Founded in 1831, the Virginia Historical Society is a private organization and has been operational for more than 100 years. It offers various books, manuscripts, museum objects and natural history specimens. The museum offers public lectures, seminars, conferences and consulting services. It has a research library and publishes various historical documents and teacher s resource materials. The museum offers various educational and public programs. The museum hosts historical exhibitions and sponsors various events and workshops. It offers various archaeological and historic preservation functions. The museum organizes group tours and various activities for schools. It provides support for scholarly research through fellowship program and minority internships. The Virginia Historical Society is approved by the American Association of Museums and the American Association for State and Local History. In addition, it is affiliated with the Independent Research Library Association and the Southeastern Museums Conference. The museum is located in Richmond, Va.