Boston Chapter ASHRAE - Started February 8, 1912

Originally the Boston Chapter was the Massachusetts Chapter.

The Name

  • 1894-1954 -- American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (ASHRAE) and chartered the Massachusetts Chapter February 8, 1912.

  • 1954-1962 -- American Society of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHAE)

  • 1905-1962 -- American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE). Formed in 1905 and chartered the Boston chapter December, 4 1929

  • 1962-Present -- American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 

Early History

Quote directly (including punctuation, capitalization, and spelling) from the 1912 ASHRAE Transactions, Proceedings of the Semi-Annual Meeting, "Report of Massachusetts Chapter", p. 326:

"The first meeting of the Massachusetts Chapter was held at the office of the Society at the Engineering Societies' Building, New York City. H. W. Whitten was elected temporary President, and D.S. Boyden, temporary Secretary. A committee on constitution and by-laws, of which Wm. G. Snow was chairman, and on nomination of officers, of which A.B. Franklin was chairman, were appointed.

The second meeting was held February 8, at office of Cooper & Bailey, 89 Franklin street, Boston. The following officers were elected:

  • President, Wm. G. Snow.

  • Vice-President, Frank Irving Cooper.

  • Secretary, Herbert W. Whitten.

  • Treasurer, Wm. T. Smalmlan.

  • Managers, A. B. Franklin, Jos. A. Moore, D. S. Boyden.

Mr. Snow reported a constitution and by-laws which were adopted, subject to the action of the Board of Governors of the parent body."

Other Items to Note:

The first elected president William G. Snow had been national president of the society in 1909.

Boston has hosted Society events the first was in 1925 and took place jointly in New York and Boston and they commuted by train:

  • 1925  ASHRAE Annual                   January 27-30

  • 1932  ASHRAE Semi-Annual         June 9-11

  • 1945  ASHRAE 51st Annual           November 25-28

  • 1956  ASHRAE Semi-Annual         June 9-11

  • 1975  ASHRAE Annual                  June 22-26

  • 1997  ASHRAE Annual                  June 28-July 2

Over the years the following chapters have been formed from our Chapter.

  • Western Massachusetts in        1955

  • Rhode Island in                         1959

  • Maine in                                    1972

Painting of a historic town square with old buildings, horse-drawn carriages, and people walking, titled 'Old State House 1801 James B Marston'.