The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Thomas Burrell
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| Repository: | The HistoryMakers |
| 1900 S. Michigan Avenue |
| Chicago, Illinois 60616 |
| (312) 674-1900 |
| info@thehistorymakers.com |
| http://www.thehistorymakers.com |
| Interviewer: | Julieanna Richardson |
| Videographer: | Paul Bieschke |
| Title: | Video Oral History Interview with Thomas Burrell |
| Dates: | June 05, 2001 |
| Abstract: | (ABSTRACT) |
| Quantity: | 7 Betacam SP videocassettes, 1 half-Hollinger box containing (NUMBER) folders of accompanying materials. |
| Identification: | A2001.007 |
| Language: | The interviews and records are in English |
As a shy boy growing up on Chicago's South Side, advertising mogul Tom Burrell never envisioned attaining the power and prestige he has today. At age eighteen, he was admitted to Chicago's Roosevelt University. The school stimulated and inspired the young Burrell and he became involved in a variety of activities, including a leadership role with Alpha Delta Sigma fraternity.
Burrell began his career in advertising while still attending Roosevelt University, where he later graduated with a B.A. in English. His senior year, he landed a position as a copywriter with the Chicago division of Wade Advertising before moving over to Foote Cone & Belding, where he became a copy supervisor. He spent one year in the firm's London offices.
Seeking to spread his wings and responding to the need for advertising that would target the burgeoning African American market, he founded Burrell Communications Group in 1971. He continues to advise many of his initial clients, including McDonalds and Coca-Cola. Due in large part to these lasting partnerships, Burrell Advertising became the nation's largest African American-owned marketing firm. Today, with its advertising, public relations and consumer promotions divisions, Burrell Communications offers a wide array of services to an equally broad range of clients. These include NYNEX, Kmart, Polaroid and the American Association of Retired Persons.
Due to his tremendous success, Burrell has become a nationally acknowledged leader in the advertising world. In 1986, he was the recipient of the Albert Lasker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Advertising, and in 1990 he received the prestigious Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism from the University of Missouri's School of Journalism. He has served as the chairman of the Chicago Council of the American Association of Advertising Agencies. He currently sits on the national board of directors for the organization.
Burrell also devotes much of his time to various charitable organizations. He currently sits on the boards of the Chicago Urban League as well as the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind and on the advisory council of Howard University's School of Communications.
Burrell lives in Chicago with his wife, Jolie.
Biographical Note by The HistoryMakers®
This life oral history interview with Thomas Burrell was conducted by Julieanna Richardson on 2001-06-05 in Burrell Communications Group Headquarters, Chicago, IL and is recorded on 7 30-minute Betacam SP videocassettes. Access copies exist on Betacam SP, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1. The interview contains information on (COMPLETE ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF INTERVIEW). Accompanying materials in the collection include Thomas Burrell's correspondence with The HistoryMakers® related to the interview; a copy of the signed release form and the production report; the biographical information used by the interviewer to prepare for the interview (DETAILS); paper copies of the interview transcripts, 3 1/2" floppy disks with electronic copies of the transcripts; selected quotes for video clips; photocopies of photographs captured on video; XML files with metadata created in editing and cataloguing the interview for The HistoryMakers Digital Video Library; and paper copies of these XML files.
Restrictions on Access
Access to paper records is restricted. Other restrictions may be applied on a case-by-case basis.
Restrictions on Use
All use of materials must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers® and appropriate credit must be given. All use credits must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers®. Copyright is held by The HistoryMakers®.
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| This record series is indexed under the following controlled access terms. |
| Contributors: |
| | Bieschke, Paul |
| | Burrell, Thomas |
| | Richardson, Julieanna |
| Persons: |
| | (PERSONS) |
| Corporate Bodies: |
| | (CORPORATE BODIES) |
| Family Names: |
| | Burrell |
| Places: |
| | (PLACES) |
| Subjects: |
| | (SUBJECTS) |
| Document Types: |
| | Video oral history interview |
| Titles: |
| | The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Thomas Burrell |
Accompanying materials: Accompanying materials are filed in (NUMBER) folders in a half-Hollinger box and shelved at The HistoryMakers® Archives and Collection Library by accession number, separately from the videos.
Betacam, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1 access copies are held for in-house use at The HistoryMakers®; Betacam SP, VHS and DVD playback hardware is provided for in-house viewing of the access copies; MPEG-1 copies are searchable and viewable via a digital video database.
The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Thomas Burrell, June 05, 2001. The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection, 1900 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois.
