Brennan, John E.

Brennan is president of General Media and Copy Research Company, based in Ventura, Ca.

From the description of John E. Brennan Outdoor Advertising Survey reports, 1947-1980. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 37964118

• 1906: John Edward (Jack) Brennan born to Mary Ellen (Nellie) Norton Brennan and Patrick Brennan in Hasting-on-Hudson, NY.
• 1945: Established outdoor advertising company, Standard Outdoor Advertising, Inc.
• ca. 1947 or 1948: Established Poster Appraisal Service to provide research to the outdoor advertising industry on advertising design effectiveness.
• 1947 - 1970s : Conducted outdoor advertising design surveys.
• 1948: Resigned as executive vice president of Standard Outdoor Advertising, Inc.
• 1940s - 1950s : Established Outdoor Advertising Research Institute as part of surveying activities.
• ca. 1974: Retired from taking surveys.
• 1984: Died.

Little is known about the early years of Brennan's career although he may have worked for the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA), Outdoor Advertising Inc. (OAI), and/or General Outdoor Advertising Co. In the course of his survey work, he founded several companies including Poster Appraisal Service (PAS), the Outdoor Advertising Research Institute, and General Media and Copy Research Co. PAS appears consistently throughout the collection, but in some spots it is referred to as A Division of General Media and Copy Research Co. Brennan moved his family and his business back and forth between Florida, California, and New York. The companies were established by Brennan, but various family members worked with him such as his elder brother Thomas, his wife Ann, his sister Jo, as well as many contract workers.

From the guide to the John E. Brennan Outdoor Advertising Survey Reports, 1947-1980, (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University)