The people, events, and issues that were involved in the beginning and the evolution of the "Journal of Chemical Education" and the Division of Chemical Education (DivCHED) are traced and discussed. The constitution of the American Chemical Society incorporates the roots of chemical education as an area of interest to the Society. Both DivCHED and the "Journal" have developed from these roots. The precollege initiative was an early concept in the development of the "Journal." It gained significant traction during the CHEM Study project, which was part of the response to the "Sputnik" event.