THE AMERICAN FOLK-LORE SOCIETY OFFICERS, BY-LAWS BRANCHES, AND PUBLICATIONS 1894 L r 1 wii, ^p.ENCE J. GUTTER The university Library TJte American Folk-Lore Society. MEMOIRS OF THE AMERICAN FOLK-LORE SOCIETY. Vol.1. Folk Tales of Angola. By Heli Chatelain. Mr. Heli Chatelain, late United States Commercial Agent at Loanda, Angola, West Africa, and author of " Kimbundu Gram- mar," dm-ing a stay of ten years has possessed exceptional opportuni- ties for observation of African life. As a result of his labors, he has been able to make a gathering of Angolan folk-tales, which will form the first collection printed, and which will represent the traditional lore of the West Coast, in the same manner as the Zulu collection of Bishop Callaway represents that of South Africa. The tales, fifty in number, will be printed with Kimbundu text and English translation, on opposite pages, and will be illustrated by copious linguistic and ethnographic notes ; an introduction is prefixed, in which the author gives a sketch of the geography, ethno- graphy, and oral literature of the province, the whole work consist- ing of about three hundred pages, uniform in size and style with the Journal of American Folk-Lore. The collection includes stories answering to European Mdrchen or fairy tales, heroic narratives of an African stamp, and animal tales corresponding to those familiar to American negroes, together with anecdotes and relations considered by Africans to be accounts of actual events. As popular narratives giving an accurate representation of native life, these will offer the best means for comprehension of the habits, character, and ideas of the population of the West Coast, the source of the American negro immigration ; the relation of the material to the traditions and notions of the latter bringing the work within the scope of the American Folk-Lore Society. The book will also have a relation to African ethnology, the author maintaining the substantial identity, in point of mental conceptions, as well as physical characteristics, of the Bantu stock with the Upper Guinea and Soudan negro, and the general homogeneity of African tradi- tional lore. The volume, which will be ready in February, 1894, will be sent free to subscribers to the Publication Fund, and furnished to mem- bers of the American Folk-Lore Society at the price of two dollars. To non-members the price will be three dollars. It is intended that the volume shall be immediately succeeded by other numbers of the proposed series, which have been prepared, and are already in readiness for the printer. The American Folk-Lore Society. BY-LAWS OF THE AMERICAN FOLK-LORE SOCIETY. Art. I. Name. The name of this corporation shall be The American Folk-Lore Society. Art. II. Objects, The Society shall have for its object the study of folk-lore in general, and in particular the collection and publica- tion of the folk-lore of America. Art. III. Membership. Persons interested in the study of folk- lore, or who desire to aid the Society in its work, are eligible to membership. There shall be four classes of members, namely, Patrons, Honorary Members, Life Members, and Members. (i.) Members shall be elected by the Council. (2.) Members pay- ing to the Treasurer fifty dollars in one payment shall be designated Life Members. (3.) Honorary Members to the number of twenty- five may be chosen on account of eminence in folk-lore. Their names shall be proposed to the Council, and, if approved by the Council, they may be elected by the Society at any Annual Meeting. (4.) Persons paying to the Treasurer five hundred dollars in one pay- ment shall be designated Patrons, Patrons, Honorary Members, and Life Members shall be exempt from annual dues, and shall enjoy all the privileges of members. Art. IV. Aftmial Dues. The dues of members shall be three dollars per annum, payable on the first of January in each year. Members in arrears of dues for six months shall not receive the Journal of the Society, and those in arrears for more than one year may be dropped by the Council, provided that due notice be sent to them by the Permanent Secretary. Newly elected members must pay the current dues within three months after the election, or such election may be declared void by the Council. Art. V. Officers. The officers of the Society shall be as follows : A President. First Vice-President. Second Vice-President. Corresponding Secretary. Permanent Secretary. Treasurer. Curator. Nine Councillors. The Permanent Secretary and the Treasurer shall hold office for The American Folk- Lore Society. 