Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force 2d March, 1837

AN ACT to incorporate the Fairfield Library Company.
1

Body constituted

May have seal

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That Thomas A. Wood, William Borah, C. J. Ridgway, Rigdon B. Slo-

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cumb, Jeffrey Robinson, Caleb Williams, William F. Turney, Joseph Wilson, Thomas Linthicum, Wesley Staten, Nicholas N. Smith, Andrew J. Armstrong, James Mays, Edward R. Puckett, L. J. S. Turney, and their associates, be and they [are] hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, to be known by the name (of the) Fairfield Library Company; and by that name shall have perpetual succession, and a common seal which may be altered at the pleasure of the society.

Directors elected

May make by-laws

Sec. 2. That the members of the society shall annually, on the first Monday of April, elect five directors, (who shall be stockholders,) who shall continue in office one year, and until their successors are elected, who shall be empowered to make such by-laws, rules and regulations, as they, or [a] majority of them, shall deem best calculated to promote the welfare of the society.

Powers

Sec. 3. That the directors shall appoint their own chairman and secretary for the time being, and hold their meetings at such times and places as they may think proper; and the directors shall be capable in law and equity of sueing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answering and being answered unto, defending and being defended, in any court or courts, place or places whatsoever.

To hold estate

Not more than 160 acres

Sec. 4. That the directors and their successors in office shall be in law capable of purchasing, holding, and conveying any personal or real estate for the use of said corporation, not exceeding their capital stock: Provided, Said corporation shall not be allowed at any one time to own more than one hundred and sixty acres of land.

Sec. 5. That the directors shall have power to demand and receive all moneys that are already due by subscription or otherwise, or that may hereafter become due by fines, donations, or contributions of what nature soever, which, when collected, they shall disburse in the purchase of books, maps, or in such manner as a majority of them may deem best for the interest of the society; all debts already contracted by individuals for the use and benefit of the society, being first paid.

Duty of directors

Sec. 6. That it shall be the duty of the directors annually to appoint a librarian, whose duty shall be prescribed by the by-laws of the society.

Vacancies, how filled

Sec. 7. That the directors shall have power to fill such vacancies as may happen in their own body during the time being, and to assess such moderate fines for any breach of the by-laws, and for the loss or destruction of any book or books belonging to the library, as may be reasonable and just.

Members, how admitted

Capital stock may be increased

Sec. 8. That the directors shall designate the mode of

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admitting persons wishing to become members of the society. The capital stock of said society shall be two thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing the same to five thousand dollars.

Shares

Sec. 9. The stock of the company shall be divided into shares of twenty dollars each, which shall be subscribed for and and paid in, as the directors may, from time to time, direct: Provided. That they are not allowed to call for more than one-fifth of said capital stock per annum.

Books to be opened

Sec. 10. That books shall be opened for the subscribers of stock in said institution at such time and place or places as the directors may prescribe.

Sec. 11. That no member shall withdraw his interest from the institution, but may transfer the same to any person or persons he may think proper, whom the society may admit as a member or members: Provided, That the transfer be made in [the] presence of the librarian, and entered on the records of the society.

Sec. 12. That this act shall be in force from and after its passage.

Approved, 2d March, 1837.2

(This bill, through inadvertency, was left out of the printed incorporation acts of the session of 1836 & '7.)

1On February 8, 1837, Thomas Atwater introduced HB 189 in the House of Representatives. On February 18, the House passed the bill. On February 23,the Senate referred the bill to a select committee. The select committee reported back the bill on February 24 with an amendment, in which the Senate concurred. The Senate passed the bill as amended. On February 28, the House concurred in the Senate amendment. On March 2, the Council of Revision approved the bill, and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 512, 546, 640, 696, 762, 792, 806; Illinois Senate Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 463-64, 503-504, 508-509, 589.

2In 1839, the General Assembly passed an act that called for the Fairfield Library Company to relinquish its incorporation and merge with the Fairfield Institute. Once the Fairfield Library Company relinquished its rights, the act of incorporation would be repealed.