OLIN 
 
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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 3 1924 079 596 619 
 
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THE 
 
 ACT OF INCORPORATION, 
 
 WITH THE ADDITIONAL ACTS 
 
 BY-LAWS 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY; 
 
 WITH A LIST OF 
 
 OFFICERS AND RESIDENT MEMBERS. 
 
 BOSTON : 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY. 
 
 1882. 
 
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Slassntfeusttts listoriral SDtutg. 
 
 The following By-Laws were revised and adopted by the Sc^riety, at 
 the monthly meeting in December, 1881. The Officers were elected 
 April. 1881. 
 
 Attest: GEORGE DEXTER, 
 
 Rtcarding Seenlarg. 
 Boston, Dec 21, 1881. 
 
 Uhivkrsity Phkss: 
 Joan Wilson and Son, Oahbbidob. 
 
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THE 
 
 ACT OF INCORPORATION, 
 
 WITH THE ADDITIONAL ACTS 
 
 AND 
 
 BY-LAWS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY; 
 
 WITH A LIST OF 
 
 OFFICERS AND RESIDENT MEMBERS. 
 
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Digitized by Microsoft® 
 
OFFICERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 Elected April 8, 1881. 
 
 Hon. ROBERT C. WINTHROP, LL.D Boston. 
 
 Qut-^rcnlxnta. 
 
 Rev. GEORGE E. ELLIS, D.D Boston. 
 
 CHARLES DEANE, LL.D Cambridge. 
 
 $tcorbtng Secrttars. 
 GEORGE DEXTER, A.M Cambridge. 
 
 Aomsponbhtg StaetBi;. 
 JUSTIN WINSOR, A.B Cambridge. 
 
 Sieasnrer. 
 CHARLES C. SMITH, Esq Boston. 
 
 ITibTBrhiiT. 
 SAMUEL A. GREEN, M.D Boston. 
 
 FITCH EDWARD OLIVER, M.D Boston. 
 
 dtuntibt fiommititt of t\jt (tonnril. 
 
 DELANO A. GODDARD, A.M Boston. 
 
 GEORGE B. CHASE, A.M Boston. 
 
 HENRY CABOT LODGE, Ph.D Nahant. 
 
 Rev. PHILLIPS BROOKS, D.D Boston. 
 
 HENRY W. HAYNES, A.M Boston. 
 
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II i: S I D E N T M E M B E K S. 
 
 AT TIIK DATK OP THE PRINTIVO OF Tlim HOOK IK Tilt OHUK" •»' 
 THKIR LL*< TiOX. 
 
 Hon. RoLert r Wintliro]., I.L.I). 
 Hon. Oharles Francis .\Hani«, LL I) 
 Rev. George E. Ellis, D.l). 
 Hon. Peleg \V. ChanJIpi , LI, D. 
 Rev. George W. Blagden, D.l). 
 Rev. Lucius R. Paige, D.l). 
 Rev. Chandler Robbins, D.D. 
 John Langdon Sibley, .\.M. 
 Hen 17 Wheatland, M.D. 
 Charles Deane, LL.D. 
 Francis I'arkman, LL.B. 
 Ellis Ames, A.B. 
 Rev. .SuMiml K. lyothiop, D.D. 
 Oliver Wcndrll Holmra, LL.D. 
 Henry W. Lr.nc^f,.ll,,w. LL.D. 
 Hon. St<'iili.-ii Siilisl.iiiy. 1,?,.D. 
 Henry Austin Whitney, .\ M. 
 
 Rev. William S. Biiitl.t, A.M. 
 
 Leverett S:iUiinst;ill, A M. 
 
 Hon. Richard H. l)uii;i, LL.D. 
 
 Henry W. Torrey, 1,1,. D. 
 
 Williams Latham, A.B. 
 
 Rev. Roberto. Watorst^m, A.M. 
 
 Thomas C. Amory, .\.M. 
 
 Hon. Samuel A. Ororn, M.D. 
 
 Hon. James M. Robbins. 
 
 Charles Eliot Norton, A.M. 
 
 Hon. John .1. Babson. 
 
 Robert Bennett Forbes, Esij. 
 
 Rev. Edwanl K Hale. D 
 Rev. Andrew P. |V.il--lv. LL.D 
 Hiiii. Horace Gray, LL.D. 
 I Amos .\. Lawrence, A.M. 
 
 Rev. EdwanK A. Park. D D. 
 
