What award did Tesla receive from the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in 1917? He received the Edison Medal.
The American Institute of Electrical Engineers awarded Tesla its Edison Medal for his pioneering work in polyphase and high-frequency electrical currents. The award recognized his foundational contributions to alternating-current power systems and electrical engineering.
The medal was awarded in December 1916, but its formal presentation took place at the AIEE annual meeting in New York on May 18, 1917. This explains why both 1916 and 1917 appear in historical accounts.
The Edison Medal was named after Thomas Edison and was one of the AIEE’s highest honors. Tesla and Edison had earlier been professional rivals, making the recognition historically notable.