The Miami County Historical & Genealogical Society is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote genealogical research, to foster a public awareness of the development and heritage of this area, and to help preserve Miami County historical documents. There are Society members around the country, with about 60 in Miami County and the surrounding area.

The MCHGS conducts a Family History Award program in which individuals can receive certificates for having relatives who were members of Miami County’s first families (prior to 1830), were pioneers and settlers (1830-1850), arrived in the Victorian era (1851-1880), or were in the Civil War. Documentation proving the appropriate relationships is submitted to a Society committee for evaluation, and certificates are awarded to those meeting the criteria. A Heritage Award is made to an individual who has contributed significantly to the preservation of Miami County history.

There are general membership meetings every other month, with a speaker addressing a history-related topic from the local area. The Board of Directors, elected yearly, meets each month to conduct the business of the Society and plan meetings and special events. There is an annual banquet along with the membership meeting in November, at which officers are elected for the following year and the Heritage Award and Family Certificates are presented.

The Society maintains contact with its members via The Miami Meanderings, a quarterly newsletter containing articles of historical interest, Society activities, coming events, genealogical queries, and information submitted by readers such as results of research performed by Society members and abstracts of public records. It is distributed to all members, as well as local libraries and other societies.