| Central Commissioners—Chatham, Canada |
| William Howard Day, President |
| Matison F. Bailey, Vice-President |
| George Wash. Brodie, Secretary |
| James Madison Bell, Treasurer |
| Alfred Whipper, Auditor |
| Martin R. Delany, Foreign Secretary |
Note.—The names only of the Central Commissioners are here given, the others being re-elected as chosen in 1856, at Cleveland.
Other Members
| Abram D. Shadd |
| J. Henry Harris |
| Isaac D. Shadd |
At an Executive Council Meeting of the Board, September 1st, 1858, the following resolution, as taken from the Minutes, was adopted: That Dr. Martin R. Delany, of Chatham, Kent Country, Canada West, be a Commissioner to explore in Africa, with full power to choose his own colleagues.
III
HISTORY OF THE PROJECT
In the winter of 1831-32, being then but a youth, I formed the design of going to Africa, the land of my ancestry; when in the succeeding winter of 1832-33, having then fully commenced to study, I entered into a solemn promise with the Rev. Molliston Madison Clark, then a student in Jefferson College, at Cannonsburg, Washington County, Pennsylvania, being but seventeen miles from Pittsburgh, where I resided (his vacations being spent in the latter place), to complete an education, and go on an independent and voluntary mission—to travel in Africa—I as a physician and he as a clergyman, for which he was then preparing.