ENPages
p.1
LAPHAM Archaeological Society
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
ART. I. NAME AND PURPOSES.
The name of this corporation shall be "The Lapham Archaeological Society of Wisconsin"; it's location shall be at Milwaukee, in the state of Wisconsin, and its purposes shall be, to institute researches into the antiquities of the state of Wisconsin and adjacent regions; to survey and register the discovery of ancient mounds; to collect and preserve implements and other evidences of the character and habits of the prehistoric populations of Wisconsin ; to provide for the preparation of papers embodying practical information upon subjects directly relating to the purposes of the organization, and to make public, from time to time, in practical form, such results of the investigations instituted by the society as shall lead to a more complete knowledge of the origin and character of the ancient people or peoples who once inhabited the region of the great lakes and the valley of the Mississippi River.
p.2
Left Page 2 ART. II OF OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS.
The officers of the society shall be a President, a Recording Secretary and Treasurer, a Corresponding Secretary, a Curator and an Executive Committee consisting of not more than four active members and the president of the society; they shall be elected by ballot on the first Friday in the month of March, in each year after the first year; they shall hold their own offices respectively for one year, and until their successors are elected and qualified, and the main duties of such officers, shall be the duties ordinarily performed by such officers, with such additional duties as the by-laws may prescribe.
ART. III OF MEMBERSHIP.
The membership of the society shall consist of active, corresponding and honorary members. The business affairs and property of the society shall be managed and controlled by active members exclusively. Any person whose name has been proposed in writing at a previous regular meeting by not less than three active members, may be elected an active member at any regular meeting by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the active members present, and the payment of the admission fee prescribed by the by-laws. Corresponding and honorary members may be elected in the same manner as active members. and upon such further conditions as may be prescribed in the by-laws, but active members only shall be subject to the payment of admission fees or annual dues.
Right Page 3 ART. IV OF PROPERTY AND DONATIONS.
The Society shall possess authority to purchase implements, books and such other such property as it may think proper to add to its cabinet and library; to receive donations for said cabinet and library, or for the benefit of its treasury; and may accept valuable specimens in archaeology, on temporary or permanent deposit, on such terms and conditions as the society or the executive committee may at any time by resolution or contract, provide.
ART. V OF BY-LAWS.
By-laws for the further government of the society may be adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting; but no by-law shall be altered, amended or repealed until after the proposal to alter, amend or repeal the same shall have been presented at a previous regular meeting in writing. Any by-law, however may be temporarily suspended at any regular meeting by a unanimous vote of all the active members present.
ART. VI OF AMENDMENTS
These articles may be altered, amended or repealed by a vote of one-half of the active members of the society, and otherwise as provided in section 4 of said chapter 146, general laws of 1872.
p.3
Left page 4 BY-LAWS.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
SEC. I. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings; to perform such other duties as usually devolve upon the chief officer of similar societies, or as may be prescribed in the articles or by-laws of this society; and to provide for the annual meeting of the society an address upon subjects of interest to the members of the society, including a review of the work of the year.
SEC. 2. It should be the duty of the recording secretary and treasurer to keep a true and faithful record of the proceedings and money transactions of the society; to take charge of the books, papers and money of the society; to give notice to members of all authorized meetings of the society and of committees, and to present at the annual meeting a detailed report of the financial transactions of the preceding year.
SEC. 3. The corresponding secretary shall conduct all the correspondence of the society; shall file for preservation all letters, papers and documents received by him, and shall preserve copies of all letters sent by him, and shall report to the society at each monthly meeting the substance of all valuable information pertaining to his department of duty during the preceding month.
Right page 5
SEC. 4. The curator shall have charge of all collections, and of the library of the society; shall keep a complete catalogue of said collections and library; shall carefully label all specimens exposed for view, and shall furnish such information in regard to the collections and library, from time to time, as may be required, including a complete and detailed report of all property in his charge at the close of each year.
SEC. 5. It shall be the duty of the executive committee to supervise and direct all investigations, researches and surveys undertaken by the society; to audit all bills before the payment of the same by the treasurer; to examine, and approve or reject all papers and communications offered to the society before the same are read; to take charge of all publications made in behalf of the society, and to exercise such general direction over the affairs of the society as said committee may believe necessary to the prosperity and success of the organization.
OF MEMBERSHIP.
SEC. 6. Corresponding members shall consist of persons not residing in Milwaukee, and recommended from time to time, by the executive committee, as interested in the objects of the society, and willing to co-operate with the active members in field duty, the collection of specimens, or the presentation of papers. They shall be entitled to free access to the collections and library of the society.
p.4
[Left Page] 6
SEC. 7. Honorary members shall consist of persons cordially interested in the aims of the society and its perpetuation, and who recognize the value and importance of archaeological research. Their privileges shall be the same as those of corresponding members.
DUES.
SEC. 8. The initiation fee for active members shall be five dollars, and the annual due shall be three dollars, payable semi-annually.
DEBT.
Sec. 9. No debt exceeding fifty dollars shall be contracted without the vote of at least twothirds of the active members present at a regular meeting of the society.
ORDER OF BUSINESS.
SEC. 10. Seven active members of the society shall constitute a quorum to do business at any general or special meeting of the society, and the order of business shall be as follows: 1. Reading the minutes of the previous meeting. 2. Election of officers and members. 3. Reports of standing committees. 4. Reports from special committees. 5. Motions and resolutions. 6. Presentation of papers and communications.
[Right Page] 7
MEETINGS.
SEC. 11. The regular meetings of the society shall be on the first Friday of every month. Regular meetings may be postponed and special meetings called by the executive committee.
ARREARS.
SEC. 12. The names of all persons six months in arrears for dues shall be erased from the list of members; provided, that two notices of indebtedness, at an interval of thirty days, shall have been previously given.
