IEEE History Center: Biographies

Legacies: For nearly a century, the IEEE Awards program has paid tribute to technical professionals whose exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions have made a lasting impact on technology, society and the engineering profession. We are pleased to provide biographies of more than 250 people who have received one or more of the following awards:

IEEE Medal of Honor
IEEE Edison Medal
IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal
IEEE Founders Medal
IEEE Haraden Pratt Award

Black History Month: In 1926 "Negro History Week" was established to call attention to the many contributions of African Americans. February was chosen because it includes the birthdays of Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist, and Abraham Lincoln, the President who signed the Emancipation Proclamation. In 1976 the celebration was lengthened and became known as Black History Month. We highlight the accomplishments of African American engineers.

Women's History Month : The International Woman's Day was established in Europe in the early 1900s. Today it is celebrated on 8 March. Women's History Month has been in existence only since 1978 in the United States. We feature biographies of women engineers, who currently make up only 17% of the profession.