The Masonry Institute of America was founded in 1957 under the name of Masonry Research. We are a promotion, technical and research organization established to improve and extend the use of masonry. The Masonry Institute of America is primarily supported by Southern California union signatory masonry contractors through a labor management contract between unions and contractors. We are active in California and throughout the United States in the development of national building codes, promoting new ideas and masonry work, improving existing building codes, conducting research projects, presenting design, construction and inspection seminars and writing technical and non-technical papers, all for the purpose of improving the masonry industry.