An Official History of Official Corporate Histories

Businesses tell stories about themselves, in their advertising, in their marketing, and in their corporate biographies. Official or authorized histories of corporations form a distinctive thread in the literature in business history.  

In his latest book project, Dr. Lee McGuigan, assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, is researching the official corporate history as a distinctive form of media and mode of communication. His initial findings suggest that corporations used their official histories for various purposes; to reify their identity, to promote their accomplishments, or to define their internal culture, depending on the intended audience. 

In support of his work, Dr. McGuigan received funding from the Center for the History of Business, Technology, and Society at the Hagley Museum and Library.

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