This page will be further edited in the coming weeks. For now, go ahead and browse the timeline. It’s the same one found near the bottom of the home page, along with a doctrinal history and a timeline of events in Barbara’s life. The timeline only provides a rough outline, of course. We may expand it to include separate timelines for Russell, Rutherford, Knorr/Franz, and the current Governing Body.
1870
1875
1880
1885
1890
1870Charles Taze Russell forms a Bible study group in Allegheny, Pennsylvania
1876Russell meets Nelson Barbour and adopts his chronology; becomes assistant editor of Herald of the Morning
1877Russell and Barbour jointly publish Three Worlds
1878Russell breaks with Barbour and withdraws his financial backing
1879 JulyRussell begins publishing Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence
1881 2/16Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society is formed in Pittsburgh, with W. H. Conley as president
1884 12/15The Society is legally incorporated in Pennsylvania; Russell becomes president
1886The first volume of Millennial Dawn, later Studies in the Scriptures, is published
1889The Society moves to Bible House, newly built premises on Arch Street, Allegheny
- 1870Charles Taze Russell forms a Bible study group in Allegheny, Pennsylvania
- 1876Russell meets Nelson Barbour and adopts his chronology; becomes assistant editor of Herald of the Morning
- 1877Russell and Barbour jointly publish Three Worlds
- 1878Russell breaks with Barbour and withdraws his financial backing
- 1879 JulyRussell begins publishing Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence
- 1881 2/16Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society is formed in Pittsburgh, with W. H. Conley as president
- 1884 12/15The Society is legally incorporated in Pennsylvania; Russell becomes president
- 1886The first volume of Millennial Dawn, later Studies in the Scriptures, is published
- 1889The Society moves to Bible House, newly built premises on Arch Street, Allegheny
1895
1900
1905
1910
1915
1896 9/19The corporation is renamed Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
1898 AprilTitle to Bible House is transferred to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
1900The first overseas branch office opens in Britain
1903A branch office opens in Germany
1904A branch office opens in Australia
1908Russell begins requiring directors to sign undated resignations he can invoke at will
1908 3/4Maria Russell is granted a limited divorce
1909Headquarters moves from Allegheny to Brooklyn, New York; the Bethel home is established
1909 2/23The People’s Pulpit Association is incorporated in New York, its charter giving the president absolute control
1909 OctoberAn adjoining building at 122 Columbia Heights is bought
1911A nine-story residential block is built at the rear of the Brooklyn headquarters
1913Russell loses a libel action against the Reverend J. J. Ross in Canada
1914The Photo-Drama of Creation is released and shown to large audiences
1914The International Bible Students Association is incorporated in Britain
1916 10/31Russell dies aboard a train near Pampa, Texas
1917 1/6Joseph Franklin Rutherford is elected president of the Society
1917 7/12Rutherford declares four board seats vacant and appoints replacements
1917 JulyThe Finished Mystery is published; four directors are ousted in the ensuing leadership dispute
1917 8/8The ousted directors leave the Brooklyn headquarters
1918 1/5Rutherford is returned to office at the annual election
1918 5/7Warrants are issued for Rutherford and seven associates
1918 6/21Rutherford and seven associates are sentenced to long prison terms under the Espionage Act
1919About one in seven Bible Students leave rather than accept Rutherford‘s leadership, forming rival movements
1919 1/2Imprisoned, Rutherford learns he has been re-elected president
1919 3/26Rutherford and his associates are released from Atlanta penitentiary on bail
1919 9/1Cedar Point convention, Ohio: The Golden Age magazine is announced
- 1896 9/19The corporation is renamed Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
- 1898 AprilTitle to Bible House is transferred to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
- 1900The first overseas branch office opens in Britain
- 1903A branch office opens in Germany
