Celebrating 80 Years of AIIM: A Journey Through Information Management

Today (July 28, 2024), we at AIIM (Association for Intelligent Information Management) are thrilled to celebrate our 80th anniversary. With celebrations kicking off earlier this year at the AIIM Conference, today offers us a moment to reflect on our rich history, celebrate our achievements, and look forward to an exciting future in the ever-evolving world of information management.

Roots in Technology and Information Management

AIIM members have always been future-focused and tech-forward. AIIM's story began on Friday, July 28, 1944, when our original members first convened at the Essex House in New York City. Archives at the University of Michigan reveal that four companies attended this inaugural meeting, representing about 13 other companies who supported the creation of an association. The founding members present were:

• The Microfilm Corporation (Carl F. Lezius, President)
• University Microfilm, Inc (Eugene Power, President)
• The Microstat Corporation (Mach Lehman, Treasurer)
• Graphic Microfilm Service, Inc (Franklin M Morgan, Executive VP and Richard W. Batchelder, Technical Director)

Their agenda was clear: confirm the need for an association, create bylaws, and establish membership criteria. This meeting laid the foundation for what would become a global leader in information management.

Evolution Through the Decades

Our journey has been one of constant evolution, adapting to the changing landscape of information technology:

1945: Incorporated in Michigan as the National Microfilm Association
1975: Renamed to National Micrographics Association
1983: Became the Association for Information & Image Management (AIIM)
1994: Added 'International' to our name, reflecting our global focus
2018: Rebranded as the Association for Intelligent Information Management

Each name change reflected our commitment to staying at the forefront of information management trends and technologies.

Recent Achievements and Future Plans

In the past twelve months, AIIM has continued to innovate and lead the industry by:

• Introducing a new Strategy System
• Launching the AIIM Ambassador Program
• Redesigning our Leadership Council Meetings into the Information and Data Leadership Symposium
• Expanding our Training Partner program and welcoming Leadership Through Data as our new Affiliate Partner
• Developing a new industry watch report, providing valuable insights
• Welcoming the Business Forms Management Association into the AIIM family
• Updating our Certified Information Professional (CIP) program
• Updating our homepage and online community
• Advocating for members by contributing to AI policy development and representing AIIM in coalitions.

Looking ahead, we're excited about:

• Introducing New AI learning initiatives
• Hosting more Demo Days to showcase cutting-edge technologies
• Reimagining our in-person events to deliver you more value
• Continuing to advocate for the information management industry
  
  

Join Us in Shaping the Future

As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we invite you to become part of AIIM's future. By joining as a member, you'll gain access to exclusive content, member-only virtual conversations, and our private online community. Team memberships are also available for organizations looking to empower their entire information management staff.

We're grateful to all who have been part of our journey, including former AIIM Board Member, AIIM Fellow #117, and unofficial AIIM historian Ed LoTurco, who has been instrumental in preserving our history.

Here's to 80 years of innovation, collaboration, and leadership in information management. We look forward to continuing this journey with you for many more years to come!

Watch our 80th Anniversary video below. For a detailed look at our history, check out our shareable timeline featuring key milestones from AIIM's rich past.