Subject and Course Guides: Business and Economic History: History of Advertising

Ad Collections

These collections are freely available web resources. Complete information may require registration.

AACA Library & Research Center
The Antique Automobile Club of America
has a digital collection of historical automobile advertisements.
Advertising Archive
Includes British & American print ads, British & American magazine covers and artwork, stills of British TV advertising.
Emergence of Advertising in America: 1850-1920
From Duke University, this digital collection provides access to thousands of historic commercials created for clients or acquired by the D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles (DMB&B) advertising agency or its predecessor during the 1950s-80s.

Many of the Proquest databases can be searched for advertisements. Some of these go back to the 1880s.

Check Advertisement in Document Type to filter your search to advertisement.

Ad from Harpers Bazaar, January, 1971

There are many print and ebooks on the history of advertising. Most can be found under the subject Advertising - History.

Streaming videos can be found in Alexander Street Press.