Origins of the IEEE Edison Medal [Scanning Our Past]

The Edison Medal is one of the most prestigious awards given in the United States and Canada recognizing meritorious accomplishments in the fields of electronics and electrical engineering. The year 2009 marked the 100th anniversary of this medal named in honor of America’s most famous inventor, Thomas Alva Edison. Edison’s work exemplifies the development of large scale industrial research laboratories, the creation of new technology, and the installation of the first complete electrical systems in the 19th century. For more than a century, many important contributors to the development of electronics have received the Edison Medal over its storied history. This article outlines the origins of the Edison Medal and its legacy of honor.