Society for Technical Communication Records
MC 00250
Special Collections Research Center
8.2 Linear feet
1956 - 1996
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Created in the 1950s and originally named the Society of Technical Writers and Publishers, the Society for Technical Communication (STC) is an organization "dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of technical communication" and "improving the quality and effectiveness of technical communication for audiences worldwide." The STC Records document the activities and personnel of this organization at both the national and chapter levels during the years 1956-1996.
17 boxes
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.
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Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Society for Technical Communication Records, MC 250, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State Libraries, Raleigh, NC.
Provenance
Donated by Larry Kuns, 1997 (Accession no. 1997-0022).
Processing Information
Processed by Ruth E. Bryan
Completed December 1998
Historical Note
The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is an organization "dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of technical communication" and "improving the quality and effectiveness of technical communication for audiences worldwide." STC promotes technical communication to both its members and the public at large, mainly students. It provides its more than 20,000 members with opportunities for career development and networking, including an annual conference (the International Technical Communication Conference, ITCC), a newsletter (
Intercom), a job database, and various inter-society competitions. In addition to these membership benefits, STC reaches the general public through a journal (
Technical Communication), other publications by the
STC Press, grants and scholarships to students and for research, and various public competitions.
STC was created in the 1950s out of the merger of three separate groups. The
Society of Technical Writers and the
Society of Technical Writers and Editors were both formed on the East Coast in 1953 and merged in 1957 to become the
Society of Technical Writers and Editors (
STWE). In 1957, this group merged again with the
Technical Publishing Society, founded on the West Coast in 1954, to become the
Society of Technical Writers and Publishers (
STWP). In 1971, the organization changed its name to the Society for Technical Communication, and the title of its journal was changed from
STWP Review to
Technical Communication.
STC activities take place on a national, regional, and chapter level. There are 8 regions, with 20 local chapters in each one. Each chapter elects their own officials and committee chairs. Much of the focus of the national organization is on encouraging its chapters to increase membership, to publish a newsletter, and to conduct workshops, seminars, scholarships, and contests on the local level following guidelines set out by the various national committees. Each chapter is assigned a Director-Sponsor who is their official liaison to the Executive Council. Many STC members are involved with the organization on both a local and national level.
Currently 400-members strong, the
Carolina Chapter, among other activities, produces its own newsletter,
Carolina Communique. The chapter was founded as a branch in 1966 by
Austin Farrell (with two others) and became a full-fledged chapter in 1967. A long-time member of STC, Farrell began his activities with
STWE in 1957, carried on with
STWP after the merger and continued his involvement as the organization grew through the 1980s. Before moving to Raleigh, he was a member of and held several key positions in the
Mid-Hudson Chapter and co- founded and chaired the national organization's Standards Council. He was the Chapter's first President and held several offices throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Scope and Content Note
The STC Records document the activities and personnel of this organization at both the national and chapter levels during the years 1956-1996. These records relate not only to the organization itself, but also document the development of the technical communications field during these years, including the introduction and growth of "automatic text writing instruments" and computers.
However, the collection primarily reflects those committees and issues with which its major collectors were concerned during the years in which they were active in STC. One of these is Austin Farrell, and because of his involvement with the national Membership Committee and Standards Council in the 1960s and 1970s, the bulk of the national material lies in these committees and time periods. On the chapter level, because of Farrell's development of and membership in the
Carolina Chapter, this chapter is more fully represented than others. In addition, two presidents of the chapter during the late 1970s and early 1980s,
Joseph Saunders and
Judith Hallman, kept most of their files. As a result the Executive Council and the Program Committee are well-documented for these years, including the chapter's relationship with its director-sponsor.
The collection is divided into four series: National Organization, Chapter Files, Publications, and Miscellaneous. While the files themselves are organized in chronological order by year, several series of publications were received by Special Collections in reverse chronological order and were kept in their original order. In addition, several individual documents are duplicated in electronic format, including issues for the 1987-1988
Carolina Communique. These are listed separately in the container listing. Similarly, the few photographs which are included in the collection are noted in the listing.
