The Steel Bible: A Case Study of 20th Century Technical Communication

Kate Crane

Johnson, Carol. “The Steel Bible: A Case Study of 20th Century Technical Communication.” Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 37.3 (2007): 281-303. Web.

Johnson analyzes the 'Steel Bible' (aka The Making, Shaping, and Treatment of Steel)

comparing and contrasting the 11 versions of the text published between 1919 and 1999. Through

these versions, Johnson sees not only the changing steel industry, but the changing technical

communication field. She notes the major changes being technological, graphic/pictoral,

multiple-authorship rather than an authoritative single author, and the organization of

information for easy access. These changes reflected the needs of the audience and the audience

were loyal readers and users of the reference. Once consistency throughout the evolution of the

text, however, was the absence of human/social conditions affecting the steel industry. From the

1920s labor disputes to the outsourcing and decline of steel manufacturing in the U.S. during the

1980s, the text focused only on the techncial aspects of manufacturing steel.

Johnson's analysis not only chronicle an important American industry through the 'Steel

Bible' (a historical artifact for sure) but shows how the TC field has particularly adjusted to the

needs of the audience. Her explanation of audience, graphics, and authorship demonstrate how

our field has changed to what we see today.