diff --git a/proc/libprocps.sym b/proc/libprocps.sym
index e1866935..77655d94 100644
--- a/proc/libprocps.sym
+++ b/proc/libprocps.sym
@@ -70,10 +70,15 @@ global:
 	procps_meminfo_get_chain;
 	procps_stat_new;
 	procps_stat_read;
+	procps_stat_read_jiffs;
 	procps_stat_ref;
 	procps_stat_unref;
 	procps_stat_get_cpu;
 	procps_stat_get_cpu_chain;
+	procps_stat_get_jiffs;
+	procps_stat_get_jiffs_all;
+	procps_stat_get_jiffs_hist;
+	procps_stat_get_jiffs_hist_all;
 	procps_stat_get_sys;
 	procps_stat_get_sys_chain;
 	procps_vmstat_new;
diff --git a/proc/readstat.c b/proc/readstat.c
index 16322ad3..48c323f4 100644
--- a/proc/readstat.c
+++ b/proc/readstat.c
@@ -13,16 +13,7 @@
 #define STAT_FILE "/proc/stat"
 
 struct stat_data {
-    jiff cpu_user;
-    jiff cpu_nice;
-    jiff cpu_sys;
-    jiff cpu_idle;
-    jiff cpu_iowait;
-    jiff cpu_irq;
-    jiff cpu_sirq;
-    jiff cpu_stol;
-    jiff cpu_guest;
-    jiff cpu_gnice;
+    struct procps_jiffs cpu;
     unsigned int intr;
     unsigned int ctxt;
     unsigned int btime;
@@ -31,10 +22,19 @@ struct stat_data {
     unsigned int procs_running;
 };
 
+struct procps_jiffs_private {
+    struct procps_jiffs_hist cpu;
+    // future additions go here, please
+};
+
 struct procps_statinfo {
     int refcount;
     int stat_fd;
     struct stat_data data;
+    int jiff_hists_alloc;
+    int jiff_hists_inuse;
+    struct procps_jiffs_private *jiff_hists;
+    struct procps_jiffs_private cpu_summary;
 };
 
 
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ PROCPS_EXPORT int procps_stat_new (
 
     v->refcount = 1;
     v->stat_fd = -1;
+/*  v->jiff_hists_alloc = 0;   unecessary with calloc  */
+/*  v->jiff_hists_inuse = 0;   but serves as reminder  */
     *info = v;
     return 0;
 }
@@ -79,7 +81,7 @@ PROCPS_EXPORT int procps_stat_read (
     int size;
 
     if (info == NULL)
-        return -1;
+        return -EINVAL;
 
     memset(&(info->data), 0, sizeof(struct stat_data));
     /* read in the data */
@@ -111,16 +113,16 @@ PROCPS_EXPORT int procps_stat_read (
         *tail = '\0';
         if (0 == strcmp(head, "cpu")) {
             if (sscanf(tail+1, "%Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu",
-                &(info->data.cpu_user),
-                &(info->data.cpu_nice),
-                &(info->data.cpu_sys),
-                &(info->data.cpu_idle),
-                &(info->data.cpu_iowait),
-                &(info->data.cpu_irq),
-                &(info->data.cpu_sirq),
-                &(info->data.cpu_stol),
-                &(info->data.cpu_guest),
-                &(info->data.cpu_nice)
+                &(info->data.cpu.user),
+                &(info->data.cpu.nice),
+                &(info->data.cpu.system),
+                &(info->data.cpu.idle),
+                &(info->data.cpu.iowait),
+                &(info->data.cpu.irq),
+                &(info->data.cpu.sirq),
+                &(info->data.cpu.stolen),
+                &(info->data.cpu.guest),
+                &(info->data.cpu.nice)
                 ) != 10)
                 return -1;
 
