Microfilm was first used in 1853 to carry military messages out of Paris via carrier pigeon during the Franco-Prussian War. It was invented by John Benjamin Dancer. The first patent for microfilm was issued in 1859 to Rene Prudent Patrice Dagron. Both Dancer and Dagron were presented with NMA's Pioneer Award posthumously in 1959.

During World War II, V-Mail was invented as a method of transporting letters to and from troops in Europe by micro filming them, then transporting the film via air. This technique greatly reduced the bulk and weight thereby allowing air transportation and speeding up the mail system. It is said to have contributed to troop moral by moving mail faster. Copies of mail were reproduced at the destination and distributed in hard copy form.
In March of 1947 the first organizational meeting of the National Microfilm Association (NMA) was held in Cleveland, Ohio.
The first NMA Annual Meeting was held on February 28, 1952 in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

In 1953 at the 2nd Annual NMA Meeting in New York, the first Award of Merit was presented to George McCarthy, the inventor of the rotary camera and roll film reader. The inventions dated back over 20 years.
In 1955 a "Glossary of Terms used in Microreproduction", by Hendrix TenEyck, was the first Standards Publication produced by the National Microfilm Association.

The 1958 the NMA Annual Meeting was held in New Orleans and drew 14 exhibitors and approximately 200 attendees.
"The National Microfilm Association (NMA) was organized in 1943 and subsequently incorporated in the State of Michigan as a non-profit Corporation. Its purposes are to advance the interests of the microreproduction industry by providing a channel of communication for producers of equipment and supplies, service companies and for users whether individuals or companies. Through its educational program, the Association has worked to stabilize and improve technical production and use of microphotography, and to keep producers and users alike fully abreast of latest developments. Membership in the Association is open to all corporate groups and individuals interested in the general field."


(From 1959 Proceedings of the Eight Annual Meeting and Convention held April2-4, 1959 in Washington, D.C.)




During the 1959/60 program year, membership in NMA on a national level rose from 139 to 350 memberships. The recruitment budget for this increase was $514.16 and it generated $2,962.50 in membership revenue.

Members were broken down by size and their use of microfilm. Companies paid $50.00 a year for their Class A, B or C memberships. Associates (private individuals) paid $7.50 a year.

A March 1, 1960 membership roster showed on three NMA members from Iowa. They included:
Iowa State University in Ames
Kilborn Photo Paper Co. in Cedar Rapids
Vern L. Thompson & Son Company of Cedar Rapids (purchased by Dick and Pat Meuler in 1972 who operated it as Jorm Microlab until 1990 when the name was changed to JMI Corporation, which was purchased by Crest Imaging Technologies in February of 1995).

In 1960, subscription to the NMA "The National Micro News" was $7.50 for six issues published bi-monthly.
The first chapter to be chartered was the Minnesota chapter in 1968. The next year, 1969, 13 new chapters were formed including the Midwest Chapter which was chartered on April 21, 1969 as the fifth chapter in the U.S.. The charter was signed by Milton Mandel as NMA President ad Vernon D. Tate as the Executive Secretary for the NMA Board of Directors.
Chapter records indicate Midwest Chapter meetings were held in the Quad Cities as early as 1962. The charter issued by NMA National provided additional financial support based on the number of National NMA members. During the early years the Chapter had several periods where membership dropped below the minimum number needed to maintain Chapter status but volunteers were able to recruit members to satisfy NMA requirements.

The first annual meeting billed as the NMA Conference and Exposition was held in Detroit in 1973.

By 1975 jacket systems and COM production caused the Association to change its name from the National Microfilm Association to the National Micrographics Association. The feeling was that the general user community associated the word 'microfilm' with roll film formats while the term 'micrographics' embraced all of the other fiche and aperture card media types available.

Prior to the 1978/79 Midwest Chapter year (10th Anniversary year), the Chapter covered all of central Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. During this program year the Chapter assisted in the formation of the Cornhusker Chapter to serve members residing in Nebraska and Western Iowa. The Cornhusker Chapter continues to thrive as an independent chapter.

In July, 1983, NMA became AIIM, the Association of Information and Image Management and the traditional Journal of Micrographics changed its name to JIIM, the Journal of Information and Image Management.

The Midwest Chapter of AIIM contributed the name of their chapter newsletter, INFORM, to AIIM national to use as the name of their Monthly publication beginning with the January 1987 edition. Mike Morrell of Deere and Company was responsible for the name INFORM. To date, no formal recognition has been give to the origin of the now international publication.
In 1987 Pat Meuler of JMI Corporation became the first woman President of the Midwest Chapter.

In 1997 the Midwest Chapter became one of the first Chapters to publish a web page.


In 1998 the Midwest Chapter received Chapter Showcase awards for the "Most Useable Idea" & the "Most Innovative Idea" at the annual Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
From 1998-2001 the Midwest Chapter was named "Chapter of the Year".
The Midwest Chapter will celebrate its 30th anniversary on April 21, 1999.

1969/70 - Dana Lasser */Paul Vaiana - Deere & Company
1970/71 - Donald J. Newman - 3M-BPSI Center
1971/72 - David D. Amren - Charles Bruning Company
1972/73 - Marlin Rott * - Mirco Technology Inc.
1973/74 - Paul Vaiana (Unverified) - Deere & Company
1974/75 - Don Kruzan (Unverified) - 3M Company
1975/76 - David D. Amren - Charles Bruning Company
1976/77 - Paul Vaiana * - Deere & Company
1977/78 - Paul Vaiana - Deere & Company
1978/79 - Dick Meuler * - JMI Corporation (Jorm Microlab)
1979/80 - Roy Johnson * - Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance
1980/81 - Roy Johnson - Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance
1981/82 - Mark Ostroot * - Principal Financial Group (Bankers Life)
1982/83 - Steve Kemble - JMI Corporation (Jorm Microlab)
1983/84 - Bill Walker - Allied Group (AID Insurance)
1984/85 - Chuck Carney - Principal Financial Group (Bankers Life)
1985/86 - Sherry Burnham - Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance
1986/87 - Mike Morrell * - Deere & Company
1987/88 - Pat Meuler - JMI Corporation (Jorm Microlab)
1988/89 - Pat Meuler - JMI Corporation (Jorm Microlab)
1989/90 - Mark Ostroot - Principal Financial Group
1990/91 - Scott Steele - First Image Management
1991/92 - Lori Emerson (started) - Amana Refrigeration
1991/92 - Amanda Johnson (ended) - Montgomery Elevator
1992/93 - Amanda Johnson - Montgomery Elevator
1993/94 - David Frank - Information Specialties, Inc.
1994/95 - Chuck Carney - Principal Financial Group
1995/96 - Janet Huebner - Century Companies of America
1996/97 - Mary Hamiel * - Principal Financial Group
1997/98 - Mary Hamiel * - Principal Financial Group
1998/99 - Dan Stence * - Path Technology Group
1999/2000 - Traci Boevers - CUNA Mutual Life Insurance Co.
2000/01 - David Frank - Information Specialties
2001/02 - Steve Fiers - Advanced Document Conversion
2002/03 - Carol Doser - Advanced Document Conversion
2003/04 - Dan Stence * - Silicon Plains Technologies
2004/05 - Craig Shogren - Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System
2005/06 - Steve Fiers - Advanced Document Conversion

Recipient of the AIIM National Distinguished Service Citation