An Ad Hoc Committee for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers was organized in April 1972. The establishment of the committee was assisted financially by a grant of $850 provided by the Haas Community Fund, and a $400 grant administered through Drexel University. The committee then surveyed Black professionals to ascertain their interest in establishing a formal organization dedicated to the professional advancement of Black chemists and chemical engineers. Enthusiastic questionnaire responses prompted the committee to expand and reconvene in September 1972 to setup a structured organization and to devise a means of securing funds to finance its development.

In December 1973, the Organization's Executive Board met to plan the first national meeting which was held in March 1974 in New Orleans. The national meeting provided a rare opportunity for Black chemists and chemical engineers to discuss issues of significance to their careers, to present technical papers, to formulate priorities and topics for future meetings. Practical and theoretical goals began to coalesce, and a national program was developed. The Organization has held national meetings since 1974.

The official name is the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. The official acronym is NOBCChE (pronounced No-be-shay). NOBCChE was incorporated in 1975 under the laws of the State of Georgia and has tax-exempt status as a non-profit professional society.

NOBCChE

• 1972 - An Ad Hoc committee is formed to explore establishing a national organization dedicated to the professional development of Black Chemist and Chemical Engineers.
  
  

  The Founders
  Dr. Joseph Cannon (Chemical Engineer Professor) - Howard University
  Dr. Lloyd Ferguson (Chemist Professer) - California State University
  Dr. William M. Jackson (Chemist Professor) - Howard University
  Dr. William Guillory (Chemist Professor) - Drexel University
  Dr. Henry C. McBay (Chemist Professor) - Morehouse College
  Dr. Charles Merideth (Chemist Chancellor), The Atlanta University Center, Inc.
  Dr. James Porter (Chemical Engineer Professor) - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

• 1973 - First Annual Meeting (AM) is held in New Orleans.
• 1974 - Dr. William Guillory elected first President of NOBCChE.
• 1975 - NOBCChE's Constitution is adopted.
• 1975 - NOBCChE is incorporated in the State of Georgia.
• 1976 - Procter & Gamble establishes the first Industrial Fellowship Award.
• 1978 - Polaroid Corporation underwrites the Boston AM, and this becomes the first financially successful AM.
• 1978 - Industrial exhibitors begin participation in AM's (Clarence Tucker, Polaroid Corp).
• 1978 - Graduate student participation begins with two MIT Chemical Engineering graduate students: Jeanne Patrick Yeboth and Yaw Yeboth.
• 1980 - Kodak Fellowship Award is established.
• 1981 - Dr. Theo Sorrel, is appointed Newsletter Editor. Converts the Newsletter to a full-page Newsmagazine.
• 1983 - First Professional Chapter formed - Gulf Coast Chapter in Houston, TX. Prior to this, only a Regional structure existed.
• 1985 - The Revenue Sharing Proposal is adopted at AM in Minneapolis MN - National Organization shares proceeds of AM's with Regions.
• 1986 - Dr. Denise Barnes is the first female to be elected as a Regional Chairperson (Northeast).
• 1987 - First AM on West Coast.
• 1987 - Graduate student participation in NOBCChE significantly increases, e.g.; Bruce Harris, Sharon Neal, Tommy Royster, Marlon Walker, and Allison Williams.
• 1987 - AM Registration is computerized.
• 1988 - National Office is established on the campus of Howard University.
• 1989 - First National Science Bowl is held. Science Bowls continue to the present time.
• 1989 - First student chapter formed at Howard University.
• 1990 - San Diego was the first financially successful AM without corporate underwriting.
• 1990 - First College Fair held at the San Diego AM.
• 1990 - NOBCChE begins to use professional management services, i.e., CPA, and later an attorney (1993).
• 1990 - First off-site (not part of AM program) meeting for Chapter Presidents is established.
• 1991- NOBCChE begins to accept credit card payments for AM Registration payment.
• 1993 - AM 9, Winifred Burks-Houck is elected the first female President of NOBCCHE. Note: Dr. Linda Meade -Tollin was the first female National Chairperson; and Florence Smith was the first female National Treasurer.
• 1993- NOBCChE begins the process to copyright the NOBCChE name and logo.
• 1995 - National Planning Committee established to assume responsibility for AM. Prior to this, the Regions rotated the responsibility.
• 1995 - NOCCHE AM Technical Program exceeds 100 technical papers.
• 1995 - Professor Emeritus, Dr. Henry C. McBay, is the first NOBCCHE Founder to pass away. At his passing, at the age of 80, he was still teaching at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA.
• 1996 - NOBCChE converts from paper membership cards to plastic cards.
• 1996 - A national financial management system is put in-place with Merril Lynch.
• 1998 - NOBCChE establishes a national website: NOBCChE.ORG.