- 1904A branch office opens in Australia
- 1908Russell begins requiring directors to sign undated resignations he can invoke at will
- 1908 3/4Maria Russell is granted a limited divorce
- 1909Headquarters moves from Allegheny to Brooklyn, New York; the Bethel home is established
- 1909 2/23The People’s Pulpit Association is incorporated in New York, its charter giving the president absolute control
- 1909 OctoberAn adjoining building at 122 Columbia Heights is bought
- 1911A nine-story residential block is built at the rear of the Brooklyn headquarters
- 1913Russell loses a libel action against the Reverend J. J. Ross in Canada
- 1914The Photo-Drama of Creation is released and shown to large audiences
- 1914The International Bible Students Association is incorporated in Britain
- 1916 10/31Russell dies aboard a train near Pampa, Texas
- 1917 1/6Joseph Franklin Rutherford is elected president of the Society
- 1917 7/12Rutherford declares four board seats vacant and appoints replacements
- 1917 JulyThe Finished Mystery is published; four directors are ousted in the ensuing leadership dispute
- 1917 8/8The ousted directors leave the Brooklyn headquarters
- 1918 1/5Rutherford is returned to office at the annual election
- 1918 5/7Warrants are issued for Rutherford and seven associates
- 1918 6/21Rutherford and seven associates are sentenced to long prison terms under the Espionage Act
- 1919About one in seven Bible Students leave rather than accept Rutherford‘s leadership, forming rival movements
- 1919 1/2Imprisoned, Rutherford learns he has been re-elected president
- 1919 3/26Rutherford and his associates are released from Atlanta penitentiary on bail
- 1919 9/1Cedar Point convention, Ohio: The Golden Age magazine is announced
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
1920 2/1The Watch Tower is printed on the Society’s own presses at Myrtle Street, Brooklyn, for the first time
1920 5/5All charges against Rutherford and his associates are formally dropped
1922The printing factory moves to 18 Concord Street, Brooklyn
1922 9/5Second Cedar Point convention: ‘Advertise the King and the Kingdom’ becomes the rallying cry
1924 2/24Radio station WBBR is dedicated on Staten Island
1926The factory moves to a new eight-story building at 117 Adams Street, Brooklyn
1929Beth Sarim is built in San Diego, California
1931 7/26At the Columbus, Ohio convention the name Jehovah’s Witnesses is adopted
1932Elective elders are abolished in favour of appointed service directors
1938Theocratic organisation is instituted; congregations lose the right to elect their own servants
1941 8/10St. Louis Theocratic Assembly: the book Children is released to 15,000 young people
1942 1/8Rutherford dies at Beth Sarim
1942 1/13Nathan Homer Knorr is elected the third president of the Society
1942 9/20New World Theocratic Assembly, Cleveland: Knorr delivers ‘Peace – Can It Last?’
1943The Theocratic Ministry School is established in every congregation
1943 2/1The Watchtower Bible School of Gilead opens in South Lansing, New York
1944 9/30Charter changes are announced in Pittsburgh to bring the 1884 charter into ‘closer harmony with theocratic principles’
- 1920 2/1The Watch Tower is printed on the Society’s own presses at Myrtle Street, Brooklyn, for the first time
- 1920 5/5All charges against Rutherford and his associates are formally dropped
- 1922The printing factory moves to 18 Concord Street, Brooklyn
- 1922 9/5Second Cedar Point convention: ‘Advertise the King and the Kingdom’ becomes the rallying cry
- 1924 2/24Radio station WBBR is dedicated on Staten Island
- 1926The factory moves to a new eight-story building at 117 Adams Street, Brooklyn
- 1929Beth Sarim is built in San Diego, California
- 1931 7/26At the Columbus, Ohio convention the name Jehovah’s Witnesses is adopted
- 1932Elective elders are abolished in favour of appointed service directors
- 1938Theocratic organisation is instituted; congregations lose the right to elect their own servants
- 1941 8/10St. Louis Theocratic Assembly: the book Children is released to 15,000 young people
- 1942 1/8Rutherford dies at Beth Sarim
- 1942 1/13Nathan Homer Knorr is elected the third president of the Society
- 1942 9/20New World Theocratic Assembly, Cleveland: Knorr delivers ‘Peace – Can It Last?’
