Grounded in History Archives

Remembering Henry Miller

This month marks the 130th anniversary of the death of our founder and first president, Henry Miller. On July 10, 1896, Miller came into contact with a live wire while on top of a pole, instantly sending 2,200 volts through his body. He suffered severe injuries from the fall and passed away a few hours later in his boarding house in Washington, D.C. His death is a reminder of the inherent dangers of electrical work and the constant vigilance our members must maintain to ensure their safety and the safety of those around them. It is for this reason that we recognize July 10 as National Lineworker Appreciation Day.

July 1, 2026

Frank Selke: Hockey Legend, Proud IBEW Member

Frank Selke won nine Stanley Cups during a storied career managing Canadian hockey teams. But he was equally proud of the IBEW card he carried for more than 50 years.

June 1, 2026

All Aboard the Brotherhood Special!

Delegates’ Train Ride to 1925 Convention Electrified Their Bonds A century after an epic train ride to an IBEW convention

May 1, 2026

How the Earliest Sisters Helped Shape the IBEW

Mary Honzik couldn’t have imagined her present-day IBEW sisters, women who string high-voltage power lines, wire complex construction projects, even serve as foremen supervising their union brothers on work sites.

April 1, 2026

Stronger Together: An IBEW and Civil Rights Veteran’s Lessons on Progress

Charlie Horhn’s activism took root in a segregated factory in Jackson, Miss., where “Colored” signs hung over the cafeteria, water fountains and restrooms Black workers were allowed to use. Even work areas were separated. Away from the plant’s whites-only assembly line, Horhn and other Black men forged components of small kitchen appliances for meager wages and the occasional nickel-an-hour raise.

March 1, 2026

‘The Union Who Fought for Democracy’

In November, the IBEW introduced the Veterans Challenge Coin, not only as a way to honor our members who served in the military but also to strengthen camaraderie among veterans. To get yours, scan the QR code alongside this article.

January 1, 2026

The Right of Reciprocity

The first health and welfare plans offered by IBEW locals appeared in the 1950s. Locals soon established trustee boards to administer these plans, similar to how their pension funds had been managed since the 1920s.

December 1, 2025

Antenna to the Future: The IBEW TV Techs of 1950

From the first light poles to nuclear power to data centers, the IBEW has always been at the cutting edge,

November 1, 2025

When Helmets Became Hardhats

The Helmets to Hardhats program was created in 2003 to help military servicemembers and veterans find career opportunities in the unionized construction industry. Since then, it has helped over 50,000 military personnel transfer into civilian careers, a process symbolized by the program’s name.

October 1, 2025

Henry Miller, Remembered by Those Who Knew Him

On July 11, 1896, Henry Miller, the IBEW’s founder and first president, succumbed to injuries he sustained the night before while on the job. He was called out to repair a downed line, but on reaching the top of the pole, he came into contact with a live wire and was thrown to the ground by 2,200 volts.

August 1, 2025