7 five years. The two Vice-Presidents, Corresponding Secretary, and Curator shall be elected annually at the Annual Meeting. The nine Councillors first elected under these by-laws shall divide themselves into three groups, three Councillors to serve one year, three to serve two years, and three to serve three years; and thereafter three Councillors shall be elected annually to serve three years. The presiding officers of the local branches shall be ex-officio members of the Council. Art. VI. (i.) Coimcil. The nine Councillors, together with the seven other officers above named, and the presiding officers of the local branches, shall constitute the Council of the Society. The Council shall conduct all the affairs of the Society, including the finances, the admission of members, the business of the meetings, and the issue of publications. The Council shall meet at least once a year in connection with the Annual Meeting. Special meetings of the Council may be called by the President and Permanent Secretary, ample notice being sent to members of the Council. The Council shall have power to fill vacancies until the next suc- ceeding Annual Meeting of the Society. (2.) Elections. Any member of the Society may send nominations for officers, within thirty days of the Annual Meeting, to the Perma- nent Secretary, who shall lay the nominations before the Council. The Council shall then make up a ticket from the nominations, and present the same to the Society at the Annual Meeting for election. Art. VII. Duties of^Officers. (i.) The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society and of the Council. (2.) In the absence of the President, the duties shall devolve on one of the Vice-Presidents. (3.) The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct the foreign cor- respondence of the Society, and, with the Permanent Secretary and the Vice-Presidents, shall form a committee to promote and assist the establishment of local branches of the national Society. (4.) The Permanent Secretary shall be the general executive officer of the Society. He shall have charge of the documents and library of the Society. He shall superintend the business of publishing the Journal, the memoirs, and other works issued by the Society. He shall keep a correct register of all members. He shall aid the local committee in arranging the meetings of the Society. He shall report to the Council at the Annual Meeting of the Society the expenses of his office and the general status of the Society. He may employ the services of a clerk at a salary to be determined by the Council. (5.) The Treasurer shall receive the fees of members, and shall pay bills approved by the Permanent Secretary, or by the Council. 8 The American Folk-Lore Society. He shall set apart the fees received from Patrons and Life Members for a permanent fund, the income of which shall be expended under the direction of the Council. He shall report to the Council at the Annual Meeting the income and expenses of the current year and the financial status of the Society. (6.) The Curator shall have custody of objects of folk-lore interest belonging to the Society, and shall perform such other duties as may be designated by the Council. Art. VHI. Co7?iniittees. The Council shall appoint from within its body the following committees : (i.) On membership. (2.) On publication ; (3.) On auditing accounts of the Permanent Secretary and the Treasurer ; and (4.) such other committees as may be deemed expedient. Art. IX. Meetings. Meetings of the Society shall be held at least once a year, at such place and such time as may be determined by the Council. The regular business of the Society shall be trans- acted at the Annual Meeting. Members shall be notified of meetings at least three weeks in advance, by the Permanent Secretary. The details of organization of the meetings shall be conducted by the Permanent Secretary, assisted by the Local Secretary of the preceding meeting and a committee of citizens residing in or near the place of meeting. Art. X. Publications. The Society shall publish a Journal, of a scientific character, for the purpose of preserving and diffusing know- ledge relating to folk-lore. This Journal shall be published at such intervals and in such style as the Council shall direct. It shall be conducted by an editor appointed by the Council, and who shall be assisted by the Publication Committee. The Society may also pub- lish Memoirs embodying monographs too extensive for insertion in the Journal, and such other works as may be