 I Hon Francis E. Parker. LL.B. 
 ' William H. Whitmore. A.M. 
 j Hon. James Uiuvsell Ixiwell. LL.D. 
 I Rev. N'ichotas Hoppin, D.D. 
 
 N'atlianiol Thayer. A.M. 
 ' Hon. William C. Eudicott, A B. 
 ■ Hon Eben. Rock wood ^Hoor. LL.D. 
 
 Josinh P. CJuincy. A..M. 
 
 S.imuel Kliot. LL.D. 
 
 Ilenrj' (.'<. Denny. A.M. 
 
 ( harles C. .-^mith. E,v\. 
 
 IIi>n. Ceorge S. Hale. A.B. 
 
 William .'^. .Vpi^l.-ton, A M. 
 ! Rev. Henry M Dexter, D.D. 
 I Theodore Lyman, S B. 
 
 Aimer C. (mhmI.II. A.M. 
 I William .Vmory, A.M 
 
 K'lward D. Hanis. Ks.) 
 I Ralph Waldo KmersMii. i^|_ |, 
 
 August u.s T. Perkins, A.M 
 
 Hon. .Mellen Chamberlain, LL B 
 
 Winslow Warren, LL.B. 
 
 Francis W. Palfrey, A.M 
 
 Charles W. Eliot, LL.l), 
 
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KESIDKNT .MKMBEllS. 
 
 William Gmy, A.M. 
 Delano A. GoddaiU, AM. 
 Rev. Henry W. F<x>t«, A.M. 
 Charles C. Perkins, A.M. 
 Charles F. Dunbar, A B. 
 Hon. Charles Devens, LL.D. 
 Charles F. Adams, Jr , A.U. 
 WiUiam P. Upham, A.B. 
 Hon. A. H. Bullock, LL.D 
 Fitch Edward Oliver, M D. 
 William Everett, Ph.D. 
 George B. Chase, A.M. 
 Henry Cabot Lodge, Ph. D. 
 John T. Morse, Jr., A.H. 
 Justin Winsor, A.B. 
 J. Elliot Cabot, LL.B. 
 Georffe Dexter, AM. 
 Hon. Giistavus Vasa Fox. 
 Heni-y Lee, A.M. 
 Gamaliel Bradford, A.B. 
 
 Itev. Edwaril J. Voinij;, .A.M. 
 Iloii. John Lowell, LL.D. 
 Abbott Lawrence, A.M. 
 Kev. Jiinies Freeman C'lavk«, I). D. 
 Rev. Phillips Brooks, D 1). 
 William W. Greenough, A.B. 
 Robert C. Winthrop, Jr., A.AL 
 Henry W. Haynes, A.M. 
 Thomas W. Higginson, A.M. 
 R«!v. Edward G. Porter, A.M. 
 John C. Roi^es, LL.B. 
 Paul A. Chiidbourne, LL.D. 
 Rev. Hiiiiry F. Jenks, A.M. 
 Hon. Samuel C. Cobb. 
 Horace E. Scuddor, A.M. 
 Rev. Edmund F. .Sliifter, A.M. 
 Sti'pheu Sali.sbury, Jr., A.M. 
 John T. Hn.«iiin, A.M. 
 Rev. Alexander McKeii/.ie, I) D. 
 
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MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 ACT OF INCORPORATION. 
 
 SommontDeaItt) ot JttassaciiusettH, 
 
 IN THE TEAR OF OUR LORD ONE TH0U8AHD SEVBD HUITDRED AND NINETY-FUUII. 
 
 An Act to incorporate a Society, by the name of the Massachusetts 
 Historical Society. 
 
 Whereas the collection and preservation of materials for a political and 
 natural history of the United States is a desirable object, and the institu- 
 tion of a Society for those purposes will be of public utility, — 
 
 Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Represenlaliceii, in 
 General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same. That William 
 Baylies, Esq., Jeremy Belknap, D.D., the Rev. Alden Bradford, Peleg 
 Coffin, Esq., Manasseh Cutler, D.D., John Davis, Esq., Daniel Davis, 
 Esq., Aaron Dexter, Doctor in Physic, the Rev. John Eliot, Nathaniel 
 Freeman, Esq., the Rev. James Freeman, the Rev. Thaddeus Mason 
 Harris, Isaac Lothrop, Esq., George Richards Minot, Esq., the Rev. John 
 Mellen, Jr., Thomas Femberton, William Dandridge Peck, the Rev. John 
 Prince, Ezekiel Price, Esq., James Sullivan, Esq., David Sewall, Esq., 
 Peter Thacher, D.D., William Tudor, Esq., Samuel Turell, Dudley Atkins 
 Tyng, Esq., James Winthrop, Esq., Thomas Wallcut, Redford Webster, 
 and William Wetmore, Esq., who have associated for the purposes afore- 
 said, and have requested an Act of Incorporation, be, and hereby are, 
 formed into and constituted a Society and body politic and corporate, by 
 the name of the Massachusetts Historical Society; and that they 
 and their successors, and such other persons as shall be legally elected by 
 them, shall be and continue a body politic and corporate, by that name 
 for ever. 
 
