Thomas J. Watson Sr. Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

Seasoned by 15 years of sales experience at the National Cash Register Company (1898-1913), where he first introduced his motto "Think", Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874-1956) joined the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company as President in 1914. Ten years later, that company changed its name to the International Business Machines Corporation and, while under his leadership, forged a worldwide command of the business-machine industry. As President of IBM, Watson unleashed an aggressive two-fold plan consisting of innovative research and development and the formation of a highly motivated, well-trained sales force. Exercising his IBM slogan, "World Peace Through World Trade", Watson built bridges of his own by encouraging his forces to expand internationally, while being one of the first industrialists to offer his employees wide-ranging benefits. Watson's regard for his workers and his efforts toward world peace (he was elected President of the International Chamber of Commerce) earned him great respect worldwide. For the conscientious and limited-profit production of military munitions by IBM during WWII, Watson was honored by President Harry S Truman with the Congressional Medal of Merit (1947).