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CHARTER.

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE

THE ATHENÆUM, IN PROVIDENCE.

PASSED AT THE JANUARY SESSION, A. D., 1836.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, That Moses Brown, Nicholas Brown, Thomas Burgess, &c.,* together with each person who shall hereafter become a stockholder or proprietor in the same, their successors and assigns, be, and they hereby are constituted and made a body corporate and politic, in the city of Providence, by the name and style of THE ATHENEUM, with perpetual succession; and by that name shall have power to have and use a common seal, and the same to break, alter, and renew at pleasure; to prosecute and defend all suits in law or in equity; to have, hold, use and dispose of at their pleasure, goods, chattels, lands and tenements, to an amount not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars, exclusive of books, papers, furniture, and collections in science and the arts; to make by-laws for the management of their concerns, and for the regulation of their library, and affix penalties to the breach thereof: Provided such by-laws be not repugnant to law; to elect all necessary officers, and prescribe the tenure of their offices and their duties; to hold meetings as often as occasion may require, ten to be a quorum, until other provisions be made on the subject by said corporation; to impose taxes on the owners of shares in said corporation; and generally to have all the privileges and powers incident to corporations instituted for library and scientific purposes.

A large list of names is omitted for the sake of brevity.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the share of each corporator shall be liable for all taxes assessed thereon, and may be sold for the payment thereof, under such terms, and in such manner, as shall be prescribed in the by-laws.

.SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That Zachariah Allen be authorized to call the first meeting of said corporation, by giving public notice of the time and place of such meeting, in two of the newspapers printed in Providence, at least five days previous to the time appointed.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That this act of incorporation shall be subject to all future acts of the General Assembly in amendment or repeal thereof, or in any wise affecting the same.

AN ACT in amendment of an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate The Athenæum, in Providence."

PASSED AT THE OCTOBER SESSION, A. D., 1850.

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

The said Corporation shall hereafter be known by the name and style of "THE PROVIDENCE ATHENEUM," instead of "THE ATHENÆUM,” as is now by its charter provided; and so much thereof as is inconsistent herewith is hereby repealed.

CONSTITUTION.

ADOPTED FEBRUARY 29, 1836

ARTICLE 1. The officers shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and Treasurer, and not less than seven nor more than thirteen Directors, who together shall constitute a Board of Directors. The Directors, Secretary and Treasurer, shall be chosen, (and by ballot if required by fifteen of the members present,) at the annual meeting of the members; and shall hold their offices for one year, or until others are chosen in their places: Provided, that when they are not chosen at the annual meeting, the election may take place at any other meeting called in the manner prescribed in Article 7th of this Constitution. The Directors shall choose the President and Vice-President, from their own body, or from the members at large; and shall fill all vacancies which occur during the year.

ART. 2. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Corporation and of the Board of Directors, preserve order therein, give the casting vote, and perform all other duties which usually appertain to such an office. In case of his absence, the Vice-President shall supply his place, and in case of their absence, the senior Director present shall preside.

ART. 3. The Secretary shall notify all meetings of the Corporation, and of the Board of Directors, keep a fair record of their respective proceedings, and conduct all the correspondence of the Institution, according to the direction of the Board; he shall keep a regular record of the number of shares owned in the Institution, placing opposite each, the name of the owner thereof, and he shall present at each annual meeting, a list of the names of the stockholders in the Institution.

ART. 4. The Treasurer shall keep an exact and faithful account (in a book to be kept for that purpose) of all the financial concerns and property of the Institution, and collect and receive all money due, or belonging thereto. He shall pay no bills but by order of the Board, under such regulations as they prescribe, and shall make a detailed report of the state of the Treasury, and of the financial concerns of the Institution, at each annual meeting of the Corporation, and also whenever required so to do by the Board of Directors or by the Corporation. He shall also give bond, to the satisfaction of the Board, for the faithful discharge of his duties.

ART. 5. The Board of Directors shall direct the purchase of books, and transact, manage, and regulate all affairs of the Institution, of every kind, not otherwise provided for by the Corporation, and shall present at the annual meeting a detailed report of the state of the Library, and of the general concerns of the Institution.

ART. 6. There shall be an annual meeting of the Corporation, to be holden at the rooms of the Institution, (unless elsewhere appointed and notified by order of the Board of Directors) on the fourth Monday of February in each year,* for the choice of directors and other officers, and for the transaction of other business. There shall be monthly meetings of the Board of Directors, at such time and place as they appoint, and special meetings of the Board shall be called by the President whenever he deems it expedient. Special meetings of the Corporation shall be called by the Secretary, upon request in writing signed by twenty members; and also whenever the Board of Directors deem it expedient.

ART. 7. All meetings of the Corporation shall be notified by advertising the same, one week previously thereto, in one or more of the newspapers published in Providence. Ten members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum of the Corporation. The Secretary shall cause all meetings of the Board to be duly notified, on or before the day of the respective meetings, and at such meetings five shall be required to form a quorum.

ART. 8. Any individual who shall pay into the Treasury fifteen dollars, shall be a stockholder or proprietor, and entitled to one share of the joint stock of the Corporation, which shall be transferable. And he shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges secured to

See vote, at the end of the Constitution altering the time of the annual meeting.

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