Greenleaf Pickard and Alfred Goldsmith published six issues under the title Proceedings of the Wireless Institute. These early editions laid the groundwork for what would later evolve into a major scientific journal.
The newly formed Institute of Radio Engineers began publishing its own version of the proceedings in 1913. This change followed a merger between the Wireless Institute in New York and the Society of Wireless Telegraph Engineers based in Boston.
Alfred Norton Goldsmith served as the first editor-in-chief for an impressive forty-two years. His long tenure provided stability during the journal's formative decades.
By 2018, the enhanced impact factor rose to 10.694, moving the publication up to fifth place among Engineering, Electrical & Electronic categories. Journal Citation Reports recorded these metrics reflecting growing recognition within the global engineering community.
Major databases including Science Citation Index and Chemical Abstracts Service catalog content from this journal. Thomson Reuters maintains records through its Master Journal List while Current Contents / Engineering, Computing & Technology also includes entries.