Item Info

Media Type: Realia
Original Image Location: History of the Free Library of Philadelphia Archive
Notes: Be it known that the subscribers having associated themselves together for the purpose of establishing a free library in the City of Philadelphia and being desirous of becoming incorporated agreeably to the provisions of the Act of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania entitled "An Act to provide for the Incorporation and Regulation of certain Corporations" approved the Twenty-ninth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four and its supplements do hereby declare, set forth and certify that the following are the purposes, objects, articles and conditions of their said Association for and upon which they desire to be incorporated.

I. The name of the corporation shall be The Free Library of Philadelphia
II. The purpose for which the corporation is formed, is to establish and maintain for the use of the People of Philadelphia, a general library which shall be free to all.
III. The place where the business of the said Corporation is to be transacted is the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania.
IV. The Corporation is to exist perpetually.
V. The names and residences of the subscribers are as follows:

Edward S. Harlan Chas C. Harrison Samuel Wagner George Henderson G. Stuart Patterson

Greene Hill, Chester County, Pennsylvania No. 1618 Locust Street, Philadelphia No. 1819 Spruce Street, Philadelphia No. 1422 Master Street, Philadelphia Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia

The Corporation has no capital stock.

VI. The Corporation is to managed by a Board of Directors consisting of Twelve members, and the names and residences of those chosen Directors for the first year, are as follows:

Isaac Norris Chas C. Harrison G. Stuart Patterson William Platt Pepper William Pepper Samuel Wagner George Henderson Edward S. Harlan George Tucker Bierham David Pepper Joseph D. Potts A. Sydney Millward

No. 1424 Walnut Street, Philadelphia No. 1618 Locust Street, Philadlephia Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia No. 1730 Chestnut Street, Philadlephia No. 1811 Spruce Street, Philadelphia No. 1819 Spruce Street, Philadelphia No. 1422 Master Street, Philadelphia Greene Hill, Chester County, Penna. No. 1805 DeLancey Place, Phila. No. 1827 Spruce Street, Phila. No. 3905 Spruce Street, Phila. No. 3010 Susquehanna Ave., Phila.

Witness the hands and seals of the subscribers this     day of     in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one (1891).

Edward S. Harlan (signature)
Charles C. Harrison (signature)
G. Stuart Patterson (signature)
Samuel Wagner (signature)
George Henderson (signature)

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
City and County of Philadelphia
Before me the subscriber, Recorder of Deeds of the said County, personally appeared Edward S. Harlan, Samuel Wagner and George Henderson three of the subscribers to the above and foregoing Certificate of Incorporation of "The Free Library of Philadelphia" and in due form of law acknowledged the same to be their act and deed.
Witness my hand and official seal this Fourteenth - day of January - A.D. 1891
Jos. K. Flescher (signature)
Deputy Recorder of Deeds

Decree.
In the Court of Common Pleas No. 4 of the County of Philadelphia of December Term 1890, No.     
And