ACT OF INCORPORATION. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Andrew D. White, of Ithaca, in the State of New York; George Bancroft, of Washington, in the District of Columbia; Justin Winsor, of Cambridge, in the State of Massachusetts; William F. Poole, of Chicago, in the State of Illinois; Herbert B. Adams, of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland; Clarence W. Bowen, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, their associates and successors, are hereby created, in the District of Columbia, a body corporate and politic by the name of the American Historical Association for the promotion of historical ' studies, the collection and preservation of historical manuscripts, and for kindred purposes in the interest of American history and of history in America. Said association is authorized to hold real and personal estate in the District of Columbia so far only as may be necessary to its lawful ends to an amount not exceeding five hundred thousand dollars, to adopt a constitution, and make by-laws not inconsistent with law. Said association shall have its principal office at Washington, in the District of Columbia, and may hold its annual meetings in such places as the said incorporators shall determine. Said association shall report annually to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution concerning its proceedings and the condition of historical study in America. Said secretary shall communicate to Congress the whole of such reports, or such portions thereof as he shall see fit. The Regents of the Smithsonian Institution are authorized to permit said association to deposit its collections, manuscripts, books, pamphlets, and other material for history in the Smithsonian Institution or in the National Museum at their discretion, upon such conditions and under such rules as they shall prescribe. [Approved, January 4, 1889.] LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, SIR: In accordance with the act of incorporation of the American Historical Association, approved January 4, 1889, I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual report of the association for the year 1909. On September 10, 1909, the association completed the first 25 years of its existence, and in its annual meeting of December of the same year it celebrated the anniversary of its foundation. The proceedings of that celebration are included in the accompanying report. The ofiicers and members of the association justly feel that its record during the quarter century that has elapsed is reasonable cause for congratulation. So closely has the association become identified with all the historical interests of the Nation that its history forms one of the most important chapters in the history of historical work and studies in America. Year by year its activities have widened in scope and increased in importance. During the year 1909 a committee of the association published a report on the teaching of history in the elementary schools, while another committee carried on a revision of the report on the teaching of history in the secondary schools, which was first published over 10 years ago, and which has had so profound an influence upon that branch of education. The public archives commission has continued its useful and important work in making known the contents of the various State archives, and in December, 1909, it organized a conference of American archivists, which will be hereafter held annually and which will undoubtedly have a most important influence upon the development of archival science in America. The association has assumed the duty of presenting annually a complete bibliography of the year’s product of books and articles relating to American history, which will hereafter form a constant feature of its annual reports. A committee has been appointed to consider the advisability of establishing a commission on historic sites and monuments, while another committee has, in conjunction with an English committee, been actively engaged in planning a bibliography of modern Eng lish history, a work which will be of the greatest service to AJnerican students. Thus it is evident that the association is not failing in the fulfillment of the purpose set forth in the charter of incorporation granted to it by Congress—the promotion of the interests of American history and of history in America. Very respectfully, The SECRETARY or THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, ii If? CONSTITUTION. I. The name of this society shall be The American Historical Association. II. Its object shall be the promotion of historical studies. III. Any person approved by the executive council may become a member by paying $3, and after the first year may continue a member by paying an annual fee of $3. On payment of $50, any person may become a life member, exempt from fees. Persons not resident in the United States may be elected as honorary or corresponding member and be exempt from the payment of fees. ' IV. The oflicers shall be a president, two vice presidents, a secretary, a secretary of the council, :1. curator, a treasurer, and an executive council consisting of the foregoing ofiicers and six other members elected by the association, With the ex-presidents of the association. These oflicers shall be elected by ballot at each regular annual meeting of the association. V. The executive council shall have charge of the general interests of the aSSOCiatiOn, including the election of members, the calling of meetings, the selection of papers to be read, and the determination of What papers shall be published. VI. This constitution may be amended at any annual meeting, notice of such amendment having been given at the previous annual meeting, or the proposed amendment having received the approval of the executive council. |