Society for Technical Communication. Carolina Chapter.
Society for Technical Communication.
Society for Technical Writers and Editors.
Society for Technical Writers and Pulbishers.
Communication of technical information--Congresses
Electronic records
Journals (periodicals)
Newsletters
Photographs
Publications
Technical editing
Technical editors
Technical publishers
Technical publishing
Technical writers
Technical writing
Technical writing--Congresses
National Organization
MC 00250 Series 1
Scope and Contents note
This series documents STC's administration, chapter affairs, recognition awards (and competitions), conferences, professional activities (including the Standards Council), and publications on the national level.
Administration
Executive Council, Minutes, annual report, and strategic plan
1
1
1976-1986
Executive Council, General
1
2
1965-1987, n.d.
Bylaws
1
3
1971
Nominating Committee
1
4
1960-1995, n.d.
Goals Committee
1
5
1964-1967
Name-Review Committee
1
6
1961
Technical Communication,
1
7
ca. 1960s-1986
Chapter Affairs
General
1
8
1981, 1988, n.d.
Chapter Program Committee
1
9
1967-1979, n.d.
Membership Committee
1
10
1961-1987
Membership Data Processing
1
11
1961-1976
Regional Planning Committee
1
12
1981
Recognition Awards
Audiovisual Competition
1
13
1980-1989
Awards Banquet and General
1
14
1982-1987
(includes photographs)
Chapter Newsletter Competition
1
15
1973-1986
Fellow and Associate Fellow
1
16
1974-1996
Publications Competition
1
17
1973-1990
Technical Art Competition
2
1
1970-1987
Conferences
ITCC and pre-cursor STWP Annual Convention
2
2
1963-1978
ITCC
2
3
1980-1989
Region 2 and Piedmont/Carolina
2
4
1980, 1991
Professional Activities
Certification Committee
2
5
1983
Community Service Committee
2
6
1990
Education and Development Committee
2
7
1965-1982
Employment Referral, and Consulting and Independent Contracting Committees
2
8
1972-1991
Research Grants Committee
2
9
1973
Standards Council, General
2
10
1960-1969
Standards Council, General
2
11
1970
Standards Council, General
2
12
1971-1973
Standards Council, General
2
13
Feb. 1974-Sept. 1974
Standards Council, General
2
14
Sept. 1974-Dec. 1974
Standards Council, General
3
1
Jan. 1975-Oct. 1975
Standards Council, General
3
2
Oct. 1975-Dec. 1975
Standards Council, General
3
3
1976-1979
Standards Council, General
3
4
1980
Standards Council, General
3
5
1989-1991
Standards Council, General
3
6
n.d.
Standards Council, Membership Data Committee
3
7
1965-1970
Standards Council, Membership Data Committee
3
8
1971-1986
Standards Council, Membership Data Committee, Raw Data and statistics
3
9
1969-1982
Technical Committee
3
10
ca. 1960s
Publications
Newsletter (
Tieline),
3
11
1967, 1980-1983
Publications Program
3
12
1974-ca. 1988
Chapter Files
MC 00250 Series 2
Scope and Contents note
This series contains records from various chapters, the bulk of which is newsletters. However, in addition to the
Carolina Communique, the
Carolina Chapter is well documented, including quarterly reports to its director-sponsor; its executive council; its nominating, program, membership, recognition awards, and public relations committees; and its professional activities.
