History of the IBEW

IBEW History

The following history tells the story of the courageous men and women who made the IBEW what it is today. The legacy of our founders reflects the unwavering goal of today’s leaders: joining electricians in a common organization to make a better life for all. We hope this story inspires you with the spirit of trade unionism as we build the IBEW of the future.

1890-1897 - The Dream is Born
- 1891-1920 - IBEW vs. The Corporations
- 1891-1930 - Workers' Rights Trampled
1897-1903 - Coming of Age
1903-1908 - The Ties That Bind Us
1908-1914 - The Third Revolution
1914-1919 - Making the Connections—
The IBEW and the Telephone
1919-1924 - On the Move
1925-1930 - IBEW BETWEEN THE WARS—
A Time of Discovery and Despair
1930-1939 - Storm Clouds of Depression and War
1940-1945 - The American Century
1945-1950 - Containment and Expansion
1950-1960 - Winds of Change
1960-1970 - To the Moon
1970-1980 - Building for The Future
1980-1986 - Hanging On-Labor in the Reagan Era
1986-1991 - A Union of Hearts and Minds
1991-2091 - Into the Next Century

Cigarmaker Was a "Pure and Simple Man - About Samuel Gompers
E Pluribus Unum - The Birth of a United Labor Movement
From the Golden Days of Yesteryear..... Excerpts from The Electrical Worker
Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914
Only Bread & Water - About the 1912 strike of 23,000 textile workers in Massachusetts.
Judicial Restraint
The U.N. Is Not Dead - editorial in the August 1948 Electrical Workers' Journal .
Placing Stones - Reflections of Charles Pillard
All Sides of the Diamond - A Talk With J.J. Barry

Canadian Labour Report

Canadian Locals Enthusiastic From The Electrical Worker, April 1900
Daniel O’Donoghue, Trade Unionist and MPP
Unity Equal Strength - Uniting the Labour Movement in Canada
Workers Struggle to Survive

The above stories are from They Dared to Dream, an 18-part history of the IBEW that was compiled by the staff of the IBEW Journal: J.J. Barry, editor; Mary Ann Van Meter, directory; Carol Cipolari, supervisor; Thorn Pozen, Margaret Bamber and Ruth Cobb, senior editorial assistants, published in 1991 for the IBEW Journal and the 1991 IBEW Convention.

1891 - Stolley's Dance Hall
St. Louis, Missouri

1898 - Powers Building
Rochester, New York

1905 - Pierik Building
Springfield, Illinois

1929 - IBEW Building
1200 15th Street NW
Washington, D.C.

1955 - IBEW Building
renovated and expanded
1200 15th Street NW
Washington, D.C.

1973 - IBEW Building
1125 15th Street NW
Washington, D.C.

2005 - IBEW Building
900 Seventh Street NW
Washington, D.C.