 And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the members of 
 said Society shall have power to elect a President, and all other necessary 
 officers ; and that the said Society shall have one common seal, and the 
 same may break, change, and renew at pleasure; and that the same Society, 
 by the name aforesaid, as a body politic and corporate, may sue and be 
 sued, prosecute and defend suits to final judgment and execution. 
 
 And be it further enacted. That the said Society shall have power to make 
 orders and by-laws for governing its members and property, not repug- 
 nant to the laws of this Commonwealth; and may expel, disfranchise, 
 or suspend any member, who, by his misconduct, shall be rendered 
 unworthy. 
 
 And be it further enacted. That the said Society may, from time to time, 
 establish rules for electing officers and members, and also times and places 
 
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for holding ineetinffs ; and shall he capahh- to take and hold real or per- 
 sonal estate, hy pf- grant, devise, or otherwise, and the same, or any 
 part thereof, to alien and convey: Piorkled, That the annual inconn- of 
 any real estate, by said .Socittv holdcn, shall never exceed the sum of five 
 hundred pounds ; and that tin' personal estate thereof, besides books, 
 papers, and articles in the Museum of said Society, shall never exceed 
 the value of two thousand pounds. 
 
 And he it furlhe.r enrwletl. That the members of said Society shall never 
 he more than sixty (except honorary members, residing without the limits 
 of this Commonwealth), and that James Sullivan, Ksq., be. and hereby 
 is, authorized and empowered to notify and warn the first meeting of said 
 Society ; and that the same Society, when met. shall agree upon a method 
 for calling future meetings, and may have power to adjourn from time to 
 time, as may be found necessary. 
 
 /I »(/ fce iV /id/Aec ermc/e*/. That either branch of the Legislature shall 
 and may have free access to ihe Library and Museum of said .Society. 
 [This Act passed Feb. 19, 1794.] 
 
 Communttjealih at ffl^ssarljusrllB. 
 
 IN TIIK YRAK OF OUK LOKP ONE TIIOl.'SAND BinHT Hl'.NORED ASn FIPTV-FIVK. 
 
 An Act in addition to an Act to incorporate the Massachusetts His- 
 torical SOCIKTY. 
 Be it enncleil hy the Senate find Ilotise of Representatives, in General 
 Cnurl nssemhled, rind hi/ Ihe authority of the same, as follows : — 
 
 Sect. 1. — The Mnssachusetts Historical Society is hereby authorized 
 to hold real and personal estate, in addition to its Library, to an amount 
 not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars 
 
 Skct. ■-'. — This Act shall take effect from and after its passage. 
 [This Act passed May 21, 1855.] 
 
 <irommunU)t<ili1) of Jillassnrbiisrils 
 
 IN THK YF.AH IP.Nli TIIOUMAND EIGHT IIUNOKKD ANO FIKTY-SKVKX. 
 
 An Act in relation to the M.vssachu.-4KTT8 Histoiucal Society. 
 
 He it enacted hy the Smiate and Iliiuse of Itepresentatives, in General 
 Court assembled, and hy the authority of Ihe same, as follows: — 
 
 Skct 1. — Nothing in the Act of Incorporation of the .Massachusetts 
 Historical Society shall prevent said Society from electing Associate or 
 Corresponding Members residing without the limita of this Common- 
 wealth, or Honorary Members residing either within or without said 
 limits, or from having as many as one hundred Resident Members, at their 
 discretion. 
 
 Skct. 2. —This Act shall take effect from and after its acceptance by 
 said Society. 
 
 [This Act passed April 2, 1857.] 
 
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(EommonbiHltl) oC ilSlassncbusctts. 
 
 IN THE TEAR ONE THOU8AND EIGHT HUNDRED AND REVENTY-SEVKN. 
 
 All Act in addition to an Act to incorporate tlie Massachusetts 
 Historical Society. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in Gtnerat 
 Court assembled, and hy the authority of the same, as follows : — 
 
 Sect. 1. — The Massachusetts Historical Society is hereby authoriziid 
 to hold real and personal estate iu addition to its Library to an amount 
 of three hundred thousand dollars. 
 
