Manitoba Historical SocietyFounded in June 1879 by an Act of the Manitoba Legislature, the Manitoba Historical Society (MHS) is the oldest organization in western Canada devoted to the promotion of public interest in, and preservation of, the region?s historical resources.To learn more about the MHS and its activities, please select from the menus above.What is MHS?The MHS mandate is to:encourage research and publications relating to the history of Manitobapromote and encourage public interest in Manitoba and Canadian historyfoster the preservation of property relating to the history of Manitobaassist in the formation and work of local historical societies in furthering the objectives of the Society throughout ManitobaIn 1879, Winnipeg Alderman Alexander McArthur , an MHS founder, envisioned an organization devoted to the study, preservation and promotion of history and natural sciences of the province. It was to function as a library, museum, and archives. The wisdom and foresight of McArthur's vision was manifest, as the Manitoba Historical Society would later provide the foundations for the present Winnipeg Public Library , the Manitoba Museum , and the Archives of Manitoba . more... See more text