This is to Certify that we whose names are hereunto subscribed,
citizens of the United States, and a majority of whom are citizens of
the District of Columbia, have associated ourselves together pursuant
to the provisions of the Revised Statutes of the United States relating
to the District of Columbia, and of an act of Congress entitled: "An
Act to amend the Revised Statutes of the United States relating to the
District of Columbia and for other purposes," approved April 23, 1884,
as a Society and body corporate, to be known by the corporate name of
the National Geographic Society, and to continue for the term of one
hundred years.
The particular objects and business of this Society are: to increase
and diffuse geographic knowledge; to publish the transactions of the
Society; to publish a periodical magazine, and other works relating to
the science of geography; to dispose of such publications by sale or
otherwise and to acquire a library, under the restrictions and
regulations to be established in its By-Laws.
The affairs, funds and property of the corporation shall be in the
general charge of Managers, whose number for the first year shall be
seventeen, consisting of a President, five Vice-Presidents, a Recording
Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer and eight other
members, styled Managers, all of whom shall be chosen by ballot at the
annual meeting. The duties of these officers and of other officers and
standing committees, and their terms and the manner of their election
or appointment shall be provided for in the By-Laws.
GARDINER G. HUBBARD, J. W. POWELL,
C. E. DUTTON, HENRY GANNETT,
O. H. TITTMAN, A. H. THOMPSON,
J. HOWARD GORE, A. W. GREELY,
C. HART MERRIAM, HENRY MITCHELL,
J. R. BARTLETT, GEORGE KENNAN,
ROGERS BIRNIE, JR., MARCUS BAKER,
GILBERT THOMPSON.