisville, Springfield, H.,
Detroit, Pueblo, Keokuk and Sioux CITY.
The credentials committee made head
quarters at the office of the st. Louis
Mems league at Seventh and
Pine streets. This committees report
showed that the National Federation of
Clubs Of America" had the
membership: st. Louis, 1876
314; Kansas City, 1884, Gin '
cinnati, 10; Detroit, TO- Springfield, 65
Louisville, 40; ST. Paul. 81; Milwaukee,
20; Minneapolis. 15 or a total Of 1920.
BECOMES THE
ASSOCIATED CLUBS"
The deliberations of the convention c
were presided over by Hugh Montgomery ]
Of the Chicago Tribune, who headed the s
Chicago club, and who was the acting
president of the federation. The conven- t
ton was addressed by Robert Frothing- !
ham of Everybody's Magazine; George
French. vice president New York Adj 3