The following resolution, introduced by Prof. Thompson, was adopted:
Resolved, 1. As the sense of this meeting that it is both advisable and practicable to organize at the present time a geographic society in Washington;
2. That this society should be organized on as broad and liberal a basis in regard to qualifications for membership as is consistent with its own well being and the dignity of the science it represents.
3. That a committee of nine be appointed by the chairman to prepare a draft of a constitution and plan of organization, to be presented at an adjourned meeting to be held in this hall on Friday evening, January 20, 1888.
A committee was appointed by the chair, consisting of Messrs. Hubbard, Greely, Bartlett, Mitchell, Kennan, Thompson, Gore, Tittman and Merriam for formulating a plan of organization.
A subsequent meeting was held on January 20, at which it was decided to incorporate the society, and the same committee was continued to carry out that purpose. On January 27 the society was incorporated, the following gentlemen signing the certificate of incorporation:
| GARDINER G. HUBBARD, | J. W. POWELL, |
| C. E. DUTTON, | HENRY GANNETT, |
| O. H. TITTMANN, | A. H. THOMPSON, |
| J. HOWARD GORE, | A. W. GREELY, |
| C. HART MERRIAM, | HENRY MITCHELL, |
| J. R. BARTLETT, | GEORGE KENNAN, |
| ROGERS BIRNIE, JR, | MARCUS BAKER, |
| GILBERT THOMPSON, | |
and upon the same day the first meeting of the society was held in the Assembly hall of the Cosmos club, when it was organized by the election of the following list of officers and the adoption of the by-laws:
| President, | |
| GARDINER G. HUBBARD; | |
| Vice Presidents, | |
| HERBERT G. OGDEN, | A. W. GREELY, |
| J. R. BARTLETT, | C. HART MERRIAM, |
| A. H. THOMPSON; | |
| Treasurer, | |
| CHARLES J. BELL; | |
| Recording Secretary, | |
| HENRY GANNETT; | |
| Corresponding Secretary, | |
| GEORGE KENNAN; | |
| Managers, | |
| CLEVELAND ABBE, | W. D. JOHNSON, |
| MARCUS BAKER, | HENRY MITCHELL, |
| ROGERS BIRNIE, JR., | W. B. POWELL, |
| G. BROWN GOODE, | JAMES C. WELLING. |
The number of members who joined the society at its organization was 165. Since that date 45 have been elected to membership.