Austin
The Austin Communicator,
4
1
1989, 1985
Boston
4
2
1963
The Boston Broadside,
4
3
1984-1985
Bowling Green State University Student Chapter
interchange,
4
4
1984-1985
Carolina
Quarterly Reports to Director-Sponsor
4
5
1973-1982
Executive Council
Minutes and Meeting Notes
4
6
1968-1989
General
4
7
1968-1974
General
4
8
1977-1979
General
4
9
1980-1981
General
4
10
1982-1984
General
4
11
1985-1990
General
4
11ee
1990
electronic file
Nominating Committee
Associate Fellow
4
12
1973-1995
Fellow
4
13
1968-1986
Officers
4
14
1968-1996
Officers
4
14ee
1994-1996
electronic file
Program Committee
4
15
1974-1979
4
16
1980-1983
5
1
1984-1987
5
2
1988
5
3
1989-1990, n.d.
Membership and Mailing Lists
5
4
1974-1989, n.d.
Recognition Awards
Audiovisual Competition
5
5
1980-1982
High School Science Writing Competition
5
6
1983-1984
Online Communications Competition
5
7
n.d.
Technical Art Competition
5
8
1973-1990, n.d.
Technical Publications Competition
5
9
1977-ca.1989
Technical Publications Competition
5
9ee
1987-1988
electronic file
Professional Activities
Education Committee
5
10
1977-1995, n.d.
Freelance Directory
5
11
1985
Job Bank Committee
5
12
n.d.
Public Relations and News Releases
5
13
1972-1984
(includes photographs)
Newsletter
5
14
1978-1993, n.d.
Carolina Communique
5
15
Feb. 1969-Sept./Oct. 1974
5
16
Jan. 1975-Sept. 1977
5
17
March/April 1978-July 1981
6
1
Sept. 1981-May 1983
6
2
Oct./Nov. 1983-Dec. 1985
6
3
Jan. 1986-Dec. 1987
6
3ee
Sept. 1987-Dec. 1987
elecronic file
6
4
Jan. 1988-April 1989
6
4ee
Jan. 1988-April 1988
elecronic file
6
5
Sept. 1989-1992, 1994
Columbia River Student Chapter
Current,
6
6
1989
Delaware Valley
News & Views,
6
7
1990
East Tennessse
6
8
1982-1983
James River
6
9
1990
Metrolina
The Front Page,
6
10
1988
Metro Baltimore
chesapeake bayline,
6
11
1988-1989
Mid-Hudson
6
12
1960-1965
The Data Link,
6
13
July 1960-Sept. 1962
Monterey Bay
Monterey Bay Communique,
6
14
1987-1988
Montreal Chapter
Communique Montreal,
6
15
1989-1990
New York
6
16
1968
Niagra Frontier
6
17
1989
HYPERchat,
6
18
1989-1990
Northern New England
The Nor'easter,
6
19
1988-1989
Orange County
Techniscribe,
6
20
1983-1984
Phoenix
The Rough Draft,
6
21
1984
Piedmont
Piedmonitor,
6
22
1988-1990
Puget Sound
Sound Off,
6
23
1982
Quad Cities
The Bridge,
6
24
1983-1985
Rock Valley
Rendezvous,
6
25
1989
Sacramento
Capital Currents,
6
26
1990
San Francisco
Active Voice,
6
27
1988-1989
Sierra-Panamint
Petroglyph,
6
28
1987-1989
West Virginia
Technically Speaking,
6
29
1989
Miscellaneous Newsletters
6
30
1988-1990, n.d.
Publications
MC 00250 Series 3
Scope and Contents note
This series is comprised of a variety of national publications, many from the early years of STC (1950s and 1960s), including newsletters and journals.
TWE Journal
7
1
1956-1957
STWP
Bulletin/Newsletter
7
2
1965-1967
7
3
1956-1962
Intercom
7
4
April 1995-Jan. 1995
7
5
1994
7
6
1993-1992
7
7
1991-1990
7
8
1989
8
1
1988
8
2
1987
8
3
1986
8
4
1985-1983
8
5
1982-1978
8
6
1977-1963
Independent Perspective
8
7
1993-1995
Oyez!Oyez!
