The Virtual Assistant industry was founded sometime in the 1990's.  There are discrepancies as to who actually founded the VA business and what's agreed is that there were several pioneers in the industry who played a key role in developing and marketing the VA concept.
 
Below are a couple of versions of the Virtual Assistant industry and how it began.  These sources are very credible sources and provide 2 different views in to how the industry began.
 
 
 
IVAA (International Virtual Assistant Association)
BIRTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS
By Molly Alexander Darden