 Sect. 2. — This Act shall take effect upon its passage. 
 [This Act passed Feb. 16, 1877.] 
 
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BY-LAWS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 OF MEMBERS. 
 
 Article 1. — The Regular or Resident Members of the 
 Society shall be elected from among the citizens of this Com- 
 monwealth, and shall cease to be members whenever they 
 cease to be citizens thereof. Honorary and Corresponding 
 Members shall be elected from among those persons who are 
 not citizens of this Commonwealth, and the latter shall cease 
 to be members if at any time they become citizens thereof. 
 Resident Members only shall be entitled to vote or to take 
 part in the business transacted at the meetings of the Society. 
 
 Art. 2. — A book shall be kept by the Recording Secre- 
 tary, in which any Resident Member of the Society may enter 
 the name of any person whom he may regard as suitable to 
 be nominated as a Resident, Corresponding, or Honorary 
 Member ; it being understood that each member is bound in 
 honor not to make known abroad the name of any pei'son 
 either proposed or nominated. But no nomination of any 
 member shall be made except by a report of the Council, at a 
 stated meeting of the Society, nor be acted upon at the same 
 meeting to which it is reported ; nor shall more than two 
 candidates for membership, of the same class, be reported at 
 any one meeting. 
 
 Art. 3. — Nominations of Corresponding or of Honorary 
 Members shall be accompanied by a brief statement of 
 the place of residence and qualifications of the person nom- 
 inated. 
 
 Art. 4. — All members shall be elected by ballot ; and, in 
 balloting for members, the law and custom of our forefathers 
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12 MASSACHUSETTS HISTOKICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 shall be observed, by taking the question with Indian corn 
 and beans; the corn expressint,' yeoi, and the beans nays. 
 But no person shall be deemed chosen, unless there be twenty 
 membera present and voting at the election, nor unless three- 
 fourths of all the votes are in the affirmative. 
 
 Art. 5. — Each Resident Member shall pay twenty-five 
 dollars at the time of his admission, and ten dollars each first 
 of January afterward, into the treasury of the Society, for its 
 general purposes ; but any member shall be exempted from 
 the annual payment, if, at any time after his admission, he 
 shall pay into the treasury one hundred and fifty dollars in 
 addition to what he may before have paid ; and all commuta- 
 tion fees shall be funded by the Treasurer, and the interest 
 only used for the current expenses of the Society. Each 
 Resident Member shall be entitled to receive a copy of all 
 the regular publications of the Society, issued after his elec- 
 tion, without charge ; and all membere who have paid the 
 commutation fee shall be entitled to the privilege of the Li- 
 brary, and to copies of tlie publications, for life, even should 
 their membership cease by removal from the State or by 
 resignation. 
 
 Art. 6. — If any person elected as a Resident Member 
 shall neglect, for one year after being notified of his election, 
 to pay his admission-fee, his election shall be void ; and, if 
 any Resident Member shall neglect to pay his annual assess- 
 ment for two years after it shall have become due and his 
 attention shall have been called to this article in the By-laws, 
 he shall cease to be a member ; provided, however, it shall 
 be in the power of the Treasurer, with the consent of the 
 President, to dispense {»uh silentio') with the payment of the 
 assessment, whenever, in any special instance, they may 
 think it advisable to do so. Each person who shall be elected 
 a Resident Member shall, when notified of it, be furnished by 
 the Corresponding Secretary with a copy of this Article and 
 the preceding one. 
 
 Art. 7. — Diplomas signed by the President^ and counter- 
 signed by the two Secretaries, shall be issued to all persons 
 who have become members of the Society. 
 
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BY-LAWS. 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 OF MEETINGS. 
 
 Art. 1. — Tliere shall be a Regular Meeting of the Society 
 on the second Thin-sday of everj- month, at three o'clock p.m., 
 at their rooms in Boston ; provided, however, that the Coun- 
 cil shall have authority to postpone any such monthlj' meeting, 
 or to dispense with it altogether, or to direct it to be held at 
 other rooms, or at another hour, whenever, for any cause, they 
 may deem it desirable or expedient. Special meetings shall 
 be called by either of the Secretaries, whenever requested so 
 to do by the President, or, in case of his absence or inability, 
 by one of the Vice-Presidents or by the Council. 
 