- 1943The Theocratic Ministry School is established in every congregation
- 1943 2/1The Watchtower Bible School of Gilead opens in South Lansing, New York
- 1944 9/30Charter changes are announced in Pittsburgh to bring the 1884 charter into ‘closer harmony with theocratic principles’
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1945 1/1The amended charter takes effect, ending the voting-shares system
1949The Adams Street factory expansion is completed, occupying an entire city block
1950 8/2Theocracy’s Increase Assembly, Yankee Stadium: the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures is released
1953 7/19New World Society Assembly, Yankee Stadium, New York: attendance exceeds 165,000
1955The corporation is renamed Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
1956A 13-story building is constructed at 77 Sands Street, Brooklyn
1958 7/27Divine Will International Assembly at Yankee Stadium and the Polo Grounds; peak attendance 253,922
1961The complete New World Translation is released in one volume
1963Everlasting Good News’ Around-the-World Assembly spans 24 countries
1963Watchtower Farms at Wallkill, New York, is purchased; a second parcel follows in 1967
1968An adjoining 11-story printing factory is completed in Brooklyn
1969Peace on Earth’ International Assemblies are held worldwide
1969 NovemberThe Squibb complex in Brooklyn is purchased
- 1945 1/1The amended charter takes effect, ending the voting-shares system
- 1949The Adams Street factory expansion is completed, occupying an entire city block
- 1950 8/2Theocracy’s Increase Assembly, Yankee Stadium: the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures is released
- 1953 7/19New World Society Assembly, Yankee Stadium, New York: attendance exceeds 165,000
- 1955The corporation is renamed Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
- 1956A 13-story building is constructed at 77 Sands Street, Brooklyn
- 1958 7/27Divine Will International Assembly at Yankee Stadium and the Polo Grounds; peak attendance 253,922
- 1961The complete New World Translation is released in one volume
- 1963Everlasting Good News’ Around-the-World Assembly spans 24 countries
- 1963Watchtower Farms at Wallkill, New York, is purchased; a second parcel follows in 1967
- 1968An adjoining 11-story printing factory is completed in Brooklyn
- 1969Peace on Earth’ International Assemblies are held worldwide
- 1969 NovemberThe Squibb complex in Brooklyn is purchased
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1971Founding members: F. W. Franz, Raymond Franz, Gangas, Greenlees, Groh, Henschel, W. K. Jackson, Knorr, Suiter, Sullivan, Swingle
1971 10/1The Governing Body is formally established, initially eleven members
1972The congregation elder arrangement replaces the single congregation servant
1974The Towers Hotel on Willow Street is bought for accommodation
1974 11/28Charles Fekel is announced as a new Governing Body member
1975The Governing Body is enlarged; Booth, Barry, Klein, Schroeder, Sydlik, Jaracz, Barber and Barr join
1976 1/1The Governing Body reorganises into six committees and takes supervision of all Society activities, decisively reducing the president’s power
1977 6/8Nathan Knorr dies
1977 6/22Frederick William Franz becomes the fourth president of the Society
1977 9/7Martin Poetzinger is announced as a Governing Body member
1979Ewart Chitty resigns from the Governing Body
1979The Society operates 39 printing branches worldwide
1980 5/22Raymond Franz leaves the Governing Body
1981Raymond Franz is disfellowshipped
1983The Bossert Hotel at 98 Montague Street is bought as a residence
1983 3/1360 Furman Street is bought and renovated for shipping, carpentry and construction
1984Leo Greenlees resigns from the Governing Body
1984A 270-hectare farm at Patterson, New York, is bought for $2.1 million
1988 6/16Martin Poetzinger dies
1992 12/22Frederick Franz dies
1992 12/30Milton George Henschel becomes the fifth president of the Society
1994 7/1Gerrit Loesch joins the Governing Body
- 1971Founding members: F. W. Franz, Raymond Franz, Gangas, Greenlees, Groh, Henschel, W. K. Jackson, Knorr, Suiter, Sullivan, Swingle
- 1971 10/1The Governing Body is formally established, initially eleven members
- 1972The congregation elder arrangement replaces the single congregation servant
- 1974The Towers Hotel on Willow Street is bought for accommodation
