Our History

The International Brotherhood of Electrical workers Union was founded on November 28,1891 in St. Louis, Missouri. There were ten delegates (pictured) representing two hundered eighty six members in attendance. Henry Miller was elected as the first International President and J.T. Kelly as the first International Secretary-Treasurer. Kalamazoo received it's charter on September 14^th, 1916 and was signed by the seventh International President F.J.McNulty. Kalamazoo is the fourth local to use the number 131 the first local was Columbia, South Carolina from 1900-1901 the second was Traverse City, Michigan from 1901-1908 the third was Twin Falls, Idaho (timespan unknown). For more history about the I.B.E.W., click here to visit the International site.