 Art. 2. — At all meetings, the President shall take the 
 chair in five minutes after the time appointed in the notifica- 
 tion ; and the record of the preceding meeting shall then be 
 at once read. After which, at all Special Meetings, the special 
 business for which the meeting was culled shall be transacted ; 
 aud, at all Regular Meetings, the order of business shall be 
 as follows : — 
 
 Fir»t, The Librarian shall make his report. 
 
 Second, The Cabinet-keeper shall make his report. 
 
 Tiiird, The Corresponding Secretary shall read any com- 
 munications he may have received. 
 
 Fourth, The unfinished business and the assignments of the 
 lasst meeting shall be taken up in their order. 
 
 Fifth, The Council shall be called on to report its doings 
 since the last meeting. 
 
 Sixth, Other committees shall be called on for reports. 
 
 Seventh, The Society shall then proceed to such matters of 
 business as may be proposed by any member; after which 
 members generally shall be invited to make any communica- 
 tions on any subject having relation to the purposes of the 
 Society ; and, for the orderly accomplishment of this object, 
 the Society shall be divided into three sections, as nearly 
 
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14 MASSACHUSETTS HI8TOK1CAL SOCIETY. 
 
 equal in numbers as may be, each of which, in regular 
 sequence, shall be notified by the Recording Secretary, th.it 
 the Society, at the next meeting, will receive from it such 
 communications ; and the officer presiding at the next meet- 
 ing shall call upon members of such section to offer any com- 
 munication; after which, the communication so made may be 
 discussed by the Society generally. 
 
 Art. 3. — Fifteen members shall be a quorum for all pur- 
 poses except the election of membere, as hereinbefore pro- 
 vided ; and excepting, also, for alterations of the By-laws, 
 which shall not be made unless twenty persons are present, 
 nor unless the subject has either been discussed at a previous 
 meeting, or reported on by a committee appointed for the 
 purpose. 
 
 Abt. 4. — At the request of any two members present, any 
 subject proposed for discussion shall be once deferred to a 
 subsequent meeting, before it is finally disposed of. 
 
 Art. 5. — All committees shall be nominated by the chair, 
 unless otherwise ordered. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 OF OFFICERS. 
 
 The officers of the Society shall be a President, who shall 
 be, ex officio, Chairman of the Council ; two Vice-Presidents ; 
 a Recording Secretary, who shall also be, ex officio. Secretary 
 of the Council ; a Corresponding Secretary ; a Treasurer • 
 a Librarian ; and a Cabinet-keeper, — all of whom shall be 
 chosen by ballot at the monthly meeting in April, and shall 
 hold their respective offices for one year, or until others are 
 duly chosen in their stead. At the same meeting five mem- 
 bers shall be chosc^n (no more than two of whom shall hold 
 their places for more than two successive years) who, with 
 the foregoing officers, shall constitute the Council of the 
 Society ; which may fix its own quorum, provided that no 
 
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BY-LAWS. 15 
 
 nomination of members shall be made to which less than 
 seven of its number shall have assented at a meeting of the 
 Council. 
 
 At the regular monthly meeting preceding any election of 
 officers, a Nominating Committee, consisting of three pereons, 
 shall he appointed, who shall report to the meeting at which 
 the election is to be made a list of members for the places to 
 be filled. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OF THE PRESIDENT. 
 
 The President shall preside in all meetings of the Society 
 when present, and, wheu absent, one of the Vice-Presidents, 
 in the order of their names. In the absence of all these offi- 
 cers, a President />ro tempore shall be chosen. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 OF THE RECORDING SECRETARY. 
 
 Art. I. — The Recording Secretary, or, in case of his 
 death or absence, the Corresponding Secretary, shall wam all 
 meetings of the Society, by causing to be sent, through the 
 post-office, to all the Resident Members, notices of each 
 meeting. Notices of the regular meetings shall be issued on 
 the Monday preceding. 
 
 Art. 2. — He shall keep an exact record of all the meet- 
 ings of the Society, with the names of the members present ; 
 entering in full all reports of committees that may be ac- 
 cepted by the Society, unless otherwise specially directed, or 
 unless the same are to be included in the printed Proceed- 
 ings. 
 
 See Chap. IX., Art. 6. 
 
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16 MASSACHUSBTTS HISTOIUCAr, SOCIETY. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 OF THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. 
 
 Art. 1. — The Corre.'sponding Secretary shall inform all 
 persons of theii election as members of the Society, sending 
 to each a copy of the By-laws, and on their acceptance shall 
 issue the proper diplomas. 
 
