Charter. 



AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE "WISCONSIN ACADEMY OF 

 SCIENCES ARTS AND LETTERS. 



The people of the State of Wisconsin^ represented in Senate and Assembli/, do enact 



as follows: 



Section. 1 Lucius Faircliild, Nelson Dewey, John W. Hoyt, Increase A. Lap- 

 ham, Alexander Mitchell, Win. Pitt Lvnde, Joseph Hobbins, E. B. Wulcott, Solon 

 Jilarks, R. Z. Mason, G. M. Steele, T. C Chamberlin, James H. Eaton, A. L. 

 Chapin, Samuel Fallows, Charles Preuser, Wra. E. Smith, J. C. Foye, Wni. Dud- 

 ley, P. Englemann, A. S. McDill, Joiin Murrish, Geo. P. Delaplaine, J. G. Knapp, 

 8. V. Shipman, i^dwavd D. Holton, P. R. Hoy, Thaddeus C. Pound, Charles E. 

 Bross, Lyman C. Draper, John A. Byrne, O. R. Smith, J. M. Bingluim, Henry 

 Bffitz, LI. Breese, Thos. S. Allen, S. S. Barlow, Chas. R. GilKC. L. Plarris, 

 George Reed, J. G. Thorp, William Wilson, Samuel D. Hastings, and D. A. Bald- 

 win, at present being members and officers of an association known as "The Wis- 

 consin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters,"' located at the city of MadLson, to- 

 gether with their future associates and succes.sors forever, are hereby created a body 

 corporate by the name and style of the " Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and 

 Letters," and by that name shall have perpetual succession; shall be capable inlaw 

 of contractins and being contracted with, of suing and being sued, of pleading and 

 being impleaded in all courts of comp'-itent jurisdiction; and may do and perform 

 Euch acts as are usually performed b}' like corporate bodies. 



Section 2. The general objects of the Academy shall be to encourage investiga- 

 tion and disseminate correct views in the various departments of science, literature 

 and the arts. Among the specific objects of the academy shall be embraced the 

 following: 



1. Researches and investigations in the various departments of the material, meta- 

 jjhysical, ethical, ethnological and social sciences. 



2. A progressive and thorough scientific survey of the State, with a view of determ- 

 ining its mineral, agricultural and other resources. 



3. The advancement of the useful arts, through the applications of science, and 

 by the encoui'agement of original invention. 



4. The encouragement of the fine arts, by means of honors and prizes awarded to 

 artists for original works of superior merit. 



5. The formation of scientific, economical and art museums. 



6. The encouragement of philological and iiistorical research, the collection and 

 preservation of historic records, and the formation of a general library. 



7. The diffusion of knowledge by t!ie publication of original contributions to 

 science, literature and the arts. 



Section 3, Said Academy may have a common seal and alter the same at pleas- 

 ure; may ordain and enforce such constitution, regulations and by-laws as may be 

 necessary, and alter the same at pleasure; may receive and hold real and personal 

 property, and may use and dispose of the same at pleasu>e; provided, that it shall 

 not divert any donation or bequest from the uses and oljects proposed by tlie donor, 

 and that none of the property acquired by it shall, in any manner, be alienated other 

 than in the way of an exchange of duplicate specimens, books, and other effects, with 

 similar institutions and in the manner specified in the next section of this act, with- 

 out the consent of the learislature. 



