Certificate of perpetual membership to the Library Association of Portland for George H. Flanders dated July 6th, 1881. George H. Flanders was a business partner of Portland founder John Couch. His sister Caroline, was married to John Couch. He has a street named after him in Northwest and Northeast Portland. After his death the certificate was returned by J. C. Flanders (relation unknown) on October 19, 1886. 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.