 Art. 2.— He shall carry on all the conespondence of the 
 Society not otherwise provided for ; and deposit copies of the 
 letters sent and the original lettei-s received, in regular files, 
 in the Library. 
 
 CHAPTER Vn. 
 
 OF THE TREASURER. 
 
 Art. 1. — The Treasurer shall collect all moneys due to 
 the Society, and shall keep reijular and faithful accounts of 
 all the moneys and funds of the Society that may come into 
 his hands, and of all receipts and expenditures connected 
 with the same, — which accounts shall always be open to the. 
 inspection of the members ; and, at the regular meeting in 
 April, he shall make a written report of all his doings for the 
 year preceding, and of the amount and condition of all the 
 property of the Society intrusted to him. One week before 
 the monthly meeting in April of each year, he shall give notice 
 to every member of any assessment remaining due from him. 
 
 Art. 2. — He shall pay no moneys, except on vote of the 
 Society, or of the Council, or on vouchei* of an officer or com- 
 mittee acting conformably to its laws or ordei-s. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE TREASURER'S ACCOUNTS. 
 
 At the monthly meeting in March, annually, a Committee 
 shall be appointed by nominatioit from the chair, consistinir 
 
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BY-LAWS. 
 
 17 
 
 of not less than two persons, whose duty it shall be to exam- 
 ine the Treasurer's accounts for the year preceding, and at 
 the monthly meeting in April to report thereon, and on the 
 state of any property of the Society in his hands. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 OF THE LIBRARIAN, AND OF THE LIBRARY. 
 
 Art. 1. — The Librarian shall have charge of all the books, 
 tracts, maps, manuscripts, and other property of the Society 
 appropriate to a library ; and shall cause to be made, and 
 kept exact and perfect, catalogues of each and all of them, 
 doing whatever may be in his power, at all times, to preserve 
 and increase the collections under his care. 
 
 Art. 2. — He shall acknowledge each donation that may be 
 made to the Library, by a certificate addressed to the person 
 making it. 
 
 Art. 3. — He shall, at every monthly meeting of the Soci- 
 ety, report all donations made to the Library since the last 
 monthly meeting, with the names of the donors ; and, at the 
 annual meeting, shall present a statement of the condition 
 and wants of the Library, with a notice of the important 
 accessions that may have been made to it during the year. 
 
 Art. 4. — He shall cause to be kept an exact account of all 
 books taken out, with the names of the persons who take 
 them, and the dates when they are borrowed and returned. 
 
 Art. 6. — He shall report in writing, at each monthly 
 meeting, the name of every book that has been out of the 
 Library for a longer term than is permitted by the By-laws, 
 and shall use his discretion in obtaining the return of such 
 books. 
 
 Art. 6. — He may have one or more assistants, not mem- 
 bers of the Society, appointed by the Council, who shall aid 
 him in all or any of his duties ; who shall also aid the Re- 
 cording Secretary in notifying meetings, copying reports, or 
 in any other way that may be required, and who shall render 
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18 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 siich other services to the Society connected with its Liliraiy 
 or its general proceedings as the Council may direct. 
 
 Aet. 7. — The Librarian shall he present in the Library, 
 in person or by an assistant, at the regular hours, and at such 
 other times as may be appointed for keeping it open ; and 
 shall endeavor to render it useful to all wJio may resort to it. 
 
 Akt. 8. — Any Resident Member of the Society may take 
 from the Libraiy three printed volumes at a time, and keep 
 each of them four weeks, with a right to renew the loan for 
 four weeks more, unless some other member has, in that in- 
 terval, asked for it in writing : but if be retains it beyond this 
 second period, he must first obtain the written assent of a 
 member of the Council, permitting him to do so, or he shall 
 be fined ten cents a week for each volume so retained. 
 
 Art. 9. — All members taking books from the Library shaU 
 be answerable for any injury done to the same, to such amount 
 as may be deemed just by the Council ; and any person neg- 
 lecting to pay any fines, or assessments for damages, one 
 month after he shall have received notice of the same from 
 the Librarian, or otherwise abusing his privilege to the injury 
 of the Library, shall, by order of the Council, be interdicted 
 from access to the same. 
 
 Art. 10. — At the written request of any Resident Mem- 
 ber of this Society, the Librarian shall permit any person to 
 visit and itse the Library, at such times as the Librarian may 
 be in attendance ; such member becoming thereby responsi- 
 ble for any injury to the property of the Society that may 
 result from such introduction of a stranger. 
 