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Video Oral History Interview with Thomas Burrell, Tape 1, June 05, 2001, TRT: 00:30:50:20.
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| Tom Burrell lists his biographical information and lists his favorites. He then details his mother's family origins and how she lives her life today. Burrell later talks about his father and the family members from Tennessee. Tom Burrell reflects on his father's personality and recalls his cruel behavior. Burrell talks about his family's pattern of migration from the South and how it relates to his parents. He later details the extended family members and the crowded living arrangements he experienced as a child. Lastly, Burrell recalls his childhood personality. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Thomas Burrell, Tape 2, June 05, 2001, TRT: 00:29:49:06.
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| Tom Burrell talks more about his childhood personality. Burrell recalls his vivid imagination as a young boy and his desire to imitate the western and gangster characters he saw in the movies. Burrell reflects on his parents' behavior towards him in his youth and how it influences him today. He later details the many jobs he held and how his mother motivated him to work and succeed. Tom Burrell recalls the teachers that influenced him in elementary school and details one in particular that brought out his creative side. Burrell later talks about his bad experiences at Englewood High School in Chicago and his decision to transfer to Parker High School to get a better education. Tom Burrell details his experiences at Parker High School and talks about the teacher that helped him decide his career path. Lastly Burrell talks about his first year at Roosevelt University and his personal philosophy as it applies to making a career choice. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Thomas Burrell, Tape 3, June 05, 2001, TRT: 00:29:34:19.
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| Tom Burrell talks about his decision to work in the advertising field, a unique career choice for African Americans in the 1950s. Burrell recalls his plan to attend college in Mexico and how his father sabotaged it. He later details his difficult freshman year at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Tom Burrell details his eyesight problem and talks about how it may have interfered with his early learning ability. Burrell then recounts his earning an English degree after taking a year off from school to work. Burrell reflects on his Roosevelt University experience and the friends and faculty that influenced him. Later Tom Burrell talks about the leadership experience he gained while a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Finally he talks about his mother's support and details how he gained entry into the advertising field. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Thomas Burrell, Tape 4, June 05, 2001, TRT: 00:29:52:11.
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| Tom Burrell details how he got promoted from delivering the mail to becoming a copy writer at Wade Advertising in Chicago. He later describes the accounts he received and his very first commercial. Burrell later recalls the acts of racial discrimination he was subjected to while at Wade. Burrell changes jobs and moves to Leo Burnett advertising agency in Chicago and describes the discriminatory office culture there. Burrell details Leo Burnett's failed attempt at integrating the company in the 1960s, and how a support group for black employees is formed as a result. Tom Burell talks about what forced him to leave Leo Burnett and go live in Europe. Lastly Burrell reflects on his personal self-esteem and theorizes on how self-esteem dictates to the African American race as a whole. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Thomas Burrell, Tape 5, June 05, 2001, TRT: 00:29:08:07.
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| Tom Burrell talks about his life in London after getting married in Chicago. He later reflects on how the low salary in Britain forced him to return to work in the U.S., despite the more favorable work environment. Burrell recalls his experiences at Needham, Harper & Steers and the office culture there. He later details the first black-owned advertising agencies in New York and Chicago. Tom Burrell describes the institutionalized racism he experienced and self-esteem issues that returned upon returning to the U.S. Burrell then details how he formed his own advertising business and discusses his first advertising clients. Tom Burrell recalls how he gained entry into the advertising business and how his company differed from other notable black advertisers in Chicago. Lastly Burrell explains how his agency portrays African Americans positively in its advertising campaigns. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Thomas Burrell, Tape 6, June 05, 2001, TRT: 00:29:46:02.
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| Tom Burrell talks about his company's positive and negative milestones. Burrell then discusses his company's alliance with the French communications conglomerate, Publicis. He then talks about the changes the advertising industry needs to adapt to a multicultural society. Burrell talks more about the industry and how it is still catering to a white consumer base. He then reflects on how his industry has changed and how the client now tries to dictate profit earnings. Tom Burrell then talks about the legacy of black-owned businesses and how they need to adapt in order to survive. Lastly Burrell talks about what he believes his business legacy will be. |
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Video Oral History Interview with Thomas Burrell, Tape 7, June 05, 2001, TRT: 00:19:38:04.
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| Tom Burrell talks about the future of his company and the importance of giving back to the community. Burrell talks about the other things he would like to do with his life and his concern for the black community. He talks about the problem of 'race esteem deficiency' and his thoughts on how to solve it. Tom Burrell then reflects on what his parents might say about his life accomplishments and reflects on what his legacy might be. Lastly Burrell describes the photographs he provided. |