The Houghton County Historical Society and Mining Institute was founded in 1866 and included many prominent local figures, such as Ransom Shelden (1814-1878), John Chassell, W. B. Frue (1830-1881), Jay A. Hubbell (1829-1900), Richard M. Hoar (1831-1903), and James O'Grady.

The society organized regular lectures on a variety of historical topics, which were generally unrelated to local history. Secretary Alexander Pope, Jr. began the society's book collection by donating numerous volumes on history, religion, law, and engineering. In addition to a handful of books, other members donated assorted artifacts and mining company reports.

The Houghton County Historical Society and Mining Institute became defunct by the 1880s and sometime in the next few decades its records and collection were transferred to the Michigan College of Mines. The college subsequently donated the material to the newly formed Keweenaw Historical Society in 1913.