ordered by the Council. One copy of the Journal shall be sent gratis to each member not in arrears, to Honorary Members, and Life Members. The Memoirs and other publications shall be sold at prices to be determined by the Council. Art. XL Local Branches. Local branches may be organized, with their own independent officers and regulations, by members of the American Folk-Lore Society, provided the organization is ap< proved by the Council. The presiding officer of local branches shall be ex-officio members of the Council of the American Folk-Lore Society. Art. XII. A7ne7idments. These by-laws may be amended at any Annual Meeting of the Society, by a two thirds vote of those present, provided the proposed amendments are approved by the Council, and provided further that, after such approval, notice of the The American Folk-Lore Society. 9 proposed changes be sent by the Permanent Secretary to each mem- ber of the Society at least three weeks before the meeting at which the proposed amendments shall be acted upon. OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN FOLK-LORE SOCIETY, 1894. President : Prof. Alcee Fortier, New Orleans, La. First Vice-President : Washington Matthews, Surgeon and Ma- jor, U. S. A., Fort Wingate, New Mexico. Second Vice-President : J. Owen Dorsey, Washington, D. C. Councillors : Dr. Franz Boas, Chicago, 111. ; Prof. D. G. Brin- ton, M. D., Philadelphia, Pa. ; Dr. A. F. Chamberlain, Worcester, Mass. ; Prof. M. M. Curtis, Cleveland, O. ; J. Owen Dorsey, Washing- ton, D. C. ; Dr. G. B. Grinnell, New York, N. Y. ; Prof. Otis T. Mason, Washington, D. C. ; Prof. Frederic W. Putnam, Cambridge, Mass. Permanent Secretary : W. W. Newell, Cambridge, Mass. Corresponding Secretary : Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, Boston, Mass. Treasurer : John H. Hinton, M. D., 41 West 32d St., New York, N. Y. Curator : Stewart Culin, Philadelphia, Pa. AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE AMERICAN FOLK-LORE SOCIETY. Be it 671 acted, etc., as follows : — Section i. Frederick W. Putnam, Daniel G. Brinton, Otis T. Mason, Horatio Hale, William Wells Newell, John H. Hinton, Franz Boas, H. Carrington Bolton, Alexander F. Chamberlain, Stewart Culin, J. Owen Dorsey, Alice C. Fletcher, J. Walter Fewkes, Alcee Fortier, George Bird Grinnell, David P. Penhallow, and their associates, the officers and mem- bers of the society known as The American Folk-Lore Society, their asso- ciates and successors, are hereby made a corporation by the name of The American Folk-Lore Society, for the purpose of collecting, preserving, and publishing the folk-lore mythology and legends of the American continent, and for the further and incidental purposes of receiving, purchasing, holding and conveying real and personal property ; with all the duties and privileges and subject to the restrictions, duties, and liabilities set forth in the general laws which now are or hereafter may be in force and applicable to such corporations. Section 2. Said corporation may have and hold by purchase, grant, gift, or otherwise, real estate not exceeding fifty thousand dollars in value, and personal estate not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars in value, and said corporation may hold its meetings without the Commonwealth. Section 3. Any two of the corporators above-named are hereby author- ized to call the first meeting of the said corporation at any time during the year eighteen hundred and ninety-three, by notice thereof by mail to each member of the said society. Section 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage. {Approved May 26, iSgj.'] [Statutes of Massachusetts, chap. 389. J lo The American Folk-Lore Society. BRANCHES OF THE AMERICAN FOLK-LORE SOCIETY. In order to promote the success of the Society, and to enlarge its membership, it has been found desirable to establish local branches, consisting of members who are also members of the American Folk- Lore Society. These Branches, which remain independent within their sphere, hold stated meetings, at which can be considered subjects connected . with folk-lore, and which afford to members opportunity for acquaint- ance and conversation. Such meetings are held monthly during the season, in private houses or in public rooms. The proceedings of Branches naturally take a somewhat wider range than those of the General Society, and may include topics re- lated to folk-lore, involving ethnography, archaeology, and literature. All large American cities contain an immigrant population gathered from many countries, the