@@ -167,6 +169,8 @@ PROCPS_EXPORT struct procps_statinfo *procps_stat_unref (
     info->refcount--;
     if (info->refcount > 0)
         return info;
+    if (info->jiff_hists)
+        free(info->jiff_hists);
     free(info);
     return NULL;
 }
@@ -177,25 +181,25 @@ PROCPS_EXPORT jiff procps_stat_get_cpu (
 {
     switch (item) {
         case PROCPS_CPU_USER:
-            return info->data.cpu_user;
+            return info->data.cpu.user;
         case PROCPS_CPU_NICE:
-            return info->data.cpu_nice;
+            return info->data.cpu.nice;
         case PROCPS_CPU_SYSTEM:
-            return info->data.cpu_sys;
+            return info->data.cpu.system;
         case PROCPS_CPU_IDLE:
-            return info->data.cpu_idle;
+            return info->data.cpu.idle;
         case PROCPS_CPU_IOWAIT:
-            return info->data.cpu_iowait;
+            return info->data.cpu.iowait;
         case PROCPS_CPU_IRQ:
-            return info->data.cpu_irq;
+            return info->data.cpu.irq;
         case PROCPS_CPU_SIRQ:
-            return info->data.cpu_sirq;
+            return info->data.cpu.sirq;
         case PROCPS_CPU_STOLEN:
-            return info->data.cpu_stol;
+            return info->data.cpu.stolen;
         case PROCPS_CPU_GUEST:
-            return info->data.cpu_guest;
+            return info->data.cpu.guest;
         case PROCPS_CPU_GNICE:
-            return info->data.cpu_gnice;
+            return info->data.cpu.gnice;
     }
     return 0;
 }
@@ -210,34 +214,34 @@ PROCPS_EXPORT int procps_get_cpu_chain (
     do {
         switch (item->item) {
             case PROCPS_CPU_USER:
-                item->result = info->data.cpu_user;
+                item->result = info->data.cpu.user;
                 break;
             case PROCPS_CPU_NICE:
-                item->result = info->data.cpu_nice;
+                item->result = info->data.cpu.nice;
                 break;
             case PROCPS_CPU_SYSTEM:
-                item->result = info->data.cpu_sys;
+                item->result = info->data.cpu.system;
                 break;
             case PROCPS_CPU_IDLE:
-                item->result = info->data.cpu_idle;
+                item->result = info->data.cpu.idle;
                 break;
             case PROCPS_CPU_IOWAIT:
-                item->result = info->data.cpu_iowait;
+                item->result = info->data.cpu.iowait;
                 break;
             case PROCPS_CPU_IRQ:
-                item->result = info->data.cpu_irq;
+                item->result = info->data.cpu.irq;
                 break;
             case PROCPS_CPU_SIRQ:
-                item->result = info->data.cpu_sirq;
+                item->result = info->data.cpu.sirq;
                 break;
             case PROCPS_CPU_STOLEN:
-                item->result = info->data.cpu_stol;
+                item->result = info->data.cpu.stolen;
                 break;
             case PROCPS_CPU_GUEST:
-                item->result = info->data.cpu_guest;
+                item->result = info->data.cpu.guest;
                 break;
             case PROCPS_CPU_GNICE:
-                item->result = info->data.cpu_gnice;
+                item->result = info->data.cpu.gnice;
                 break;
             default:
                 return -EINVAL;
@@ -304,3 +308,221 @@ PROCPS_EXPORT int procps_stat_get_sys_chain (
 
