INCORPORATING "THE HARTFORD YOUNG MEN'S INSTITUTE."

PASSED 1889.

WHEREAS, Henry Barnard 2d, George G. Spencer, William M. Durand, Gustavus F. Davis, William N. Matson, Erastus Collins, Junius S. Morgan, James D. Willard, Amariah Storrs, Edward W. Coleman, Alfred Gill and others, have associated together for the purpose of intellectual improvement: therefore,

Resolved by this Assembly, That the aforesaid individuals, their associates and successors, be and hereby are constituted a body corporate and politic, by the name of the Hartford Young Men's Institute; and by that name shall have perpetual succession, and be capable in law to purchase, receive, hold and convey all kinds of property, the annual income of which shall not exceed six thousand dollars; to sue and be sued, defend and be defended in all courts and places whatever, may have a common seal, and may change and alter the same at pleasure, may elect a president and such other officers and agents as they may find necessary and convenient; and make and carry into effect such by-laws and regulations as they may deem necessary to promote and secure the objects of the corporation. The first meeting of the institute shall be holden on the first Tuesday of June, at such place as may be designated by a majority of the persons named above, by notice in one or more newspapers printed in Hartford. Provided always, that this act may be altered, amended or repealed at the pleasure of the general assembly.

RENEWING CHARTER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF CONNECTICUT.

PASSED 1845.

WHEREAS, John Trumbull and others, at the session of this assembly, held at Hartford on the first Wednesday of May, 1825, were incorporated, by the name of the Connecticut Historical Society, for the purpose of discovering, procuring and preserving materials for the civil, ecclesiastical and natural history of the United States, and especially of the state of Connecticut: and whereas, it was provided by the act of incorporation, that said corporation should meet once a year, for the choice of a president, vice president, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, treasurer and such other officers as might be designated from time to time, by the by-laws of the society and whereas, the persons so incorporated met in the month of May, 1825, and accepted said act of incorporation, and elected the officers mentioned therein, who entered upon the duties assigned them respectively; but sinc e

there has been no election of officers in said society, and it is now a matter of doubt, whether the charter of said society is not forfeited by non-user; and if otherwise, it is difficult to ascertain who are now members and whereas, some valuable historical materials were collected by said society, while it was in operation, which have been thus far preserved, but which are in danger of being scattered and lost, without the care of this or some similar institution: and whereas, the objects of said society are important and worthy of legislative protection and encouragement: it is therefore

Resolved and declared by this Assembly, That the existence of said society as a body corporate, with the powers and privileges originally granted thereto, be continued and perpetuated, as though its officers had been chosen annually since 1825.

Resolved further, That Thomas C. Brownell, John S. Peters, William W. Ellsworth, Thomas Day, Thomas Robbins, Isaac Toucey, George Sumner, Roger M. Sherman, William T. Williams, Martin Welles, Thomas H. Gallaudet, Walter Mitchell, Samuel H. Huntington, Nathan Johnson, Hawley Olmsted, David S. Boardman, Charles Hosmer, Epaphroditus C. Bacon, Erastus Smith, George R. Bulkley, Edward C. Herrick, Noah Porter, Jr., James L. Kingsley, Leonard Bacon, Nathaniel Goodwin, Charles Davies, Royal R. Hinman, John A. Rockwell, Thomas B. Butler, L. P. Waldo, Andrew T. Judson, Henry Barnard, 2d, Elkanah H. Hodges, shall be deemed the present members of said society, and shall continue such, subject to the regulations and by-laws of said society: provided, that the payment of three dollars, as an admission fee for the benefit of the society, shall be an essential qualification of membership; and no person who has not already paid such fee, shall hereafter be deemed a member, until such payment be made.