observation of which, in the widest manner, forms a study of manifold interest. It is essential that all members of a Branch should also be mem- bers of the General Society ; but persons belonging to the house- hold of a member may be received as associate members, having no further connection with The American Folk-Lore Society. The first Branch established was at Philadelphia, in 1889, under the title of Philadelphia Chapter of The American Folk-Lore Society. The designation now officially adopted is The American Folk-Lore Society, followed by the name of the Branch. Branches now exist (according to the order of time of establishment) at Boston, Mass., New Orleans, La., Montreal, Que., New York, N. Y., and Cambridge, Mass. THE AMERICAN FOLK-LORE SOCIETY, BOSTON BRANCH. OFFICERS. President : Prof, Frederic Ward Putnam. Vice-Presidents : Mr. Dana Estes, Dr. J. Walter Fewkes. Secretary : George P. Bradley, M. D., U. S. N. Treasurer : Mr. Arthur G. Everett. Advisory Committee : Miss A. L. Alger, Mr. Montague Chamber- lain, Mrs. David H. Coolidge, Mrs. W. B. Kehew, Mr. William Wells Newell, Mrs. B. L. Robinson. The American Folk-Lore Society. 1 1 BY-LAWS. Article I. — Name. This organization shall be known as " The American Folk-Lore Society, Boston Branch." Article II. — Objects. The purposes of this Branch shall be, to promote the collection of American and other folk-lore ; to culti- vate social intercourse between persons interested in the subject ; and in general to further, by every suitable means, the objects and purposes of The American Folk-Lore Society. Article III. — Membership. This Branch shall consist of mem- bers who shall also be members of The American Folk-Lore Society, residing in or near Boston, and of Associate Members belonging to the families of members. The number of members and associates shall be limited to two hundred. Article IV. — Officers. The officers shall be. President ; Two Vice-Presidents ; Secretary ; Treasurer ; Advisory Committee, con- sisting of six members, four of whom shall be women, who shall, together with the officers already named, constitute the Council. These officers shall be elected at an Annual Meeting held on the third Friday in April, and shall serve for one year, or until their successors are chosen. At the March meeting shall be appointed a Nominating Committee of three members, who shall, before the April meeting, have pre- pared, in the form of a printed ballot, a list of officers to be voted on at that meeting. Any member of the Branch may send in nomi- nations ; if, for any office, five nominations are received for any one name, the name of the person so nominated shall be placed on the printed ballot, in addition to the name proposed by the Committee. Article V. — Duties. The President, or, in his absence, one of the Vice-Presidents, shall preside at meetings of the Branch, and also at those of the Council. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings, both of the Branch and of the Council ; shall send out proper notices of meet- ings ; shall have charge of the records of the Society ; shall furnish to the Secretary of the General Society a monthly report of the pro- ceedings of the Branch, and shall communicate such report to the other Branches of the Society. • The Treasurer shall collect assessments, have charge of all moneys received for the benefit of the Branch, and pay such bills as are approved by the Council. The Advisory Committee shall arrange the places of meetings. The Council shall hold a meeting at least a week previous to each monthly meeting of the Branch ; shall have charge of all affairs of 12 The American Folk- Lore Society. the Branch, including the election of members ; and shall determine the programme for all meetings. The Council shall also have power to fill vacancies in its body, An Auditor shall be appointed at the meeting preceding the Annual Meeting , whose duty shall be to examine the books and accounts of the Branch, and report thereon at the Annual Meeting. Article VI. — Admission of Members. Every candidate for membership shall be proposed in writing by some member of the Branch, and each nomination shall state the residence and qualifica- tions of the candidate ; such nomination shall be reported to the Council for approval. A negative vote of two Councillors shall ex- clude a candidate. Article VII. — Dues. The Boston Branch may, by a vote of two thirds of the members present at any annual meeting, levy an assessment of not exceeding two dollars per year for each member for the uses