The Matchcover Storyteller

It goes back to 1896 and it’s still around today.   Now in its 130th year,  it’s just the Ad Club. 

It was The Sphinx Club when it kicked off, just a group of businessmen meeting to talk advertising; a decade later it was the Advertising Men’s League and in 1915, The Advertising Club of New York.  It was also the first organization of its kind.  Throughout, members have promoted self-regulation, professional training and fellowship.  

It was the first to offer professional courses in advertising and championed “truth in advertising”  (a lot of folk might want to debate this, but they were serious!)   Members also formed a “vigilante committee” related to consumer protection that later evolved into the Better Business Bureau.

Among a long list of club presidents was the legendary broadcaster Lowell Thomas, 1937-1939; he succeeded the head of Packard Motors  —  members were at that level of business.  Over the years, at least 3 presidents have been guest speakers; so has a Prince of Wales.

I have this particular set of match covers; I’m not sure there are any other others. The other thing that I am noting is the number of clubs, business and social organizations that were popular through the first half of the 20th century; most of them have match covers and you might be looking at a rather attractive collecting opportunity.