Time Inc. Corporate Public Affairs Department Records
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Abstract
Corporate Public Affairs Department Records contain the office files from Vice President Donald Wilson; files and correspondence from Louis Slovinsky while he was the the public relations manager, associate director, and director of public affairs; office files from the Radio/TV Publicity Office, project files from Community Relations; office files from the Chief Speechwriter; office files from the Special Events Manager; files on exhibitions in the Time & Life Building public spaces; files on exhibitions and contests to promote Time Inc. internationally; and general files produced or collected by the department overall including annual reports, press releases, dinner books, weekly news clippings, and administrative files.
Historical Note
In the 1949 Time Inc. Department Heads List in the Time Inc. Reference Files, the earliest in the archives, Corporate Publicity and the FYI company newsletter editor are listed as part of Corporate Special Projects. The listing remains the same through 1960 although Corporate Publicity increases in staff. In 1963 Publicity is listed as overseen by VP and Secretary Bernard Barnes. James Pitt is listed as director with several assistants, including Lucille Nunes. By 1966 Louis Slovinsky is also one of these assistants. In 1968, Publicity has moved under the President's office as part of corporate public affairs which is headed by Bernard Yudain with the title Assistant to the President for Public Affairs. Pitt and Slovinsky continue in their same roles.
In 1970 Time Inc. names Donald Wilson as the vice president of Corporate Public Affairs creating a new department overseeing a public affairs director, corporate contributions director, and the FYI editor. Robert Sweeney served as the first public affairs director in this new department with James Alberse as his deputy. By 1972 Slovinsky is listed as the public relations manager. In 1974 Stan Kapner replaces Alberse as deputy which is now called associate director. Marilyn Sahner joins as the radio/TV publicity manager, and Nunes joins as Midwest public affairs manager. By 1978 Corporate Public Affairs includes the vice president of government affairs, public affairs director, Corporate Creative Services, and Corporate Contributions. Kapner has replaced Sweeney as public affairs director with Slovinsky as associate director as well as public relations manager. By 1980 Slovinsky is the public affairs director. In the 1980s, Corporate Public Affairs adds directors of public policy development, community policy development, tax policy development in 1983. A memo from CEO J. Richard Munro in September 1986 announces that Wilson, therefore Corporate Public Affairs, will begin reporting to Executive Vice President of Strategy and Planning Gerald "Jerry" Levin. By 1987 Corporate Public Affairs includes the positions of director of corporate community relations and chief speechwriter.
Corporate Community Relations created and implemented social programs that provide a service to the community, the largest being Time To Read; oversaw company sponsored volunteer programs; registered minority and women owned or operated businesses with the Time Inc. Minority Business Development Program and published a directory; and represented Time Inc. at meetings of organizations such as the Business Council for Effective Literacy, Magazine Publishers Association, and Corporate Volunteers Coordinators Council.
Corporate Contributions was formalized as an office in 1978 although Time Inc. had been granting funds since 1934. It awarded grants to non-project organizations in the areas of education, art and culture, civic and welfare needs, and the environment.
Corporate Creative Services produced films, presentations, and other materials for meetings such as the Board of Directors, personnel orientation, ATC Franchise Presentation, and Time Ad Sales. It also marketing the use of the Picgture Collection; consulted on the renovation of presentation spaces; and oversaw exhibits in the Time Inc. buildings or traveling exhibits sponsored by Time Inc.
Corporate Cultural Affairs oversaw exhibits sponsored by Time Inc., art commissions made by Time Inc., and cultural exchanges involving exhibitions; and reviewed requests for exhibit and art project corporate sponsorship. This office may have replaced Creative Services.
Government Relations monitored federal goverment activities and reported to Time Inc. executives on topics that affected the company such as taxes, cable providers, postal rates, business regularions, employee benefits, and advertising.
Citation:
Time Inc. Reference Files, MS 3009-RG 3, New-York Historical Society.
