American Technical Publishers

ATP was founded in 1898 by R. T. Miller, Jr. as the American Technical Society (ATS). The ATS published instructional materials for the American School of Correspondence, which was also founded by Miller. In 1902, Miller moved both companies from Boston to Chicago. Today, the building that housed both companies is recognized as a Chicago landmark.

During World War II, the ATS changed its primary publishing material to vocational training materials for preparation of industrial workers for the war effort. In the early 1960s, the Vocational Education Act of 1963 and subsequent appropriations provided increased federal funding for the expansion of vocational education programs. This act allowed companies, such as the ATS, to develop new training materials for vocational studies.

In March 1980, the company American Technical Publishers, Inc. Profit Sharing Retirement Plan and Trust purchased the assets of the Society. The Society then became known as the Technical Foundation of America, and ATP became its own company. The current President is Robert D. Deisinger.

ATP publishes career and technical (formally vocational) training materials for a variety of fields, such as electrical,

construction, welding, culinary, CAD and technical drawing, and boiler operations. Materials include textbooks, workbooks, instructor resource guides, and digital media.