CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION 
OF THE 
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION. 
THIS IS TO CERTIFY That we whose names are hereto 
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 Section 545 
to 552 inclusive of the Revised Statutes of the United States 
relative to the District of Columbia, and under an Act to 
Amend the Revised Statutes of the United States, approved 
April 23, 1884 (23d Statutes at Large, p. 13), as an Associa- 
tion and body corporate, to be known by the corporate name 
of THe AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ Unton, for the term of 
ninety-nine years. 
The particular objects and business of this Association are 
the advancement of its members in Ornithological Science; 
the publication of a journal of Ornithology and other works 
relating to that science; the acquisition of a library; and the 
care and collection of materials relating to the above objects, 
under the restrictions and regulations established in, its 
By-Laws. 
The affairs, funds, and property of the corporation shall be 
in the general charge of a Board of Management, the number 
of whose members for the first year shall be twelve, consist- 
ing of a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, a Treas- 
urer, and seven other members, styled Councilors, all of 
whom shall be chosen by ballot from among the members, 
at the annual meeting. The duties of these officers, and of 
other officers and standing committees, and the terms and 
manner of their election or appointment, shall be provided 
for in the By-Laws. 
WITNESS OUR HANDS AND SEALs, this fourteenth day of 
November, Eighteen hundred and eighty-eight: 
RogBert RipGway (Seal) C. Hart MErRrRIAM (Seal) 
Henry W. HENSHAW (Seal) LEONHARD STEJNEGER (Seal) 
ALBERT K. FISHER (Seal) 
Witness to all signatures 
Jno. D. McCuHEsney. 