Resolved further, That Thomas Day be empowered to call the next meeting of said society, for the choice of officers, and the transaction of other business, at such place in the city of Hartford, and at such time as he may designate for that purpose, giving previous notice thereof, in one or more newspapers printed in said city: provided, nevertheless, that these resolves, as well as the original act of incorporation, shall be subject to b revoked or altered at the pleasure of the general assembly.

INCORPORATING THE HUMPHREYSVILLE LIBRARY COMPANY.

PASSED 1854.

Resolved by this Assembly, SEO. 1. That P. B. Buckingham, B. W. Smith, G. H. Merrick, Raymond French, Sylvester Smith, Samuel Bassett, Henry S. Mygatt, Ransom Tomlinson, Ashbel Storrs, L. B. Morris and Andrew Bassett, and their associates and such other persons as shall

hereafter be admitted members of said company, be and they hereby are made a body politic and corporate, by the name of the Humphreysville Library Company, and by that name may sue and be sued, and have perpetual sucession, and may have a common seal, and may alter the same at pleasure, and may hold real estate to the amount of one thousand dollars, and may increase their stock in books to the amount and value of five thousand dollars; and the stock of said company shall be divided into such shares as by the by-laws of said company shall be ordained and established. And the first meeting of said company shall be held on the third Monday of July next, at such hour and place as shall be designated for that purpose, by notice signed by the said P. B. Buckingham and B. W. Smith, which shall be served by reading to each petitioner, or by copy left at his usual place of abode three days 'previous to said meeting; and thereafter the annual and special meetings of said company shall be held at such time and place and on such notice as the by-laws of said company shall prescribe.

SEC. 2. The company at their annual meeting shall choose a secretary, a president, a vice president, a treasurer and seven persons to be a board of directors, who shall continue in office until others are chosen to fill their places; and if the company shall hereafter increase, the board of directors may be increased, but shall at no time exceed eleven persons, exclusive of the president and vice president, who shall ex officio be members of the board of directors.

SEC. 3. The board of directors shall have a general superintendence of the library; direct in what manner it shall be kept, appoint a librarian and grant him such compensation as they shall judge necessary, adjust all accounts and exhibit the same once in every year to the company, select and purchase books for the use of the company, and regulate from time to time the manner in which books shall be drawn from the library.

SEC. 4. The board of directors shall have the sole power of making by-laws relative to the use of the company's books, and the fines, penalties, and forfeitures to be inflicted for any injury to, or loss, obstructions or undue detention of the same; but no such by-law shall be of any force until it has been engrossed and posted up fourteen days in the library room. Provided, that no fine, penalty or forfeiture shall exceed the assessed value of the book or books so injured, lost, detained or destroyed.

SEC. 5. No person shall become a member of the company by purchase, without the consent and approbation of the board of directors.

SEO. 6. The proprietor of each share of said stock shall pay annually into the treasury of said company one dollar on each share held by him; and if the proprietor of any share or shares of said stock shall neglect or refuse to make such payment for the space of thirty days after the same shall be due, and after having been notified of such neglect, in a manner to be provided by the board of directors, each proprietor neglecting or refusing shall forfeit all his right, title and interest in said company, and shall cease to be a member of the same.

SEC. 7. These resolves may be altered, amended or repealed at the pleasure of the legislature.

INCORPORATING THE LITCHFIELD COUNTY HISTORICAL AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY.

PASSED 1856,

Resolved by this Assembly, That Seth P. Beers, George C. Woodruff, G. H. Hollister, P. K. Kilbourne, John A. McKinstry, John Boyd, Daniel B. Brinsmade, Lewis M. Norton, William M. Burrall, Charles F. Sedgwick, Frederick Holcomb, William Cothren, David L. Parmalee, John M. Raymond, Alexander H. Holley, Robbins Battell, Abijah Catlin and David S. Boardman, and their associates and successors, be and hereby are ordained, constituted and declared to be forever hereafter, a body corporate by the name of "The Litchfield County Historical and Antiquarian Society," and by that name they, their associates and successors, shall and may have perpetual succession; shall be capable of sueing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, and also to purchase, receive, hold and convey any estate, real or personal, to an amount not exceeding ten thousand dollars; may have a common seal, and the same alter at pleasure; may pass and establish such constitution, by-laws and regulations, not contrary to the provisions of this charter, or the laws of this state, as shall be deemed necessary for the government of said corpo

ration.

