From its founding, the Society understood the need to ensure that the physical remnants of the past were properly preserved. Initially, this was accomplished through the single act of acquiring historically valuable documents and publications to build the Society's collections. As the 20th century approached, however, it became clear that more was necessary. Through its archival practices and an on-going program to improve the environmental and physical conditions of the building, the Society continues working to ensure the long-term survival of its collections.