OUR HISTORY

• May 11th, 1929 • Fresno, California • California Division of the International Association for Identification Convention. These are the elements that surrounded the birth of our great organization. It was here that a series of events (see Home Coming ) combined to lead eleven attendees of this convention to form an association and become members of a group that would soon become the International Footprint Association, Inc.. 
• Word of the association quickly spread at other conventions where the Footprinters set up headquarters and held open houses for the entertainment and good fellowship of their members. Membership grew rapidly and the Footprinters held their own first Grand Convention at the Whitcomb Hotel in San Francisco in 1931. About 300 members attended. 
• The original reason for forming the Footprinters is explained in "It's A Fact…". We have included a few pictures that depict the Camaraderie, Fun, and Adventure that the early Footprints brought to the law enforcement community through their events. There is even one well preserved moment of rare Disappointment from these early days. 
• Originally membership was limited to law enforcement officials. Later this limited scope was expanded to peace officers (active and retired) from all agencies, doctors, lawyers, elected and appointed officials, men and women of all professions and businesses, and all citizens sympathetic to good law enforcement and its attendant problems. 
• The early rapid growth of the Association was accelerated even more by the first Grand Convention. We continued to grow so fast that we became incorporated January 26, 1932. Because of the wide spread popularity of the Footprinters our Board of Directors (on June 6th 1935) voted to form the organization into local chapters each being subordinate to the governing body of the Grand Chapter. 

Today the Footprinters have
41 chapters in eight states and over
4,000 members.

• Each chapter still promotes the original precepts of the Footprinters and, in addition, have added many other objectives to their agenda. While some chapter objectives are unique to the individual chapter, many of them have common threads. Some of these are: 
• To promote support for law enforcement within their community.
• Recognize the achievements of individuals within law enforcement.
• Sponsor worthy movements within their communities.
• Support charitable causes, especially childrens charities.
• Provide scholarships to people interested in law enforcement.
• Promote the true spirit of Americanism.
• Join us. Promote and support law enforcement. Live our slogan of "Bigger and Better Footprints Means Better Cooperation".