of the local Society. Members paying ten dollars annually into the treasury of The American Folk-Lore Society shall be exempt from all dues in this Branch. Article VIII. — Meetings. Meetings of this Branch shall be held monthly, from November to May, on the third Friday of each month. Special meetings may be called by the Council at such other times as they may determine. The date of any meeting, however, may be changed by a vote of the Council on a written recommendation signed by the President and two Councillors. Article IX. — Quorum. Fifteen members shall constitute a quorum of the Branch, and five Councillors a quorum of the Council. Article X. — Amendments. Amendments to these By-Laws may be made at any regular meeting, by a majority vote of members present and voting. Such proposed amendment, however, shall have been sent in writing to each member, and shall lie on the table for at least one month prior to action. LOUISIANA BRANCH. officers. President: Prof. Alcee Fortier. Vice-President : Mrs. Mary Ashley Townsend. Secretary and Treasurer : Mr. William Beer. Assistant Secretary : Mr. Edward Foster. Directors: Col. William Preston Johnston, Mrs. M. E. M. Davis, Mrs. Francis S. Blake, Mr.s. George Howe. The Afuericaii Folk-Lore Society. 13 The rules of this Branch, as respects objects and membership, are similar to those already printed. An additional provision is, that the Branch shall hold an annual public meeting in order to encour- age the study of folk-lore. The annual dues are fifty cents. MONTREAL BRANCH. OFFICERS. President: Prof. D. P. Penhallow. Vice-President : Dr. John Reade. Secretary : Mr. F. E. Came. Treasurer: Mr. W. J. White. Ladies' Committee : Mrs. Herbert B. Ames, Mrs. K. Boissevain, Miss Blanche L. Macdonell, Mrs. Robert Reid, Miss Van Home. The By-Laws of this Branch are similar to those already printed, for which they have indeed served as the model, having been adopted previously to the present By-Laws of the Boston Branch. The fol- lowing provisions may be quoted : — Dues. — V. The first member elected from each household shall pay three dollars and fifty cents per annum, and shall then be en- titled to membership in the General Society, to the Journal of that Society, and to membership in this Branch. Other members from the same household shall pay a fee of one dollar, which shall entitle them to membership in this Branch only. All fees shall be payable in advance, and shall fall due on the first day of January in each year. Meetings. — VL The Annual Meeting for the election of officers, presentation of reports, and other business shall be held on the second Monday in January in each year. The Society shall meet for business on the second Monday of each month, excepting July, August, and September. Members shall have the privilege of in- troducing friends at the meetings. NEW YORK BRANCH. officers. President: Dr. H. Carrington Bolton. First Vice-President : Dr. George Bird Grinnell. Second Vice-President : Mr. Richard Watson Gilder. Secretary : Mr. William Burnet Tuthill. Treasurer : Mr. Sidney A. Smith. Ladies Committee: Mrs. Henry Draper, Mrs. Henry Earle, Mrs. Mary J. Field. 14 The America7t Fo Ik-Lore Society. RULES. Article I. — Name. This organization shall be known as The American Folk-Lore Society, New York Branch, and is a part of and subordinate to the General Society. This Constitution is adopted for local government only. Article II. — Objects. The object of this organization shall be, to encourage the study of folk-lore, to hold meetings for reading of papers and discussions, and to strengthen the support of the General Society. Article III. — Officers. The officers of the organization shall be as follows : — President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Three Ladies, who together with the preceding shall constitute the Executive Committee. These officers shall be elected at the annual meeting to be held on the second Friday in April, to serve one year. They shall have power to fill vacancies in their number for the unexpired term. They shall have charge of all the affairs of the organization, including election of members. Article IV. — Membership. Members shall be of two classes, Members and Associates. The former shall be members of the Gen- eral Society, and as such entitled to receive the Journal of the Society. The associates shall be persons belonging to families of which one representative is a member. Associates shall have all the privileges of members, except that they shall not be entitled to the Journal of The American