Finding Advertisements

Do you need to find an old or new ad? Advertisements do so much more than just sell products and services; they often gauge the state of popular culture and opinion, and also reflect important moments and achievements in history.

This resource guide is divided into sections to support your advertisement search, including providing links to selected lists of sources for ads that have appeared on the radio, on TV, in print, and in various other media.

Many advertising resources are located in the Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno Library. Additional ads related to companies, industries, and consumer behaviors are located in the Schreyer Business Library, 3rd Floor Paterno Library.

Looking for television ads? Check the CAT to see if the Libraries (or Media Tech) own a copy on VHS or DVD. Use the company name or "ad title" (e.g., Nextel Dance party) as your search term. You may also search sites listed on the "Best of" and Web sites pages for clips of television ads.

For additional help with any of these resources, or to schedule an appointment, please contact: Debora Cheney, Foster Communications Librarian and Head, News & Microforms Library, 814-863-1345 — or you may stop by the Social Sciences Library Reference Desk, 2nd Floor Paterno Library, 814-865-4861.