4. OBJECT. Statement given in the constitution or act of incorporation. 



5. MEETINGS. Time and place. 



6. MEMBERSHIP. Number of members, classed as active, honorary, corresponding, &c., 



with entrance fee and annual dues paid by each. 



7. SERIAL PUBLICATIONS. Exact title of each serial publication issued by the society or 



institution since its foundation, and a statement for each series of such publica- 

 tions giving change of title (if any), number of volumes (or brochures), period 

 covered, place and dates of publication, and size. 



Where the present society has been formed by fusion of earlier societies, a 

 similar statement regarding the serial publications of each of these is desired. 



If a publication is now, or has been, issued jointly with other societies, this 

 fact should be noted. 



The content of each serial publication should also be noted, if not clearly 

 defined by its title or by the statement of the object of the society. 



8. SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS. If a published list exists, kindly refer to it or send a copy 



if one can be spared. 



9. DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLICATIONS. (a) Conditions of exchange (b) price-list and 



place of sale. 



10. RESEARCH FUNDS AND PRIZES. Under each fund, a statement as to the special field 

 covered, the amount and conditions of grants in aid of research or conditions of 

 competition in the case of prizes. 



In brief, the Handbook may be said to supply, in regard to societies and 

 institutions, information similar to that contained in bio-bibliographic refer- 

 ence works for individual authors. In contrast with "Minerva," which is 

 primarily a yearbook of learned institutions (though including also the prin- 

 cipal learned societies), and which by reason of its annual issue is able to 

 furnish up-to-date information as to the variable personnel, annual budget, 

 etc., chief importance has been attached in this work, which is principally a 

 handbook of learned societies (including also certain classes of learned insti- 

 tutions), to the information of permanent value, vis.: history, publications, 

 and special funds from which grants are made in aid of research or prizes 

 offered for results attained. 



The material furnished in response to the above circular and supple- 

 mentary inquiries has been verified from printed sources wherever possible 

 and the serial and special publications of societies and institutions included 

 have been examined as far as they were available in the Library of Congress 

 and other government libraries in the District of Columbia. As a further 

 precaution to secure accurate and adequate statements, portions of the galley 

 proof were sent to the secretaries and librarians of many of the principal 

 societies in the United States and Canada for additions and corrections. 



To all officers of societies and institutions who have contributed informa- 

 tion relating to the organizations which they represent, for use in the prepa- 

 ration of this Handbook, we desire to express our sincere appreciation of 

 their kind cooperation. We are especially indebted to many secretaries of 

 State historical societies for notes in regard to the local historical societies 

 in their respective states; to Mr. R. W. McLachlan, Hon. Curator of the 

 Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Montreal, who furnished a list of 

 Canadian societies and assisted in the collection of information about those 



VI 



