Smithsonian Adds Artifacts and Material from Hispanic Ad Agencies

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History added campaign materials and personal artifacts related to Hispanic advertising agencies and their founders through a collaboration with the AHAA – “The Voice of Hispanic Marketing”. AHAA is supporting the museum’s initiative to expand on the advertising collections held in its Archives Center with a financial donation and with introductions to agency leaders and firms who had a significant impact on advertising history.

The objects were presented during a ceremony on Oct. 26 that coincided with AHAA’s 20th anniversary as a national trade group representing Hispanic advertising agencies and media, marketing and communication companies.

“Hispanic entrepreneurs changed the face of American advertising,” said Kathleen Franz, the museum’s business history curator. “The partnership with AHAA helps the Smithsonian collect and document the evolution of Latino communications and its influence on the general market.”

The museum’s recently opened “American Enterprise” exhibition prominently features the story of advertising and marketing, including an 80-foot wall with advertisements and popular slogans and a business section exploring the growth of the advertising industry as Americans changed how they thought about their roles as producers and consumers.