Ralph Thoresby’s home on Kirkgate was famed for its museum. Musæum Thoresbyanum was established there and contained a variety of antiquarian objects both curious and interesting, and also included manuscripts, coins, medals and books. It acquired a national reputation and by 1682 visitors were being received quite regularly there.
Over more than a century, the Society has built up a number of special collections, notably its archive, map and image collections, which have recently been re-catalogued to make them more accessible. These collections are housed in the Society’s library, based at the Leeds Library, 18 Commercial Street, Leeds LS1 6AL.