1891---National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers founded (Nov. 28) and affiliated with the American Federation of Labor (Dec. 7). Apprenticeship system established.

1892---First women members admitted into NBEW.

1893---First Journal published (Jan. 15), called The Electrical Worker; continuously published under various titles. Cleveland Convention delegates voted to hold conventions every two years.

1895---Telephone operators joined NBEW.

1896---First woman organizer appointed.

1897---First woman delegate sent to the National Convention.

1899---NBEW becomes an international union when jurisdiction is extended to include Canada; name changed to International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

1903---First full-time, salaried Grand President.

1908---Reid-Murphy split; IBEW affiliated with the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada.

1912---Court decision upheld McNulty-Collins as officers of the legitimate IBEW.

1913---Delegates return to a united Convention. Split in the IBEW ended and seceding faction (Reid-Murphy) reabsorbed into the legitimate Brotherhood (McNulty-Collins) by agreement in 1914.

1918---Constitutional amendment renders actions of conventions final.

1919---Telephone Operators Department established.

1920---Council on Industrial Relations founded. IBEW headquarters moved from Springfield, Illinois, to Washington, D.C.

1922---Electrical Workers' Benefit Association founded.

1924---Research Department established.

1927---Pension Plan established by Detroit Convention.

1929---IBEW moved into its own building at 1200 - 15th Street, N.W.

1946---Number of vice presidential districts increased from 10 to 12; National Employees' Benefit Agreement signed by IBEW and NECA.

1947---Permanent National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical Industry formed. Government Employees Department established. Progress meetings for vice presidential districts instituted. National Electrical Benefit Fund went into effect.

1950---Members voted to submit to referendum vote the holding of the International Convention every four years instead of every two. Affirmative decision reached in 1952.

1951---Broadcasting and Recording Department established.

1954---Chicago IBEW Convention was the largest labor union convention ever held in the world.

1955---Construction and Maintenance, Manufacturing, Telephone, and Utility Departments established; previously existed as divisions within the IBEW.

1959---Skill Improvement, Safety Departments established.

1963---Supreme Court ruling supported authority of IBEW Constitution.

1966---Founders' Scholarship Program instituted to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the IBEW.

1971---IBEW moved to new, permanent address at 1125 - 15th Street, N.W. Special Services, Organizing Departments established.

1972---IBEW membership reached one million in October; Telephone Department operations relocated to International Office.

1977---IBEW and NECA agreed to improve NEBF benefits and increase employer contribution from 1% to 3%.

1981---Electrical Industry Health and Welfare Reciprocal Agreement established; achieved 100% participation in 1985.

1982---IBEW affiliated with the Canadian Federation of Labour.

1984---Electrical Industry Pension Reciprocal Agreement established; achieved 100% participation in 1989.

1987---Pension Investment and Employee Benefits Department established in response to 33rd Convention resolution.

1988---Skill Improvement Department renamed Technical Services Department; Safety Department renamed Safety and Health Department; Telephone and Cable TV Departments combined into the Telecommunications Department; Education Program established (became Education Department in 1991).

1989---Research and Education Department renamed Research and Economics Department; Organizing Department renamed Special Projects Department. Canada IBEW-COPE established.

1990---IBEW Tenth District (Railroads) welcomed into membership the members of the Canadian Signal and Communications Union. The First District publishes the first issue of its newsletter, Canadian Comment.

1991---Centennial Exposition and the 34th and 100th Anniversary Convention held in St. Louis. Delegates vote to hold Convention every five years. Special Services Department renamed Human Services Department.

1992---Bylaw Approval Department and the Appeals Department consolidated into Bylaws and Appeals Department.

1994---New database established for agreement approval/analysis. Research and Economics, Technical Services Departments merged to become Research & Technical Services Department. Public Relations Department established.

1995---Journal, Public Relations Departments merged as the Journal and Media Relations Department. First IBEW-wide opinion poll of rank-and-file members conducted.

1996---Electronic voting used for first time at an IBEW Convention. Committee appointed to study IBEW's structure and Constitution.

1997---IBEW reaffiliates with the Canadian Labour Congress.

1998---Recommendations of the Select Committee on the Future of the Brotherhood approved by referendum vote of the local unions. Offices of the International Secretary and International Treasurer combined. Railroad Department established, and former Twelfth Vice Presidential District renumbered as Tenth Vice Presidential District.