Resources for Local History Societies

Information to assist in the running of a local history society.

Running a local history society involves far more than organising the occasional talk. Behind the scenes there are committees to manage, speakers to book, finances to keep in order, and members to support and encourage.

This section brings together practical guidance to help with the day-to-day running of a society. Some of it will be useful if you are thinking of starting a new group. Much of it is aimed at existing societies that simply want reliable information on how to organise things well.

The resources cover common questions such as:

• how to start a local history society
• organising committees and roles
• managing memberships and subscriptions
• planning talks, meetings and visits
• basic finances and administration
• supporting research and local history projects

Most local history societies are run entirely by volunteers, often by people who have taken on roles simply because someone needed to. These pages are intended to make that task a little easier by sharing experience and practical advice.