The Society principally conducts two kinds of historical research, internal and external.

Internal research is for our own purposes: exhibitions, publications, public programs, identification of objects in the collections and other similar projects. It is usually a long-term project (ranging from several weeks to several months, depending on the project and its deadlines) and may involve research at the Museum and at outside institutions/sources. Volunteers engaged in internal project research usually do not have set schedules but accomodate their research tasks with their own schedules. They are expected to provide informal periodical reports and updates.

External research is conducted for people who contact the museum for information related to the history of Saginaw County. These information requests usually are answered by the use of materials available at the museum. These tasks are assigned usually to the volunteers who work a regular schedule in the archives.