The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society is a private nonprofit organization located in Buffalo, N.Y. It collects, preserves and researches written, spoken, pictorial and artifactual records of the history of western New York, the Great Lakes and Buffalo and Erie counties in New York. The museum preserves cultural records and facts of prehistoric and the present times. The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society organizes exhibitions, educational programs and media presentations to create historical awareness among general audiences and professional historians. It also operates a shopping facility that offers post cards, posters, gift items and children's books, as well as features a selection of publications about the architecture, ethnic heritage and genealogy of the area. In addition, the museum maintains a research library that houses more than 20,000 books, over 200,000 photographs and approximately 2,000 manuscript collections.