 Art. 11. — At the written request of any Resident Mem- 
 ber of the Society, the Librarian shall deliver to any one per- 
 son indicated in such request, but to no more than one person 
 at the same time, any book or books belonging to the Society, 
 which the member himself could take out ; such member, by 
 such request, making himself responsible that all the rules 
 relating to the book or books so taken out shall be as fully 
 observed by the person authorized to receive them as if he 
 were a member ; and that any injury accruing to the property 
 of the Society, in consequence of the privilege thus granted, 
 
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BY-LAWS. 19 
 
 shiill be made good by the member at whose request the grant 
 is made. 
 
 Akt. 12. — At the meetings in April, July, October, and 
 January, the Librarian shall lay before the Society a list of 
 the names of those persons, not members, who, during the 
 preceding three months respectively, may have had access to 
 the Library by permission of individual members of the So- 
 ciety, with the names of the membei-s at whose request the 
 privilege was granted ; adding a statement of each injury 
 that may have been sustained by the property of the Society, 
 in consequence of granting such permission, and the name of 
 the member bound to make it good. 
 
 Art. 13. — The Publishing Committee, for the time being, 
 shall be permitted to take such books and manuscripts from 
 the Library as they may need, in order to perform the duty 
 assigned to them by the Society ; but the Librarian shall 
 make a record of whatever is so taken, and, as soon iis the 
 volume they may have in charge is published, he shall require 
 the return of the same. 
 
 Art. 14. — All manuscripts of the Society shall be kept 
 under lock and key, and be used only in presence of tho 
 Libi-aiian or an assistant. 
 
 Art. 15. — Pereons not members of the Society, engaged 
 in historical pursuits, shall be allowed to consult the manu- 
 scripts belonging to the Society, provided an application ia 
 writing, stating the object of the inquiry, be firat made to the 
 Librarian, who shall make recoid of the same. 
 
 Art. 16. — No manuscript, and no part of a manuscript, 
 belonging to the Society, shall be copied, except on permis- 
 sion granted by the Council, after an application in writing, 
 specifying the manuscript, or part thereof, desired to be 
 copied ; and if any manuscript belonging to the Society shall, 
 in consequence of such permission, be published, in whole or 
 in part, the fact that it was obtained from the Society shall 
 be required to be stated in its publication. But nothing 
 herein shall be construed to prevent the publication of names, 
 dates, and other chronological memoranda, without special 
 pei-mission. 
 
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20 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 Art. 17. — Manuscripts of a confidential nature shall be 
 retained in a place of special deposit, and shall be consulted 
 only under such regulations as may be prescribed in each case 
 by vote of the Society. 
 
 Art. 18. — No maps, newspapers, or books of great rarity 
 or of constant reference, shall be taken from the Library, ex- 
 cept by vote of the Society. 
 
 Art. 19. — All tracts, books, maps, and manuscripts be- 
 longing to the Society, shall be distinctly marked as its prop- 
 erty ; and any such tract, book, &c., that may be presented 
 to the Society shall be marked with the name of the donor, 
 and recorded as his gift. 
 
 Art. 20. — The Library shall be open on all week-days, 
 from nine o'clock in the forenoon till sunset (but not later 
 than six o'clock), throughout the year, except on the after- 
 noons of Saturdays, and on days of public observance, and 
 also during the fortnigiit before the annual meeting in April, 
 when it shall be closed for examination ; and all books that 
 may be lent are hereby required to be returned previous to 
 that fortnight, under a penalty of a fine of one dollar for each 
 volume not so returned. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 RULES FOR THE DOWSE LIBRARY. 
 
 Art. 1. — The room in wliich the books are deposited 
 which were presented to the Society by Thomas Dowse shall 
 be known forever as the Dowse Library of the Massa- 
 chusetts Historical Society. 
 
 Art. 2. — Agreeably to the condition prescribed by Mr. 
 Dowse, no book shall be taken out of this room. 
 
 Art. 3. — Books may be used in the room by membeis of 
 the Society, and by others introduced by them in person ; but 
 no book shall be taken from the cases except by members, or 
 by the Librarian's assistant, who shall cause each book to be 
 
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BY-LAWS. 21 
 
 returned to its proper place immediately after it has been 
 used. 
 
 Art. 4. — Meetings of the Society may be held in the 
 Dowse Library, at the discretion of the Council ; but the 
 room shall not be used for any other meeting;s. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 OF THE CABINET-KEEPER, AND THE MUSEDM. 
 