Said corporation shall meet once a year for the choice of such officers as may from time to time be designated by the constitution or by-laws of

the society.

Provided, nevertheless, that this act of incorporation shall be subject to be revoked or altered at the pleasure of the general assembly.

INCORPORATING THE MIDDLETOWN ATHENEUM.

PASSED 1852.

Resolved by this Assembly, SEC. 1. That Josiah Brewer, John H. Newton, William J. Starr, Arthur B. Calef and Charles A. Newell, as officers of the Middletown Lyceum, together with the present members of said lyceum, and such other persons as shall hereafter be admitted members of the corporation hereby erected, and their successors, be and they are hereby ordained, constituted and declared to become a body corporate and politic, in fact and in name, by the name of the Middletown Atheneum, and by that name they and their successors shall and may have perpetual succession, and shall and may, by the same name, be capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be ans wered unto, defend and be defended in all courts and places whatsoever, in all manner of actions, suits, complaints, matters and causes whatso

ever; to have and use a common seal, and the same to alter and renew at pleasure; and to execute all and singular, those acts, matters and things which to them shall or may appertain, subject to the rules, limitations and restrictions herein after provided.

SEC. 2. Said Atheneum may establish, keep and maintain a library, reading room, and promote such other literary and scientific objects as it may deem proper.

SEC. 3 The officers shall consist of a president, two vice presidents, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, treasurer and librarian, all of whom shall be chosen at the annual meeting of said Atheneum, and shall hold their office for one year, and until others are chosen. In case of vacancy from any cause, others shall be chosen, to serve their term of office.

SEC. 4. At said annual meeting there shall be chosen a board of trustees, consisting of fifteen members of the Atheneum, all of whom shall be at least twenty-one years of age, which board shall have a general superintendence of the financial affairs of said Atheneum, and may expend its funds in such way as they may deem most proper to carry out the objects of this charter. The president and treasurer ex-officio shall be men.bers of the board of trustees.

SEC. 5. At any meeting properly called, the members of the Atheneum may vote how the funds ought to be appropriated, which vote, in all cases, shall be laid before the board of trustees for their approval.

SEC. 6. The president shall preside at all meetings of the Atheneum, and also at all meetings of the board of trustees; shall have power to call special meetings of either when he shall deem it proper, and shall sign all orders upon the treasurer. In case the president shall neglect or refuse to call meetings, any three members may call a meeting of the Atheneum, and any two of the board of Trustees may call a meeting of that board.

SEC. 7. At any meeting of the Atheneum, in the absence of the pres ident, the first vice president shall preside, and in his absence the second vice-president.

SEC. 8. The recording secretary shall keep a fair and faithful record of the proceedings of each meeting, and the corresponding secretary shall attend to all correspondence of the Atheneum.

SEC. 9. The treasurer shall receive all moneys of the Atheneum, pay all written orders of the board of trustees, signed by the president, and have his books in readiness at any time for the inspection of the board of trustees. Before entering upon the duties of his office he shall, at the discretion of the board of trustees, execute a bond to them to such an amount as they shall deem proper; and at the close of his term of office, shall present a written report to the board of trustees, giving a statement of the funds of the Atheneum.

SEC. 10. The library shall be under the charge of the librarian, who shall attend to its affairs, subject to the control of the Atheneum. If his duties should be too arduous, the Atheneum may direct him to employ such assistants as it may think proper.

SEC. 11. At any meeting of the Atheneum duly called, nine members shall constitute a quorum to transact business; and in the board of trustees, a majority shall have the same powers.