During its 70th anniversary year, the society examines how far it has come and where it's headed in the future.
As ASTD celebrates 70 years of service to the training and development profession, we note that despite many important developments that have occurred in the world, there remains a consistency of purpose for the work of this society.
In 1943, when 15 men gathered for the first meeting of the American Society of Training Directors, the world was embroiled in World War II; Duke Ellington played at Carnegie Hall for the first time; and the world's first computer, Mark I, a behemoth that occupied an entire room at Harvard University, was nearing the end of its development, which began in 1939.
Three years later, in 1946, a constitution was adopted at ASTD's conference in New Castle, Pennsylvania. The stated goals were to raise the standards and prestige of the industrial training profession, and to further the training professional's education and development.
Today, in the age of technology-driven advancements and with a membership that spans the globe, ASTD's mission statement is not so different from those original stated goals: Empower professionals to develop knowledge and skills successfully. This mission points to ASTD's broader vision that our global community of professionals aspires to "Create a World that Works Better."
In celebration of ASTD's history, here is a brief reflection—ASTD then and now.
Creation
Then
1943: American Society of Training Directors holds its first meeting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Fifteen men—all associated with the petroleum industry—attend.
1964: American Society of Training Directors changes its name to the American Society for Training and Development.
Now
2013: ASTD comprises 39,000 members from around the globe who work in all industries, and both the public and private sectors.
Headquarters
As the society continued to grow and support the industrial training industry, it was necessary for the organization to have a permanent home.
Then
1951: ASTD opens its first permanent office in Madison, Wisconsin, the hometown of Russell Moberly, the secretary-treasurer who kept all of the records at the time.
1975: ASTD opens a branch office in Washington, D.C. The society has engaged with the U.S. Agency for International Development to provide training resources to several foreign countries. Having a presence in the nation's capital is a strategic decision.
1981: ASTD moves its headquarters to Washington, D.C., and in 1985 relocates to Alexandria, Virginia.
Now
2013: ASTD populates nearly three floors at its current location on King Street in Alexandria, Virginia.
Magazine
Keeping abreast of the training profession's news, research, trends, and best practices has been an important part of ASTD's offerings to its members. For more than 65 years, the award-winning T+D magazine has heralded and even led the evolution of the profession from a focus on industrial training to an expanded view of learning as a key driver of business—with the purpose to deliver to its readers the emerging trends and proven best practices.
Since its debut in 1945 as Industrial Training News, what is now called T+D magazine has chronicled the issues and ideas, and the pains and passions of a growing profession.
Then
1945: The first issue of ASTD's quarterly membership publication, Industrial Training News, is published.
1947: Industrial Training News changes its name to Journal of Industrial Training and becomes bimonthly.
1954: The Journal of Industrial Training changes its name to Journal of the American Society of Training Directors and publishes Donald L. Kirkpatrick's articles establishing four levels of evaluation for training.
1963: Journal of the American Society of Training Directors changes its name to Training Directors Journal.
1966: Training Directors Journal changes its name to Training and Development Journal.
1991: Training and Development Journal becomes Training & Development.
2001: Training & Development becomes T+D.
Now
2013: T+D, ASTD's flagship member publication, reaches more than 40,000 readers and keeps training professionals abreast of the news and trends in the industry. The magazine is available digitally and via apps for iPad, Android tablets, and the Kindle.
Conferences
Bringing training and development professionals together to learn from and share with one another has long been part of ASTD's history. Held each spring, the ASTD International Conference & Exposition welcomes thousands of attendees from around the world. These professionals manage all aspects of learning in their organizations.
Then
1945: American Society of Training Directors holds its first national conference September 27-28 in Chicago.
1967: The first major exposition is held with the national conference.
1994: The first international conference is held in Anaheim, California.
Now
2013: The ASTD International Conference & Exposition is considered the premier event for the training and development profession and regularly attracts 9,000 people from more than 70 countries.
ASTD also hosts smaller conferences outside of the United States. In 2012 conferences and workshops were held in Brazil, Chile, China, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
Membership
For 70 years the focus of ASTD's efforts has been to provide resources to its members. What started as a small group of "training men" has grown to a worldwide membership.
Then
1943: Fifteen men gather in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to form the American Society for Training Directors
1952: ASTD membership reaches 1,600, and there are 32 ASTD chapters in existence.
1968: Membership reaches 7,400. There are 65 chapters.
1978: Membership reaches 15,300. There are members in 50 countries.
1988: Membership reaches 24,500.
Now
2013: Membership reaches 39,000. There are 120 chapters and 15 international partners. Members come from six continents.