8
8
1967
Tieline
8
9
Feb. 1988-June/July 1989
8
10
March 1985-Feb. 1982
8
11
Dec. 1981/Jan. 1982-May 1979; April 1976-Oct. 1975
STWP Review
9
April 1962-Oct. 1966
Technical Communications
9
First Quarter 1967-Fourth Quarter 1970
10
Jan./Feb. 1971-May/June 1971
Technical Communication
10
Third Quarter 1971-Fourth Quarter 1983
11
First Quarter 1984-Fourth Quarter 1990
12
First Quarter 1991-Fourth Quarter 1993
Proceedings
Society of Technical Writers and Editors,
Proceedings of Seventh Annual National Convention,
13
1
April 21-22, 1960
Society of Technical Writers and Publishers,
Proceedings: Eighth Annual Convention,
13
2
1961
Society of Technical Writers and Publishers,
Convention Proceedings: Eleventh Annual National Convention and Exhibition,
13
3
May 14-16, 1964
Society of Technical Writers and Publishers,
Convention Proceedings: 12th Annual Convention,
13
4
May 19-22, 1965
Society of Technical Writers and Publishers,
1966 Convention Proceedings,
14
1
May 11-14, 1966
Society of Technical Writers and Publishers,
Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Technical Communications Conference,
14
2
May 8-11, 1968
Society of Technical Writers and Publishers,
International Convention: Copies of Papers Presented,
14
3
May 8-11, 1968
Society of Technical Writers and Publishers,
First International Symposium,
14
4
Dec. 9-12, 1968
Society of Technical Writers and Publishers,
16th ITCC,
15
1
May 14-17, 1969
Society for Technical Communication,
Proceedings: 21st International Technical Communications Conference,
15
2
May 15-18, 1974
Society for Technical Communication,
Proceedings: 22nd International Technical Communications Conference,
15
3
May 14-17, 1975
Society for Technical Communication,
Proceedings: 23rd International Technical Communication Conference,
15
4
May 12-15, 1976
Society for Technical Communication,
Proceedings: 26th International Technical Communication Conference,
16
1
May 16-19, 1979
Society for Technical Communication,
Proceedings: 27th ITCC: Technical Communication--The Bridge of Understanding,
16
2
May 14-17, 1980
Vol. I
Society for Technical Communication,
Proceedings: 27th ITCC: Technical Communication--The Bridge of Understanding,
16
3
May 14-17, 1980,
Vol. II
Society for Technical Communcation,
Proceedings: 29th International Technical Communication Conference: Technical Communication--Charting the Course of Technology,
17
1
May 5-8, 1982
Society for Technical Communication,
Proceedings: 30th International Technical Communication Conference: Spirit of Technical Communication,
17
2
May 1-4, 1983
Society for Technical Communication,
Proceedings: 31st International Technical Communication Conference,
17
3
April 29-May 2, 1984
Society for Technical Communication,
Proceedings: 33rd International Technical Communication Conference,
18
1
May 11-14 1986
Society for Technical Communication,
Proceedings: 35th ITCC: Freedom to Communicate,
18
2
May 10-13 1988
Miscellaneous
MC 00250 Series 4
Scope and Contents note
This series contains journal and newspaper articles, conference brochures, various advertisements, NCSU information, and publications including technical writing manuals, newsletters, and pamphlets that are unrelated to STC but document the field of technical communication during the 1960s-1970s.
Advertisements
19
1
[c. 1960s-1980s]
Class materials
19
2
1982
Conferences and workshops (includes 1 survey)
19
3
1966-1989
INTECOM (International Council for Technical Communication)
19
4
1974
Journal articles
19
5
1961-1992, n.d.
NCSU Technical Communication program,
19
6
[c. 1980s]
Newspaper articles and announcements
19
7
1958-1975, n.d.
Publications, including
Metric Reporter,and
IBM The World of Information Recording,
19
8
1974 [1978]
US Standards Institute and Logistics Management Advisory Committee,
19
9
1968, 1971
Technical Writing I Study Guide,
19
10
1962
New Directions in Technical Writing and Communication,
19
11
1977