The initially called AIEE Lamme Medal was established in 1924 by the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) to recognize members for 'meritorious achievement in the development of electrical apparatus or machinery.'
The medal was named in recognition of Benjamin G. Lamme, Westinghouse' chief engineer, who amongst others was responsible for the construction of the Niagara Falls generators.
The medal, established in accordance with Lamme's will, bears the inscription "The engineer views hopefully the hitherto unattainable.
The scope was also extended to 'meritorious achievement in the development of electrical or electronic power apparatus or systems.'
Field "for the mathematical and experimental investigation of eddy current losses in large slot wound conductors in electrical machinery".