Arrangement Note
Organized into nine series:
Series I. Vice President Donald Wilson Files
Series II. Director Louis Slovinsky Files
Series III. Radio/TV Publicity Office Files
Series IV. Corporate Community Relations Office Files
Series V. Chief Speechwriter Peter Quinn Files
Series VI. Special Events Manager Ann Bellows Files
Series VII. Exhibition Files from the Reception Center, Exhibit Hall, and Exhibition Center
Seires VIII. Time Life International/Corporate International Files on Exhibitions and Contests
Series IX. General Files
Scope and Contents Note
Corporate Public Affairs Department Records contain the office files from Vice President Donald Wilson; files and correspondence from Louis Slovinsky while he was the the public relations manager, associate director, and director of public affairs; office files from the Radio/TV Publicity Office, project files from Community Relations; office files from the Chief Speechwriter; office files from the Special Events Manager; files on exhibitions in the Time & Life Building public spaces; files on exhibitions and contests to promote Time Inc. internationally; and general files produced or collected by the department overall including annual reports, press releases, dinner books, weekly news clippings, and administrative files.
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Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers with the exception of restricted materials. Restricted materials may include privileged attorney correspondence; personnel performance evaluations; contracts and agreements; and records with personally identifiable information. Restricted materials are located in boxes R24-R26 and R39. Materials created within the past 35 years also may be subject to restriction on a case-by-case basis. Unreformatted audiovisual and digital material in the collection is not accessible. Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions.
Preferred Citation Note
This collection should be cited as Time Inc. Corporate Public Affairs Department Records, MS 3009-RG 19, New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Time Inc. in 2015.
About this Guide
Processing Information Note
The Vice President Donald Wilson Files were processed by Holly Deakyne in 2018. The original folders were retained although some documents were transferred to archival containers in instances of overcrowding. Folders with extensive notes written on them were retained by rehoused in new folders. The records were organized alphabetically based on the original organizational schema and refined. The forms transferring the materials to the Time Inc. Archive accompanying some boxes were removed and grouped in a folder at the front. Deakyne created the inventory and other descriptive notes for this series.
The Associate Director Chron Files for Louis Slovinsky were processed by Deakyne in 2018. The materials were rehoused from binders into archival containers. Deakyne created the inventory and other descriptive notes for this series. In 2021 Deakyne processed the Director Louis Slovinsky Subject Files and Equal Time newsletter working files.
The Radio/TV Publicity Office Files were processed by Deakyne in 2018. The original folders were retained although some documents were transferred to archival containers in instances of overcrowding. Folders with extensive notes written on them were retained by rehoused in new folders. Arrangement was imposed. Deakyne created the inventory and other descriptive notes for this series.
Corporate Community Relations Files were processed by Deakyne in 2018. The original folders were retained when present. Some materials were rehoused from binders into archival containers. Arrangement was imposed. Deakyne created the inventory and other descriptive notes for this series. Deakyne processed additions in 2019.
The Chief Speechwriter Peter Quinn Files were processed by Deakyne in 2018. The original folders were retained although some documents were transferred to archival containers in instances of overcrowding. Arrangement was imposed. Deakyne created the inventory and other descriptive notes for this series.
The Special Events Manager Ann Bellows Files were processed by Deakyne in 2019. The original folders were retained although some documents were transferred to archival containers in instances of overcrowding. Arrangement was imposed. Deakyne created the inventory and other descriptive notes for this series.
The Exhibition Files from the Reception Center, Exhibit Hall, and Exhibition Center were processed by Deakyne in 2019 and 2020. The original folders were retained when possible although some documents were transferred to archival containers from hanging folders and in instances of overcrowding. Original arrangement was retained when present and imposed by the archivist in other instances. Deakyne created the inventory and other descriptive notes for this series.
The Time Life International/Corporate International Files on Exhibitions and Contests were processed by Deakyne in 2018. The original folders were retained although some documents were transferred to archival containers in instances of overcrowding. Arrangement was imposed. Deakyne created the inventory and other descriptive notes for this series.
The General Files were processed by Deakyne in 2018. The original folders were retained although some documents were transferred to archival containers in instances of overcrowding. Some materials were rehoused from binders into archival containers. Arrangement into subseries was imposed. Deakyne created the inventory and other descriptive notes for this series. Deakyne processed additions to the Administrative Files, Press Releases, and Weekly News Clippings in 2019.