     return 0;
 }
+
+/*
+ * procps_stat_read_jiffs:
+ *
+ * Read the cpu data out of /proc/stat putting the information
+ * into the dynamically acquired 'jiff_hists' hanging off the
+ * info structure.  Along the way we gather historical stats and
+ * and embed the cpu summary line in the info structure as well
+ * ( since we had to read that first /proc/stat line anyway ).
+ *
+ * This is all private information but can be copied to caller
+ * supplied structures upon request.
+ */
+PROCPS_EXPORT int procps_stat_read_jiffs (
+        struct procps_statinfo *info)
+{
+  #define ALLOCincr 32
+    struct procps_jiffs_private *sum_ptr, *cpu_ptr;
+    char buf[8192], *bp;
+    int i, rc, size;
+
+    if (info == NULL)
+        return -EINVAL;
+
+    if (!info->jiff_hists_alloc) {
+        info->jiff_hists = calloc(ALLOCincr, sizeof(struct procps_jiffs_private));
+        if (!(info->jiff_hists))
+            return -ENOMEM;
+        info->jiff_hists_alloc = ALLOCincr;
+        info->jiff_hists_inuse = 0;
+    }
+
+    if (-1 == info->stat_fd && (info->stat_fd = open(STAT_FILE, O_RDONLY)) == -1)
+        return -errno;
+    if (lseek(info->stat_fd, 0L, SEEK_SET) == -1)
+        return -errno;
+    for (;;) {
+        if ((size = read(info->stat_fd, buf, sizeof(buf)-1)) < 0) {
+            if (errno == EINTR || errno == EAGAIN)
+                continue;
+            return -errno;
+        }
+        break;
+    }
+    if (size == 0)
+        return 0;
+    buf[size] = '\0';
+    bp = buf;
+
+    sum_ptr = &info->cpu_summary;
+    // remember from last time around
+    memcpy(&sum_ptr->cpu.old, &sum_ptr->cpu.new, sizeof(struct procps_jiffs));
+    // then value the summary line
+    if (8 > sscanf(bp, "cpu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu"
+        , &sum_ptr->cpu.new.user,  &sum_ptr->cpu.new.nice,   &sum_ptr->cpu.new.system
+        , &sum_ptr->cpu.new.idle,  &sum_ptr->cpu.new.iowait, &sum_ptr->cpu.new.irq
+        , &sum_ptr->cpu.new.sirq,  &sum_ptr->cpu.new.stolen
+        , &sum_ptr->cpu.new.guest, &sum_ptr->cpu.new.gnice))
+            return -1;
+    sum_ptr->cpu.id = -1;              // mark as summary
+
+    i = 0;
+reap_em_again:
+    cpu_ptr = info->jiff_hists + i;    // adapt to relocated if reap_em_again
+    do {
+        bp = 1 + strchr(bp, '\n');
+        // remember from last time around
+        memcpy(&cpu_ptr->cpu.old, &cpu_ptr->cpu.new, sizeof(struct procps_jiffs));
+        if (8 > (rc = sscanf(bp, "cpu%d %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu %Lu"
+            , &cpu_ptr->cpu.id
+            , &cpu_ptr->cpu.new.user,  &cpu_ptr->cpu.new.nice,   &cpu_ptr->cpu.new.system
+            , &cpu_ptr->cpu.new.idle,  &cpu_ptr->cpu.new.iowait, &cpu_ptr->cpu.new.irq
+            , &cpu_ptr->cpu.new.sirq,  &cpu_ptr->cpu.new.stolen
+            , &cpu_ptr->cpu.new.guest, &cpu_ptr->cpu.new.gnice))) {
+                memmove(cpu_ptr, sum_ptr, sizeof(struct procps_jiffs_hist));
+                break;                 // we must tolerate cpus taken offline
+        }
+        ++i;
+        ++cpu_ptr;
+    } while (i < info->jiff_hists_alloc);
+
+    if (i == info->jiff_hists_alloc && rc >= 8) {
+        info->jiff_hists_alloc += ALLOCincr;
+        info->jiff_hists = realloc(info->jiff_hists, info->jiff_hists_alloc * sizeof(struct procps_jiffs_private));
+        if (!(info->jiff_hists))
+            return -ENOMEM;
+        goto reap_em_again;
+    }
+
+    info->jiff_hists_inuse = i;
+    return i;
+  #undef ALLOCincr
+}
+
+/*
+ * procps_stat_get_jiffs:
+ *
+ * Return the designated cpu data in the caller supplied structure.
+ * A negative 'which' denotes the cpu_summary, not a real cpu.
+ *
+ * This function deals only with the 'current' jiffs counts.
+ */
+PROCPS_EXPORT int procps_stat_get_jiffs (
+        struct procps_statinfo *info,
+        struct procps_jiffs *item,
+        int which)
+{
+    struct procps_jiffs_private *p;
+    int i;
+
+    if (info == NULL || item == NULL)
+        return -EINVAL;
+    if (which < 0) {
+        // note, we're just copying the 'new' portion of our procps_jiffs_private
+        memcpy(item, &info->cpu_summary, sizeof(struct procps_jiffs));
+        return 0;
+    }
+    p = info->jiff_hists;
+    for (i = 0; i < info->jiff_hists_inuse; i++) {
+        if (p->cpu.id == which) {
+            // note, we're just copying the 'new' portion of our procps_jiffs_private
+            memcpy(item, p, sizeof(struct procps_jiffs));
+            return 0;
+        }
+        ++p;
+    }
+    return -1;
+}
+
+/*
+ * procps_stat_get_jiffs_all:
+ *
+ * Return all available cpu data in the caller supplied structures,
+ * up to the lesser of numitems or total available.
+ *
+ * We tolerate a numitems greater than the total available, and
+ * the caller had better tolerate fewer returned than requested.
+ *
+ * This function deals only with the 'current' jiffs counts.
+ */
+PROCPS_EXPORT int procps_stat_get_jiffs_all (
+        struct procps_statinfo *info,
+        struct procps_jiffs *item,
+        int numitems)
+{
+    int i;
+
+    if (info == NULL || item == NULL)
+        return -EINVAL;
+    if (!info->jiff_hists_inuse)
+        return -1;
+    for (i = 0; i < info->jiff_hists_inuse && i < numitems; i++) {
+        // note, we're just copying the 'new' portion of our procps_jiffs_private
+        memcpy(item + i, info->jiff_hists + i, sizeof(struct procps_jiffs));
+    }
+    return i;
+}
+
+/*
+ * procps_stat_get_jiffs_hist:
+ *
+ * Return the designated cpu data in the caller supplied structure.
+ * A negative 'which' denotes the cpu_summary, not a real cpu.
+ *
+ * This function provides both 'new' and 'old' jiffs counts.
+ */
+PROCPS_EXPORT int procps_stat_get_jiffs_hist (
+        struct procps_statinfo *info,
+        struct procps_jiffs_hist *item,
+        int which)
+{
+    struct procps_jiffs_private *p;
+    int i;
+
+    if (info == NULL || item == NULL)
+        return -EINVAL;
+    if (which < 0) {
+        memcpy(item, &info->cpu_summary, sizeof(struct procps_jiffs_hist));
+        return 0;
+    }
+    p = info->jiff_hists;
+    for (i = 0; i < info->jiff_hists_inuse; i++) {
+        if (p->cpu.id == which) {
+            memcpy(item, p, sizeof(struct procps_jiffs_hist));
+            return 0;
+        }
+        ++p;
+    }
+    return -1;
+}
+
+/*
+ * procps_stat_get_jiffs_hist_all:
+ *
+ * Return all available cpu data in the caller supplied structures,
+ * up to the lesser of numitems or total available.
+ *
+ * We tolerate a numitems greater than the total available, and
+ * the caller had better tolerate fewer returned than requested.
+ *
+ * This function provides both 'new' and 'old' jiffs counts.
+ */
+PROCPS_EXPORT int procps_stat_get_jiffs_hist_all (
+        struct procps_statinfo *info,
+        struct procps_jiffs_hist *item,
+        int numitems)
+{
+    int i;
+
+    if (info == NULL || item == NULL)
+        return -EINVAL;
+    if (!info->jiff_hists_inuse)
+        return -1;
+    for (i = 0; i < info->jiff_hists_inuse && i < numitems; i++) {
+        memcpy(item + i, info->jiff_hists + i, sizeof(struct procps_jiffs_hist));
+    }
+    return i;
+}
diff --git a/proc/readstat.h b/proc/readstat.h
index 77cffc98..d155524a 100644
--- a/proc/readstat.h
+++ b/proc/readstat.h
@@ -52,6 +52,16 @@ struct procps_cpu_result {
     struct procps_cpu_result *next;
 };
 
