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Before Jehovah's Witnesses was founded, Charles Taze Russell created the Bible Student Movement in the 1870s. This religious movement studied the Bible but rejected many traditional Christian beliefs and practices (ex. the view on Hell and the doctrine of the Trinity). Around this decade, Russell produced a periodical called The Watchtower (1879) and many books on his beliefs.
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Russell founded and became the president of the The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. This non-profit religious organization later served as the administrative center for the Jehovah's Witnesses.
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Following Russell's death on October 31, 1916, Joseph Franklin Rutherford was elected second president of The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.
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The original Bible Student movement adopts the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" and becomes an organized religion. The name is derived from Jehovah or Yahweh, the true God, and the Witnesses, the followers.
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During Knorr's presidency, membership rose from one hundred thousand to over two million. Knorr founded several schools to train missionaries and leaders. He also had a group of Witnesses produce new translations of the Bible (note: throughout the religion, it has faced many controversies due to its major deviations from traditional Christianity).
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Nathan H. Knorr succeeded Rutherford as president of the Watch Tower Society. Knorr continued and expanded Rutherford's policies on their religious teachings.
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Following Knorr, several presidents were elected over time, each reorganizing and updating Jehovah's Witnesses.