CHARTER OF INCORPORATION: 



Granted May 4, 1780, by an Act of the Legislature of Massachusetts, entitled: Ah Act 



to incorporate and establish a Society for the cultivation and promotion of Arts 

 and Sciences. 



1 



As the Arts and Sciences are the foundation and support of agriculture, manufactures, and 

 commerce; as they are necessary to the wealth, peace, independence, and happiness of a people; 

 as they essentially promote the honor and dignity of the government which patronizes them; and 

 as they are most effectually cultivated and diffused through a State by the forming and incorporat- 

 ing of men of genius and learning into public societies : For these beneficent purposes, 



Be it therefore enacted by the Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, 

 and by the authority of the same : That 

 be, and they are hereby formed into, constituted, and made a Body Politic and Corporate, by the 



name of The American Academy of Arts and Sciences ; and that they and their successors, and 

 such other persons as shall be elected in the manner hereafter mentioned, shall be and continue a 

 Body Politic and Corporate, by the same name forever. 



And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid : That the Fellows of the said Academy may 

 from time to time elect a President, one or more Vice-Presidents, one or more Secretaries, and such 

 other officers of the said Academy as they shall judge necessary or convenient; and they shall 

 have full power and authority from time to time to determine and establish the names, number, and 

 duties of their several officers, and the tenure or estate they shall respectively have in their offices ; 

 and also to authorize and empower their President, or some other Fellow of the Academy, at their 

 pleasure, to administer such oaths to such officers as they shall appoint and determine, for the well- 

 ordering and good government of the said Academy : provided the same be not repugnant to the 



laws of the State. 



And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid : That the Fellows of the said Academy shall 

 have one Common Seal, which they may make use of in whatsoever cause or business shall concern 

 the Academy, or be relative to the end and design of its institution ; and shall have power and 



from 



1 For the names of the Fellows incorporated, see pp. 33, 34. 