+struct procps_jiffs {
+    jiff user, nice, system, idle, iowait, irq, sirq, stolen, guest, gnice;
+};
+
+struct procps_jiffs_hist {
+    struct procps_jiffs new;
+    struct procps_jiffs old;
+    int id;
+};
+
 struct procps_sys_result {
     enum procps_stat_item item;
     int result;
@@ -62,12 +72,17 @@ struct procps_statinfo;
 
 int procps_stat_new (struct procps_statinfo **info);
 int procps_stat_read (struct procps_statinfo *info, const int cpu_only);
+int procps_stat_read_jiffs (struct procps_statinfo *info);
 
 struct procps_statinfo *procps_stat_ref (struct procps_statinfo *info);
 struct procps_statinfo *procps_stat_unref (struct procps_statinfo *info);
 
 jiff procps_stat_get_cpu (struct procps_statinfo *info, enum procps_cpu_item item);
 int procps_stat_get_cpu_chain (struct procps_statinfo *info, struct procps_cpu_result *item);
+int procps_stat_get_jiffs (struct procps_statinfo *info, struct procps_jiffs *item, int which);
+int procps_stat_get_jiffs_all (struct procps_statinfo *info, struct procps_jiffs *item, int numitems);
+int procps_stat_get_jiffs_hist (struct procps_statinfo *info, struct procps_jiffs_hist *item, int which);
+int procps_stat_get_jiffs_hist_all (struct procps_statinfo *info, struct procps_jiffs_hist *item, int numitems);
 
 unsigned int procps_stat_get_sys (struct procps_statinfo *info, enum procps_stat_item item);
 int procps_stat_get_sys_chain (struct procps_statinfo *info, struct procps_sys_result *item);