 Art. 1. — The Cabinet-keeper shall have charge of all 
 coins, works of art, remains of antiquity, and other articles 
 appropriate to the Society's Museum, and shall make and keep 
 perfect and exact catalogues of the same. 
 
 Art. 2. — He shall acknowledge each donation he may re- 
 ceive, by letter, to the person making it. At every monthly 
 meeting of the Society, he shall report whatever may have 
 been added to the collection of which he has charge, with the 
 names of the donors; and, at the annual meeting, shall pre- 
 sent a full report of the condition of the Museum. 
 
 CHAPTER Xn. 
 
 OP THE COUNCIL. 
 
 Art. 1. — The Council, as vacancies occur in the Society 
 by death or otherwise, shall, at their discretion, report nomi- 
 nations for Resident Members to fill the same. 
 
 Art. 2. — They shall engage whatever assistance is needed 
 to administer the Library, and shall pay the current expenses 
 of the Society, drawing on the Treasurer, from time to time, 
 for such sums as may be necessai7 for that purpose. 
 • Art. 3. — They shall annually, in the month of April, make 
 a careful examination of the Library and Museum of the 
 Society, and also of the Dowse Library ; comparing the books, 
 
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22 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 manuscripts, and other articles in each, with their catalogues, 
 respectively, and reporting at the April meeting, in detail, 
 concerning their condition. 
 
 Art. 4. — They shall record in full, in a book kept by them 
 for the purpose, any permission granted by any one of their 
 number for the consultation of the manuscripts of the Society, 
 by persons not members. 
 
 Art. 5. — They shall meet in the Society's rooms within 
 one week previous to every regular meeting, on such day and 
 at such hour as they may agree upon, and at such other times 
 as the Chairman shall call them together, for the fulfilment of 
 their appropriate duties, and for the purpose of facilitating 
 the transaction of such business as will be brought before the 
 Society ; and for making such arrangements as may be expe- 
 dient for securing the communication of historical papers. 
 
 Art. 6. — They shall, at every meeting, report to the 
 Society all their doings since the last meeting, suggesting at 
 the same time such business as they may deem advisable to 
 bring before it. 
 
 Art. 7. — On the death of a Resident Member, they shall, 
 at the next meeting of the Society, report, through the Presi- 
 dent, a nomination of a person to prepare a memoir of the 
 deceased for the Proceedings. 
 
 Art. 8. — They shall have authority to appoint such sub- 
 committees of their number as they shall think expedient, to 
 facilitate the administration of the Society's affaire. 
 
 Art. 9. — They shall make an annual report, to be drawn 
 up by that one of the membera at large who has had the 
 longest term of service. 
 
 CHAPTER Xlir. 
 
 OF THE PUBLISHING COMMITTEE. 
 
 Art. 1. — Immediately after the publication of any volume 
 of the Collections of the Society, or at any other time when 
 the Society may order, a Committee of not less than three 
 
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BY-LAWS. 
 
 23 
 
 persons shall be appointed by nomination from tbe chair, 
 whose duty it shall be to prepare and publish another vol- 
 ume ; for which purpose they are authorized to draw on the 
 Treasurer, and free use is granted to them of all the manu- 
 scripts, printed books, and other resources of the Society, 
 except the manuscripts deposited as confidential ; said Ci)m- 
 mittee being required hereby to return whatever they may 
 have thus received, so soon as their use of the same for the 
 purposes of such publication shall have ceased. 
 
 In every publication that shall be made from the income of 
 the Appleton, the Peabody, or other publishing fund, there 
 shall be inserted in each volume a statement in print, timt it 
 was made at the charge of that fund which bears the expense 
 of the publication. 
 
 Art. 2. — The Recording Secretary, and two other mem- 
 bers to be appointed at the annual meeting by the President, 
 shall constitute a Committee, with full power to provide 
 for occasional reports, as well as for the permanent publica- 
 tion of the Proceedings of the Society, subject to the follow- 
 ing limitations : — 
 
 First, Neither the remarks nor the name of an}' member 
 shall be introduced into any report without his permission. 
 
 Second, All papers read or remarks made by any member, 
 which such member shall desire or be willing to have printed, 
 shall be submitted to the above-named Committee for the 
 purpose, and shall be subject to their discretion : provided, 
 however, that any member may publish, on his own responsi- 
 bility, any paper or remarks of his own which the Committee 
 may not think fit to include in their report ; it being under- 
 stood that, in such case, the name of the Society is not to 
 be used in any way whatever in connection with such publi- 
 cation. 
 
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