Technical Communication from 1850-1950: Where Have We Been?
http://www.attw.org/TCQarticles/8.2/8-2Kynell.pdf
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Kynell, Teresa
Technical Communication Quarterly
1999

Abstract:

As the discipline of technical communication undergoes increasing scrutiny by scholars and teachers and as the discipline continues to evolve with advancements in technology, we should pause to consider some foundational, historical issues that led to the formation of a technical communication pedagogy in the first place. This piece evaluates shifts in an engineering curriculum from roughly 1850 to 1960 that made possible the development of a technical communication curriculum.