CHARTER 
OF THE 
NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
CHAPTER 435, LAWS OF 1895. 
AN ACT to incorporate the New York Zoological Society and to provide for the 
establishment of a zoological garden in the city of New York. 
As amended by Chapter 146 of the Laws of 1902; and by Chapter 240 of the 
Laws of 1910. 
See Chapter 432 of the Laws of 1900. 
See Chapter of the City of New York, Secton 626 of the Laws of 1901. 
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, 
do enact as follows: 
Secrion 1. Charles A. Dana, Oswald Ottendorfer, Andrew H. Green, William 
H. Webb, Henry H. Cook, Samuel D. Babcock, Charles R. Miller, George G. 
Haven, J. Hampden Robb, Frederick W. DeVoe, J. Seaver Page, Rush C. Haw- 
kins, David James King, Wager Swayne, Charles A. Peabody, Jr., Charles E. 
Whitehead, Charles R. Flint, Samuel Parsons, Jr., Mornay Williams, Henry E. 
Gregory, Isaac W. Maclay, Isaac Rosenwald, Hugh N. Camp, Andrew D. Parker, 
Cornelius Van Cott, William F. Havemeyer, Frederick Shonnard, William W. 
Thompson, Alexander Hadden, Edward L. Owen, John H. Starin, Rush S. Huide- 
koper, William W. Goodrich, Albert H. Gallatin, Frederick S. Church, Edward 
C. Spitzka, Robert L. Niles, Madison Grant, C. Grant La Farge, William Van 
Valkenburg, and such other persons as may, under the provisions of its by-laws, 
become members of the corporation hereby created, are hereby created a body 
corporate and politic, by and under the name of the New York Zoological Society. 
Sec. 2. Said corporation shall have power to establish, maintain and control 
zoological parks, gardens, or other collections for the promotion of zoology and ~ 
kindred subjects, and for the instruction and recreation of the people. Said cor- 
poration may collect, hold, and expend funds for zoological research and publica- 
tion, for the protection of wild animal life, and for kindred purposes, and may 
promote, form, and co-operate with other associations with similar purposes, and 
may purchase, sell, or exchange animals, plants, and specimens appropriate to the 
objects for which it was created. 
Sec. 3. The managers of said corporation shall have power to make and 
adopt by-laws for the management and government of its affairs and business, 
for the admission, suspension, and expulsion of its members, and for the terms 
and conditions of membership; to prescribe the number and mode of election of 
its officers; to define their duties; to provide for the safe-keeping of its property, 
and from time to time to alter and modify its by-laws. 
Sec. 4. The affairs and business of said corporation shall be managed and 
controlled by a board of managers, the number of whom shall be prescribed by 
the by-laws. The first board of managers shall be divided by lot into three 
classes, equal in number, one of which classes shall hold office for one year, an- 
other for two years, and the other for three years; and all persons elected to be 
managers at any subsequent election shall hold office for three years, and until 
others are elected in their stead. There shall be a president, two vice-presidents, 
treasurer and secretary, to be elected by the board of managers annually, who 
shall hold office until others are elected in their stead. The first meeting under 