Folk-Lore Society. Article V. — Meetings. Meetings of this organization shall be held on the second Friday of each month, if called by the Secretary of the Executive Committee, from November until April. Extraordinary meetings may be held at such times as may be de- termined by the Executive Committee. Article VI. — Dues. Members shall pay to the Treasurer of the New York Branch five dollars per annum. Of this sum the Treas- urer shall pay three dollars to the Treasurer of the American Folk- Lore Society. Associates shall pay to the Treasurer of the New York Branch two dollars per annum. The fiscal year shall begin November ist. Article VII. — Changes. Constitution. This constitution shall be amended at any regular meeting of the organization by a two thirds vote, provided due notice of proposed changes shall have been sent to all members and associates at least two weeks before the meeting at which the changes are to be acted on. The American Folk-Lore Society. 15 CAMBRIDGE (MASS.) BRANCH. OFFICERS. President: Mr. A. R. Tisdale. Vice-President : Miss Helen Child. Secretary: Mr. M. M. Fernald. Treasurer: Mr. F. W. Robinson. Executive Committee : Miss Sarah Yerxa, Miss G. S. Shaler, Mr. W. H. Schofield. The rules of this Branch are similar to those of the Boston Branch the differences being in the election of Honorary Members, in lim- itation of the number of members to forty, and in the provision of an annual fee of fifty cents for membership in the local Society. The Branch is intended to consist of young people, the male members being chiefly students of Harvard University. TITLES OF CERTAIN ARTICLES PRINTED IN THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN FOLK-LORE. The Diffusion of Popular Tales, T. F. Crane (1888). Songs and Dances of the Kwakiutl, F. Boas. Legend of the Snake Order of the Moquis, W. Matthews. Folk-Lore of the Pennsylvania Germans, W. J. Hoffmann. Huron Folk-Lore (Cosmogonic Myths, etc.), H. Hale. Witchcraft and Demonism of the Modern Iroquois, De Cost Smith. Onondaga Customs, W. M. Beauchamp. Chinook Songs, F. Boas. English Folk-Tales in America, W. W. Newell. Current Superstitions, F, D. Bergen (1889), Funeral Customs among the Omahas, F. LaFlesche. Folk-Lore of the Carolina Mountains, J. Mooney. Children's Rhymes and Incantations, C. G. Leland. Rhymes from Old Powderhorns, W. M. Beauchamp. Eskimo Tales and Songs, H. Rink, Tales of the Missisaguas, A. F, Chamberlain. Cosmogony and Theogony of the Mohave Indians, J. G. Bourke. Legends of Iowa, G. W. Weippiert. The Endemoniadas of Queretaro, H. C. Lea (1890). Chinese Secret Societies in the United States, S. Culin. Cherokee Theory and Practice of Medicine, J. Mooney. The Gentile System of the Navajo Indians, W. Matthews. The Gentile System of Organization of the Apaches of Arizona, J. G. Bourke. 1 6 The American Folk-Lore Society. Customs of the Chinese in America, S. Culin. Gentile System of the Siletz Tribes, J. Owen Dorsey. Chief-making among the Passamaquoddy Indians, Mrs. W. W. Brown. Apache Mythology, J. G. Bourke. Popular American Plant-Names, Mrs. F. D. Bergen. Folk-Lore of the Bones, D. G. Brinton. The Natural History of Folk-Lore, O. T. Mason (1891). Hi-a-wat-ha, W. M. Beauchamp. Topics for the Collection of Folk-Lore, Mrs. F. D. Bergen and W. W. Newell. Dissemination of Tales among Natives of North America, F. Boas. The Indian Messiah, Alice C. Fletcher. Account of Northern Cheyennes concerning the Messiah Super- stition, G. B. Grinnell. Nat-Worship among the Burmese, L. Vossion. Folk-Lore from Buffalo Valley, Central Pennsylvania, D. G. Owens. Street Games of Boys in Brooklyn, N. Y., S. Culin. The Meaning of the Moki Snake-Dance, J. W. Fewkes, The Portuguese Element in New England, H. R. Lang (1892). A Zuiii Tale of the Under-World, F. H. Gushing. P^olk-Custom and Folk-Belief in North Carolina, N. C. Hoke, Development of a Pawnee Myth, G. B. Grinnell. Arkansas Folk-Lore, O. Thanet. Reminiscences of Pennsylvania Folk-Lore, D. G. Brinton. The Ceremonial Circuit in Northeastern Arizona, J. W. Fewkes. Haethuska Society of the Omaha Tribe, Alice C. Fletcher. Human Physiognomy in Folk-Lore, A. F. Chamberlain (1893). Tusayan Initiation Ceremony, J. W. Fewkes. A Modern Oracle and its Prototypes, H. C. Bolton. Doctrine of Souls among the Chinook Indians, F. Boas. The Miracle Play of the Rio Grande, J. G. Bourke. A Blackfoot Sun and Moon Myth, G. B. Grinnell. Old-Time Marriage Customs in New England, Alice M. Earle. Scottish Myths from Ontario, C. A. Eraser. Pawnee Mythology, G. B. Grinnell. GrR his , EKRM