ASHRAE and Industry History

History of ASHRAE

ASHRAE was formed by the merger of two societies, American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (ASHVE), known after 1954 as American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHAE) and the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE). The two merged in 1959.

• American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (PDF)
• American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (PDF)
• The Merger of ASHVE/ASHAE and ASRE to Become ASHRAE (PDF)
• A Brief History of the ASHRAE Handbook 

ASHRAE Archives (Historical Archives) 

• Archives of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) (PDF)
• Archives of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (ASHVE) (PDF)
• Archives of the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE) (PDF)
• Archives of the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHAE) (PDF)
• Regional and Chapter Histories Sorted by Regions (PDF)
• Industry Archives of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) (PDF)
• Leadership Recalls
• Gold Ribbon Award 
• Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Patents 
• Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Chronology (updated 5/10/2006)
• Report on Domestic Refrigerating Machines, 1923 - 1925
• Documentation of 1920's Carbon Dioxide Air Conditioning System -- Orpheum Theater, Minneapolis, MN

Special Series Commemorating the First Century of Air Conditioning

• Introduction to the First Century of Air Conditioning (PDF)
• John Gorrie, The Visionary (PDF)
• Application of Electric Power in HVAC&R Systems (PDF)
• A History of Comfort Cooling Using Ice (PDF)
• Early Twentieth Century Air-Conditioning Engineering (PDF)
• The Rise and Fall of Carbon Dioxide Systems (PDF)
• Sleeping Soundly on Summer Nights: A History of Air Conditioning in the Home (PDF)
• The Evolution of Modern Office Buildings and Air-Conditioning (PDF)
• Air-Conditioning in Office Buildings After World War II (PDF)
• Evolution of Automotive Heating—Riding in Comfort: Part I (PDF)
• Evolution of Automotive Heating—Riding in Comfort: Part II (PDF)
• The History of Ventilation and Temperature Control (PDF)
• A View of IAQ as the Century Closes (PDF)

A Look Back at HVAC&R

• Air conditioning still cool after 100 years 
• The ASHRAE Centennial: 100 Years of Progress (PDF - 13.5 MB)
• History of Refrigeration Timeline - 1939-1999 
• History of Refrigeration Timeline - 1906-1939
• History of Refrigeration Timeline - 1748-1904
• History of Refrigeration Timeline - 1748-1999 (PDF)