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IEEE traces its origins to
two organizations: the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers, or
AIEE, and the Institute of
Radio Engineers, or IRE. AIEE was formed
in 1884 by American
industrialists to develop a skilled
workforce capable of supporting
the burgeoning electrical technology
industry, including telegraph,
underwater cable, arc lights, electric
power, electrical
manufacturing equipment, and the
telephone. In 1912, two largely
local organizations -- the Society of
Wireless and Telegraph
Engineers and the Wireless Institute --
merged to form the Institute
of Radio Engineers. The IRE was a truly
international society,
seeking members from other countries,
establishing units around
the world, and publishing papers from
authors outside of the
United States. In 1963, the IRE and AIEE
merged into IEEE. Many of
the activities of IEEE’s
precedessor organizations still survive
today in IEEE’s organization,
including specialized professional
groups, now called Societies;
geographical units, now called
Sections; meetings; publications; and
standards development.
The
Brokaw Mansion in New
York City, once
home to the IRE.
The building has
since been torn down.
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The
United Engineering
Building, former New
York CIty home of the
AIEE, built with a
donation from Andrew
Carnegie. This building
still stands today,
owned by Tommy Hilfiger.
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