Women in Technical Communication: From typewriters to touchscreens: a history by the women who did the work

by Sharon Burton (Editor)

For the first time, the stories of the women who built the profession of technical communication have been brought together. These women helped shape how the world understands technology.

Spanning fifty years of innovation, from typewriters to personal computers to smartphones, these first-hand stories reveal how women in technical communication carved out careers, led change, and defined a field in constant motion.

Told in their own words, this anthology celebrates the pioneers who turned communication into a bridge between people and technology.

719 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2026

Reviews

[Cheryl]

Full disclosure: I'm one of the 69 women who wrote stories about our careers in technical communication for this anthology. Many of the women I know; others I've heard of but haven't met. I enjoyed reading all their stories and learning how many of us entered the field. Many, like me, entered by accident and fell in love with the challenges and learning opportunities the field provided. Thank you, Sharon Burton, for coming up with this idea and helping preserve our legacies.

[Jackie Damrau]

I’m grateful to be a contributor to "Women in Technical Communication: From Typewriters to Touchscreens – A History by the Women Who Did the Work." This anthology captures the lived experiences of women who helped shape technical communication long before it was recognized as a formal academic discipline.

Like many contributors, I entered the field when technical communication was often dismissed as “nonessential.” Reading these stories now, it’s striking how familiar that refrain feels. As I read these stories now, I’m struck by how familiar our stories intertwine and feel so similar. With the rapid rise of AI, we’re once again hearing suggestions that technical communicators are no longer needed. Having lived through earlier cycles of that thinking, I know how misleading it is. AI does not bring human factors expertise to the table. It cannot interview subject matter experts, nor can it truly understand how people use products in real world situations.

Many of the 69 contributors devoted decades of service and volunteer leadership to the Society for Technical Communication (STC). I served STC for 30 years in local and international roles and was deeply honored to receive two of the organization’s highest recognitions. Its closure in February 2025 continues to feel like a profound loss for our profession. That sense of loss, and what STC made possible, appears throughout the contributing authors’ stories.

My sincere thanks to editor Sharon Burton and XML Press for preserving these voices. For those new to technical communication, and for those who have lived its evolution, "Women in Technical Communication" offers perspective, resilience, and a clear reminder of why our work and profession still matters.

[Ann Rockley]

An inspiring collection of stories by the women who shaped the field of technical communication. Often working behind the scenes, they made technology more accessible and understandable, always advocating for users and their needs. Along the way, they balanced family responsibilities, navigated hostile work environments, and overcame indifferent managers to break barriers, drive innovation, and transform the profession. As one of the contributors, I'm proud to have my story included among the many women whose determination and achievements helped shape the field we know today.

This is a book well worth reading—not only for its history, but for the inspiration it offers.