Certificate of perpetual membership to the Library Association of Portland for Henry W. Corbett dated July 6th, 1881. Henry Corbett was a prominent figure in early Portland history. He was a founding member and trustee of the Library Association of Portland. Because of this his portrait hangs near the staircase in the Multnomah County Library's Central Library location. After his death the certificate was returned by his grandson Henry Ladd Corbett on December 28, 1904. Before the library was opened to the public, only members could access the collection. Certificates of perpetual membership were most often returned to the library after the original holder died and could be transfered to another by the executor of the estate.