- 1974 11/28Charles Fekel is announced as a new Governing Body member
- 1975The Governing Body is enlarged; Booth, Barry, Klein, Schroeder, Sydlik, Jaracz, Barber and Barr join
- 1976 1/1The Governing Body reorganises into six committees and takes supervision of all Society activities, decisively reducing the president’s power
- 1977 6/8Nathan Knorr dies
- 1977 6/22Frederick William Franz becomes the fourth president of the Society
- 1977 9/7Martin Poetzinger is announced as a Governing Body member
- 1979Ewart Chitty resigns from the Governing Body
- 1979The Society operates 39 printing branches worldwide
- 1980 5/22Raymond Franz leaves the Governing Body
- 1981Raymond Franz is disfellowshipped
- 1983The Bossert Hotel at 98 Montague Street is bought as a residence
- 1983 3/1360 Furman Street is bought and renovated for shipping, carpentry and construction
- 1984Leo Greenlees resigns from the Governing Body
- 1984A 270-hectare farm at Patterson, New York, is bought for $2.1 million
- 1988 6/16Martin Poetzinger dies
- 1992 12/22Frederick Franz dies
- 1992 12/30Milton George Henschel becomes the fifth president of the Society
- 1994 7/1Gerrit Loesch joins the Governing Body
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
1995A 30-story residential building for 1,000 workers is completed at 90 Sands Street
1999 10/2Guy Pierce and David Splane are announced as Governing Body members
2000From this point the Society’s president is a ‘helper’ to the Governing Body rather than its leader
2000 10/7Corporate restructuring: Governing Body members resign from the boards; Don A. Adams becomes president
2003 3/22Milton Henschel dies
2004Printing operations begin transferring from Brooklyn to Wallkill; 360 Furman Street sells for $205 million
2005 9/1Anthony Morris III and Geoffrey Jackson join the Governing Body
2009 February$11.5 million is paid for 100 hectares at Ramapo, New York, for a new administrative complex
2010 6/9Theodore Jaracz dies
2012 JulyWarwick Planning Commission approves the environmental impact statement for the new headquarters
2012 9/1Mark Sanderson joins the Governing Body
2013 JulyWarwick approves building plans for the new headquarters complex
2014 3/18Guy Pierce dies
2016World headquarters relocates from Brooklyn to Warwick, New York
2016 5/1124 Columbia Heights, held since 1909, is sold for $105 million
2016 8/3The 25/30 Columbia Heights headquarters complex is sold for $340 million
2017 4/20The Russian Supreme Court bans Jehovah’s Witnesses as an extremist organisation
2018 1/24Kenneth Cook Jr. joins the Governing Body
- 1995A 30-story residential building for 1,000 workers is completed at 90 Sands Street
- 1999 10/2Guy Pierce and David Splane are announced as Governing Body members
- 2000From this point the Society’s president is a ‘helper’ to the Governing Body rather than its leader
- 2000 10/7Corporate restructuring: Governing Body members resign from the boards; Don A. Adams becomes president
- 2003 3/22Milton Henschel dies
- 2004Printing operations begin transferring from Brooklyn to Wallkill; 360 Furman Street sells for $205 million
- 2005 9/1Anthony Morris III and Geoffrey Jackson join the Governing Body
- 2009 February$11.5 million is paid for 100 hectares at Ramapo, New York, for a new administrative complex
- 2010 6/9Theodore Jaracz dies
- 2012 JulyWarwick Planning Commission approves the environmental impact statement for the new headquarters
- 2012 9/1Mark Sanderson joins the Governing Body
- 2013 JulyWarwick approves building plans for the new headquarters complex
- 2014 3/18Guy Pierce dies
- 2016World headquarters relocates from Brooklyn to Warwick, New York
- 2016 5/1124 Columbia Heights, held since 1909, is sold for $105 million
- 2016 8/3The 25/30 Columbia Heights headquarters complex is sold for $340 million
- 2017 4/20The Russian Supreme Court bans Jehovah’s Witnesses as an extremist organisation
- 2018 1/24Kenneth Cook Jr. joins the Governing Body
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2023 1/18Gage Fleegle joins the Governing Body
2023 2/22Anthony Morris III leaves the Governing Body in unclear circumstances
2024 10/5Jody Jedele joins the Governing Body
- 2023 1/18Gage Fleegle joins the Governing Body
- 2023 2/22Anthony Morris III leaves the Governing Body in unclear circumstances
- 2024 10/5Jody Jedele joins the Governing Body