1900 • David Wesson introduces his improved vacuum process for deodorizing cottonseed oil.

1902 • Connstein discovers the fermentation process for hydrolyzing fats in which the enzyme (lipase, occurring in castor beans) is employed. Normann applies the Sabatier process of catalytic hydrogenation to liquid oils permitting fats of any desired hardness to be prepared.

1909 • Chemistry, especially oil and fat chemistry, was in its infancy. In May 1909 nine men attending the 13th Annual Interstate Cottonseed Crushers' Association Meeting agreed to form an organization to meet each year to exchange ideas and information relating to oil and fat chemistry--AOCS was formed.

"There were so few trained chemists among the probable membership that it was decided to adopt the name of Cotton Products Analysts. As the industry grew it came to depend on chemistry more and more. Many of the leading chemists of the country joined the Society and its name changed in 1921 to the American Oil Chemists' Society." DAVID WESSON BEFORE THE MID-YEAR MEETING OF THE SOCIETY, OCTOBER 28, 1927.

1918 • The first book of Official Methods and Recommended Practices of the AOCS is published.

1924 • First publication of the Journal of the Oil and Fat Industries, which became the Oil and Fat Industries (1927), and Oil and Soap (1932). These were the precursors to the 1947 change to the Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society (JAOCS ).

1928 • "On the afternoon of October 25, a group of chemists particularly interested in the chemistry of oils and fats as applied to the manufacture of soap and other detergents and the recovery of, and the development of uses for glycerin, met in the Board of Managers room of the New York Produce Exchange to discuss the formation of a Soap Chemistry Section of the American Oil Chemists' Society." ARTICLE FROM THE NOVEMBER, 1928 ISSUE OIL & FAT INDUSTRIES

1937 • "Cottonseed Oil Leads in the Margarine Production. This is the first time on record that cottonseed oil has taken first place in the margarine production and is the first time since 1919 that coconut oil has not held the lead. The year's consumption of cottonseed oil by the margarine industry totaled 137 million pounds, or 43 percent of all oils used..." FROM THE OCTOBER, 1937 OIL & SOAP MAGAZINE

1937 • 10th meeting of AOCS--over 200 registered...over sixty papers concerned with fats and oils were presented.

1938 • Establishment of USDA Regional Research Centers.

1939 • 13th meeting of AOCS--extended to three days...the papers were presented according to a time schedule.

1941 • A.J.P. Martin and R.L.M. Synge pioneered partition chromatography and went on to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1952.

1945 • The distinction of being the 1,000th member of the American Oil Chemists' Society goes to Milton A. Glaser with Standard Varnish Works, Chicago.

1945 • The AOCS offices move to Room 1414 of the Pure Oil Building, 35 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL.

1951 • "In mid-July, 1951, the American Oil Chemists' Society passed the 2,000 mark in membership, and to commemorate this occasion a sketch and photograph of the 2,000th member are presented. He is George W. Moser, a consultant with Hardesty Industries,Philadelphia, PA." JAOCS

1951 • In what is now a classic experiment, 9% linolenic acid was interesterified into the glyceride structure of a "non-reverting," nonlinolenic acid oil - namely, cottonseed oil. The taste panel identified cottonseed oil interesterified with linolenic acid as a soybean oil.

1966 • In January, in an effort to bridge a gap in academic publishing, AOCS launched the first issue of Lipids.

1971 • Relocation of AOCS headquarters to Champaign from Chicago.

1972 • The Governing Board announced additional steps to encourage members to recruit others. Their plan was to institute the President's Club and Honor Roll, which have been continued each year. The President's Club consists of members who recruit at least one new member for that year. Their names are published in JAOCS in a cumulative club roster for the year. The President's Honor Roll is open to members recruiting at least three new members in a given year.

1972 • First AOCS monograph published: Tumor Lipids: Biochemistry and Metabolism by Randall Wood.

1976 • First AOCS World Conference: Oilseed and Vegetable Oils Processing Technologies in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

1981 • The Protein and Co-Products specialty section is approved.

1982 • Operations computerized at the AOCS administrative office.

1982 • The first in-house mainframe computer was purchased.

1984 • AOCS tops the 4,000 member mark.

1985 • The Canadian Section was the first international group to organize as a section of the AOCS.

1987 • Relocation of AOCS administrative office to first headquarters built for AOCS.

1987 • The Governing Board is restructured and coordinating committees are established.

1990 • inform is launched and JAOCS becomes strictly a peer-reviewed journal.

1990 • The concept of topical Divisions within AOCS was first identified.

1991 • The first eight, of a current eleven, Divisions are organized to provide greater identity for specific subject areas in a diverse Society.

1995 • AOCS tops the 5,000 member mark.

1998 • Journal of Surfactants and Detergents (JSD) is launched.

1999 • Section I of the Official Methods and Recommended Practices of the AOCS is reproduced in an interactive CD-ROM format, titled Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Oils, Fats, and Waxes.

1999 • Governing Board sells the headquarters building located at 1608 Broadmoor, Champaign, IL. Construction of a new headquarters is completed and in August staff moves to the larger building.

2000 • AOCS website is completely redesigned.

2001 • Online versions of two AOCS Press journals, JAOCS and Lipids, debut.

2002 • inform goes online for all AOCS members.

2004 • AOCS website completely redesigned.

2006 • Relocation of AOCS administrative office to a new headquarters in Urbana, Illinois USA.

2007 • Technical Services hosts expert committee meeting for the biodiesel industry and produces feedstock standards with new and existing methods.