It was founded in 1889 and named after the historian of Leeds, Ralph Thoresby (1658–1725).
[1] The Society takes its name from Ralph Thoresby (1658–1725), the first historian of Leeds and a pioneer in the field of local history.
The society's activities in its first century included publication of transcriptions of local records and of original research, lectures, and "the educational and social pleasures of imaginatively organised excursions" (423 of which took place in its first 100 years).
[2] The society's activities, as of 2023[update], include: The objects of the Society, as set out in the Memorandum of Association, are: The Society maintains a large library of books relating to the history of Leeds and District, and conserves an archive of papers and images relating to Leeds.
[4] A catalogue of the Society's archive holdings may be accessed from its webpage, along with specific catalogues of maps and plans, sales particulars, abstracts of title, images, and ephemera.