History

Introduction

Over the last 60 years, the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) has grown to over 80 chapters with more than 6,500 members in the U.S. and internationally - in every major country of the world. Interestingly, the origin of the ASA and its long successful history traces back to the Los Angeles Chapter Appraisers - to four visionary appraisers in a small Los Angeles restaurant back in 1936.

The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers has long played a significant leadership role in the global appraisal profession, helping to found and shape the ASA itself and execute a vision for it to develop into what it is today - the world's premier and highest-regarded appraisal organization. Since the ASA's foundation, eight ASA International Presidents (and the ASA's founders) have all come from the Los Angeles Chapter Appraisers.

A Brief History of the Los Angeles Chapter Influence on ASA

1936	Los Angeles Chapter Members founded the predecessor organization of the ASA, in Los Angeles, originally as the American Society of Technical Appraisers (ASTA). The four men present at this historic beginning, Robert W. Stevens, Stuart C. Tait, Earl P. Marshall and Sam W. Gibson, felt that the appraisal profession had grown to a point where professional guidelines and disciplines were needed. Mr. Stevens was the founding president of the ASA.
1952	ASTA joins with the Technical Valuation Society (TVS) in New York, resulting in the creation of the American Society of Appraisers.  That same day, the ASA adopted ASA’s first Constitution and Bylaws and Code of Ethics.
1968	The ASA Educational Foundation is initiated by LA Chapter Member William Y. Armstrong.  Mr. Armstrong becomes the Foundation's first Chairman, leading the organization's mission to provide educational programs and carry on educational and research projects relating to the advancement of the art and science of valuation and appraisal.
1973	The Board of Governors establishes the College of Fellows of the ASA, formerly the Research and Development Council formed by LA Chapter Member Dr. Henry Babcock, who became the first Chancellor of the College. Under Dr. Babcock's leadership, an official authoritative body of appraisal principles (now known globally as Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, or USPAP) is first formulated and published.  Also in 1973, the ASA initiates the concept of the Valuation Sciences degree with a focus on the development and implementation of academically-recognized education and professional needs of appraisal practitioners and students and to reflect the very best of higher educational processes and criteria.
1986	Under the leadership of LA Chapter Member John H. Monroe (FASA), ASA International President, the ASA adopts its Mandatory Recertification Program, requiring Senior Members to recertify on a regular five-year basis, assuring that competent, relevant and current valuation counsel is available to the public.
1987	Mr. Monroe helps organize the Appraisal Foundation, comprised of the eight major appraisal societies, which is a self-regulatory organization.

We embrace our Chapter's colorful long-standing history and the leadership and contributions that past LA Chapter Members have provided to the global appraisal community.  We continue our Chapter's legacy of excellence in appraisal as we actively seek to service the diversified appraisal needs of our community, as one source for all your appraisal needs.  Click here to learn how our appraisers can serve you.