Administrative Professionals Week Celebrated Since 1952

Since 1952, the International Association of Administrative Professionals has honored office workers by sponsoring Administrative Professionals Week. Today, it is one of the largest workplace observances outside of employee birthdays and major holidays.

The idea began with Mary Barrett, president of the National Secretaries Association, now called IAAP, and C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation. They served on a council addressing a national shortage of skilled office workers. Together with Harry Klemfuss, public relations account executive at Young & Rubicam, they originated the idea for a National Secretaries Week.

The association successfully campaigned U.S. Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer to proclaim the first National Secretaries Week on June 1-7, 1952. He designated Wednesday, June 4 as National Secretaries Day. Sawyer, Barrett and Woodbridge participated in ceremonies held in Washington, D.C.

IAAP created National Secretaries Week with two objectives in mind: to recognize "the secretary, upon whose skills, loyalty, and efficiency the functions of business and government offices depend," and to call attention "through favorable publicity, to the tremendous potential of the secretarial career."

Named changed to Administrative Professionals Week
In 1955, the observance date of National Secretaries Week was moved to the last full week of April. The observation changed to Professional Secretaries Week in 1981, and became Administrative Professionals Week in 2000 to encompass the expanding responsibilities and wide-ranging job titles of administrative support staff.

Over the years, observances of Administrative Professionals Week have focused on professional development. Today, local chapters of IAAP hold hundreds of seminars and networking events in their communities during the week. Other events include luncheons, corporate recognition activities, and individual observances between managers and office staff.

Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the International Association of Administrative Professionals today remains the sole sponsor of Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day. IAAP continues to believe in the importance of this event to call attention to the increasing value and contributions of administrative professionals in today's workplace. For more information in the history of IAAP and Administrative Professionals Week visit the Web site at www.iaap-hq.org/APW/apwindex.htm.

Administrative Professionals Week is April 20-26, 2008. Administrative Professionals Day is Wednesday, April 23, 2008. The 2008 theme is “Forward Moving.

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