Chapter 320. To incorporate the Naval History Society
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CHAP. 320.— An Act To incorporate the Naval History Society.August 21, 1912.[[H. R. 24026](/us/bill/62/hr/24026).][[Public, No. 281](/us/pl/62/281).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,District of Columbia.The Naval History Society incorporated.Incorporators. That Charles Francis Adams, of Massachusetts; James Barnes, of New York; Willard H. Brownson, of the District of Columbia; French E. Chadwick, of Rhode Island;
William C. Church, of New York; George Dewey, of the District of Columbia; Henry A. du Pont, of Delaware; Loyall Farragut, of New York; Caspar F. Goodrich, of Connecticut; Charles T. Harbeck, of New York; Grenville Kane, of New York; Stephen B. Luce, of Rhode Island; John F. Meigs, of Pennsylvania; Robert W.323 Neeser, of New York; Herbert L. Satterlee, of New York; Charles II. Stockton, of the District of Columbia; Charles W. Stewart, of the District of Columbia; Robert M. Thompson, of New York;
Richard Wainwright, of the District of Columbia; John W. Weeks, of Massachusetts, and their associates and successors, be, and they are hereby, incorporated and made a body politic and corporate in the District of Columbia, by the name of “The Naval History Society”; and byPowers. that name may sue or be sued, plead and be impleaded, in any court of law or equity, and may have and use a common seal, and change the same at pleasure, and be entitled to use and exercise all the powers, rights, and privileges incidental to fraternal and benevolent corporations within the District of Columbia.
Sec. 2. That the object of such corporation shall be to discoverObject and procure data, manuscripts, writings, and whatever may relate to naval history, science, and art, and the surroundings and experience of seamen in general and of American seamen in particular, and to preserve same by publication or otherwise; and to acquire, establish, or maintain in the city of Washington or elsewhere, for the use of its members and others, a house or rooms having a library, reading room, and such other appurtenances and belongings as may be desired.
Sec. 3. That said corporation may adopt a constitution andConstitution, etc. by-laws, and shall have power to amend the same at pleasure; *Provided*,*Proviso*.Restriction. That they do not conflict with the Constitution and laws of the United States. Sec. 4. That said corporation shall have the right to hold meetingsMeetings. at any place in the United States, but annual meetings for the election of officers shall be held in the city of Washington, where the principal office of said corporation shall be.
Sec. 5. That the said corporation shall have the power to take andProperty rights, etc. hold, by gift, grant, purchase, or devise, real and personal property not exceeding in value five hundred thousand dollars, which shall not be divided among the members of the corporation, but shall be used and administered as a trust for the purposes of the corporation, and so far as unexpended transmitted to their successors for the further promotion of such purposes. Sec. 6. That the government of such corporation shall be vestedBoard of managers. in a board of eleven managers; to be elected by the members of such corporation, and the corporation shall have such officers as its constitution and by-laws may prescribe.
The incorporators herein named, or a majority of them, shall act as the board of managers until their successors in office are chosen at the first meeting of the society after the passage of this Act. Sec. 7. That this charter shall be subject to alteration, amendment,Amendment. or repeal at the pleasure of the Congress of the United States. Sec. 8. That this Act shall take effect immediately on its passage.Effect. Approved, August 21, 1912.