The History of Being an Executive Assistant
The history of being an Executive Assistant
Men dominated the secretarial profession
In early modern times and throughout the Renaissance, nobles worked and socialized alongside men who served as some of the world’s earliest-known secretaries. The people in power regarded their clerks as trusted agents and often directed these men to handle confidential matters on their behalf.
Men continued to dominate the secretarial profession until the turn of the century, when the second wave of the Industrial Revolution spread from Great Britain throughout the world, moving society into an era of steel, electricity, and automobiles.
Women handled new secretarial demands
Increasing demands suddenly became overwhelming, and companies could no longer keep up with the paperwork that came with these demands. Women jumped at the opportunity to help, quickly proving their competency, even under stress. These women handled the paperwork and learned how to use typewriters, telephones, and calculating machines seamlessly (“The Secretary Shortage: They’re Either Too Pretty or Too Old” 1957).
The secretarial shift
Sometime during the 1930s, a shift took place. Men no longer dominated clerical positions, and the heads of businesses — almost always men — decided that they needed educated and dedicated working women by their sides. Women attended secretarial schools to learn new skills and showcase their ability to adapt to the world’s fast-paced changes (“History of the Secretarial Profession” 1998).
Suddenly, almost every office had one or more secretaries. Back then, secretaries sat at their desks, typing diligently on their Hermes 3000 typewriters while simultaneously routing phone calls and greeting office guests. These women were excellent listeners, and they used shorthand to transcribe their bosses’ spoken words. Secretaries took great pride in their work and seldom submitted anything marked with correction fluid. They were poised, had a strong knowledge of the office, and completed all their daily tasks with pride.
Secretaries supported the war effort
Even during World War II, secretaries remained a vital piece of the workforce. Many American women supported the war effort, working as riveters or mechanics, but not all secretaries traded their pencil skirts for trousers — some secretaries substituted their manicured nails for military uniforms. Women took over the office jobs and became clerks for the Women’s Army Corps and other stateside service groups, allowing the men who once held these positions to fight overseas.
As the war ended and time progressed, the semblance of life before the war resurfaced. Many women returned to their jobs as housewives and secretaries, but these loyal women, who helped serve the country, craved more. Secretaries, no longer content with their pre-war personas, needed more challenging roles and recognition for a job well done (“History of the Secretarial Profession” 1998).
Secretaries recognized for their hard work
In 1952, the Department of Commerce and the National Secretaries Association (NSA) formed the first National Secretaries Week to thank secretaries for their hard work, loyalty, and dedication to their jobs, and in 1967, the first male member joined the National Secretaries Association, an indication of the forward-moving profession (“History of IAAP” 2015).
It wasn’t until 2000 that the name Professional Secretaries Week changed to Administrative Professionals Week (“History of IAAP” 2015). The name change acknowledged the shift from the female-centric secretary to the administrative professional’s forward-moving and gender-neutral job title.
Even now, some twenty years after the profession left the title of secretary behind, today’s administrative professionals, administrative assistants, and executive assistants are still trying to prove themselves. While the profession still maintains many of the classic secretarial characteristics, the position requires more than it did decades ago.
The administrative profession makes strategic advancements
Today’s admins face a diverse and multifaceted workload. They handle everything from completing general business transactions and working on delegated tasks to joining strategic planning meetings and organizing a board of directors. The position requires more than it did decades ago. The business world continues to advance, and along with it, the administrative profession.
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“History of IAAP.” The International Association of Administrative Professionals, 2015.
“History of the Secretarial Profession.” International Association of Administrative Professionals, 1998.
Lily Rothman, “A Brief History of Secretaries,” TIME, April 22, 2015,
“The Secretary Shortage: They’re Either Too Pretty or Too Old.” TIME no. 14, April 8, 1957.
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