WATCHTOWER HISTORY

*1852 Founder Charles Taze Russell was born

*1870’s Russell studied the doctrines of Second Adventists: George Storrs, Jonas Wendell, George Stetson and Nelson Barbour

*1879: Russell began publishing Zion’s Watchtower And Herald of Christ’s Presence (Precursor to The Watchtower magazine)

*1881: Main Legal Entity Founded - Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

*1909: Headquarters Moved to Brooklyn, New York - Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc

*1916: Charles Taze Russell died

*1917-1942: Second Watchtower President “Judge” Joseph F. Rutherford

*1931: The name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” adopted.  

*1942-1977: Third Watchtower President Nathan H. Knorr

*1978-1992: Fourth Watchtower President: Frederick W. Franz

*1992-2000: Fifth Watchtower President: Milton George Henschel

*2000: Change in Organizational Structure:

**Three Corporations Formed: Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Religious Order of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Kingdom Support Services

**Watchtower “Governing Body” relinquished control of the organization to the Board of Directors, under Don A. Adams