Abstract

Abstract:

Students who want to study advertising history can use online archives to find historical advertisements. From formal archives to informal sites like eBay and Pinterest, this article explores some of the advantages and pitfalls of finding sources online. Analyzing advertising history through online archives can offer insights into aspects of American corporations and society that might otherwise be glossed over in the slick production of print ads and commercials. Accessing historical ads will allow students to think more critically about gender, class, and race in advertising and enhance their understanding of American society, leaving them more aware of the ways advertisers sought to shape them with their messages.

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