# National Geographic Magazine/Volume 1/Number 3/National Geographic Society—Abstract of Minutes

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY.
ABSTRACT OF MINUTES.
October 5, 1888, Ninth Meeting.
A paper was read entitled, "Topographic Models," by Mr. Cosmos Mindeleff. Published in the "National Geographic Magazine," Vol. I, No. 3.
October 19, 1888, Tenth Meeting.
The attendance being very small, no paper was read.
November 2, 1888, Eleventh Meeting.
The paper of the evening was entitled, "Surveys, their Kinds and Purposes," by Mr. Marcus Baker. The paper was discussed by Messrs. Ogden, Goodfellow, Gannett and Baker. Published in "Science," Vol. XII, No. 304.
November 16, 1888, Twelfth Meeting.
A paper was read by Mr. Henry Gannett, giving certain "Physical Statistics Relating to Massachusetts," derived from the map of that State recently prepared by the United States Geological Survey. A discussion followed which was participated in by Messrs. Baker, Kenaston, Fernow, Weed, and the author. A second paper entitled, "Something about Tornadoes," was read by Lieut. J. P. Finley, U. S. Signal Corps.
November 30, 1888, Thirteenth Meeting.
The annual reports of vice-Presidents Herbert G. Ogden and Gen. A. W. Greely were delivered. Published in the "National Geographic Magazine," Vol. I, No. 2.
December 20, 1888, Fourteenth Meeting.
Held in the Law Lecture Room of the Columbian University. The President delivered his Annual Address, entitled, "Africa." Published in the "National Geographic Magazine," Vol. I, No. 2.
December 28, 1888, Fifteenth Meeting.
The Society met in the Society Hall of the Cosmos Club, President Hubbard in the chair. Owing to the absence from the city of the Secretaries, Mr. O. H. Tittmann was requested to act as Secretary of the meeting. The minutes of the first and fourteenth meetings were read and approved. The report of the Secretaries was read, in their absence, by the temporary Secreretary, and was approved. The Treasurer's report, showing a balance on hand of $626.70, was read and approved, as was also that of the auditing committee.
The President announced that vacancies caused by the resignation of two of the managers, Messrs. W. D. Johnson and Henry Mitchell, had been filled by the Board on the 15th of November, by the election of Messrs. O. H. Tittmann and C. A. Kenaston; and that a vacancy caused by the resignation of Vice-President John R. Bartlett, had been filled by the election of Lieut. George L. Dyer, on November 30th.
The Society then proceeded to the election of officers, with following result:
President—Gardiner G. Hubbard.
Vice-Presidents—Herbert G. Ogden, [land]; George L. Dyer, [sea]; A. W. Greely, [air]; C. Hart Merriam, [life]; A. H. Thomson, [art];
Treasurer—Charles J. Bell.
Recording Secretary—Henry Gannett.
Corresponding Secretary—George Kennan.
Managers—Cleveland Abbe, Marcus Baker, Rogers Birnie, Jr., G. Browne Goode, W. B. Powell, J. C. Welling, C. A. Kenaston, O. H. Tittmann.
January 11, 1889, Sixteenth Meeting.
The paper of the evening was entitled, "The Great Plains of Canada," and was presented by Professor C. A. Kenaston, of Howard University.
January 25, 1889, Seventeenth Meeting.
The paper of the evening was entitled, "Irrigation in California," by Mr. William Hammond Hall, State Engineer of California. To be published in the "National Geographic Magazine," Vol. I, No. 4.
February 8, 1889, Eighteenth Meeting.
The following papers were read by Prof. W. M. Davis, of Harvard University: "Topographic Models," and "Certain Peculiarities of the Rivers of Pennsylvania" Published in the "National Geographic Magazine," Vol. I, No. 3.
February 22, 1889, Nineteenth Meeting.
The paper of the evening was entitled, "Round about Asheville, N. C.," by Mr. Bailey Willis. The paper was illustrated by charcoal sketches and lantern slides. Discussion followed, which was participated in by Messrs. Baker, Merriam and McGee. To be published in the "National Geographic Magazine," Vol. I, No. 4.
March 8, 1889, Twentieth Meeting.
The following amendments to the By-Laws were adopted.
[For Article VI substitute the following]:
ARTICLE VI.
Meetings.
"Regular meetings of the Society shall be held on alternate Fridays, from November until May, and excepting the annual meeting, they shall be devoted to communications. The Board of Managers shall, however, have power to postpone or omit meetings, when deemed desirable. Special meetings may be called by the President.
"The annual meeting for the election of officers shall be the last regular meeting in December.
"The meeting preceding the annual meeting shall be devoted to the President's annual address.
"The reports of the retiring Vice-Presidents shall be presented at the meetings in January.
"A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of twenty-five active members."
In Article V, the following paragraph was introduced immediately after the first paragraph of the article:
"The dues of members elected in November and December shall be credited to the succeeding year."
The following papers were then presented: "A Trip to Panama and Darien," by Mr. R. U. Goode, and "Survey of Mason and Dixon's Line," by Mr. Mark B. Kerr.
A Trip to Panama and Darien, to be published in the "National Geographic Magazine," Vol. I, No. 4.
March 22, 1889, Twenty-first Meeting.
The paper of the evening was entitled, "Recent Events in the U. S. of Columbia," by Mr. W. E. Curtis. The discussion which followed was participated in by Messrs. Baker, Gannett, and others.
April 5, 1889, Twenty-second Meeting.
The paper of the evening was entitled, "House Life in Mexico," by Mr. A. B. Johnson.
April 19, 1889, Twenty-third Meeting.
This meeting was devoted to papers upon the Samoan Islands. The following programme was presented:
"Samoa; the General Geography and Hydrography of the Islands and Adjacent Seas," by Mr. Everett Hayden.
"Climate," by Prof. Cleveland Abbe.
"Narrative of a Cruise Among the Islands," by Capt. R. W. Meade, U. S. N.
"The Home Life of the Samoans and the Botany of the Islands," by Mr. W. E. Safford, U. S. N.
May 3, 1889, Twenty-fourth Meeting.
The paper of the evening was entitled, "Across Nicaragua with Transit and Machéte," by Mr. R. E. Peary, U. S. N. To be published in the "National Geographic Magazine," Vol. I, No. 4.
May 17, 1889, Twenty-fifth Meeting.
The paper of the evening was entitled, "The Krakatoa Eruption," by Dr. A. Graham Bell. The paper was discussed by Captain C. E. Dutton.