When I was growing up ('70's) there was almost an intentional ignoring of much of the past, they certainly didn't glorify it like they do now. Russell, for instance, was virtually never mentioned in the literature. Names of most of the leaders, whether Governing Body members, or previous Board of Directors, were not known by many. At that time there were still quite a number of former Bible Students around, they would picket assemblies etc (the original 'evil slave' class), and I think there was a feeling at the top that they wanted to distance themselves from the previous Bible Student movements. The big green history book was a bit of a shock to many, who had never heard of a lot of things in it. I think that book was prepared in direct response to Franz's book 'In Search of Christian Freedom'.
Nowadays it is very different. They are riffing off the doctored history they have created. They even have museums at the various bethel sites for people to go and goo goo over the WT glorified history.