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 

As an ASHRAE Member you can search and download any ASHRAE article back to 1997. There are a number of articles detailing either industry or society history.

Go to the Members Only ASHRAE Journal Archive
NOTE: You will need to use your member login to access this area.

The Abstract Archives are a member benefit consisting of an online index of almost 7,000 abstracts of papers and publications from ASHRAE. It is a useful tool for identifying many papers and articles that are not available through the online bookstore.

• Abstract Archives

These indexes were scanned from paper indexes. They are arranged by broad subject categories and authors' last names. To access the page with the links to the indexes, you must be logged in as an ASHRAE member.

• ASHRAE Indexes

These archive indexes cover items held in the ASHRAE Library Archives at ASHRAE Headquarters.

• 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 Recall 

The Society Gold Ribbon Award is given for Chapter entries detailing the history of a system, standard, person, event or a company significant to the Chapter’s history as a part of the PAOE process.

• Gold Ribbon Award 

• Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Patents 
• Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Chronology (updated 5/10/2006)

This series of articles appeared in ASHRAE Journal beginning in December 1998 and running through November 1999.

• Introduction to the First Century of Air Conditioning (PDF)
  By Harry M. Will.
• John Gorrie, The Visionary (PDF)
  By John Gladstone.
• Application of Electric Power in HVAC&R Systems (PDF)
  By Bruce L. Flaniken, P.E.
• A History of Comfort Cooling Using Ice (PDF)
  By Bernard Nagengast
• Early Twentieth Century Air-Conditioning Engineering (PDF)
  By Bernard Nagengast
• The Rise and Fall of Carbon Dioxide Systems (PDF)
  By William S. Bodinus, P.E.
• Sleeping Soundly on Summer Nights: A History of Air Conditioning in the Home (PDF)
  By Mike Pauken, P.E.
• The Evolution of Modern Office Buildings and Air-Conditioning (PDF)
  By David Arnold, F.R.Eng.
• Air-Conditioning in Office Buildings After World War II (PDF)
  By David Arnold, F.R.Eng.
• Evolution of Automotive Heating—Riding in Comfort: Part I (PDF)
  By Mohinder S. Bhatti, Ph.D.
• Evolution of Automotive Heating—Riding in Comfort: Part II (PDF)
  By Mohinder S. Bhatti, Ph.D.
• The History of Ventilation and Temperature Control (PDF)
  By John E. Janssen
• A View of IAQ as the Century Closes (PDF)
  By Arthur E. Wheeler, P.E.

Miscellaneous articles of historical interest to the reader.

• Air conditioning still cool after 100 years 
• The ASHRAE Centennial: 100 Years of Progress (PDF - 13.5 MB)
• Report on Domestic Refrigerating Machines, 1923 - 1925
  By Alexander Stevenson Jr. (1892-1946).
• Documentation of 1920's Carbon Dioxide Air Conditioning System -- Orpheum Theater, Minneapolis, MN
  Documented by Bernard Nagengast et al.
• History in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry: Breakthrough of Large Positive Displacement Rotary Compressors in the Second Half of the 20th Century
  By Henri Soumerai.

Images of the History of Refrigeration Timeline.

• 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)

• Historical Committee