The Local History Class was formed at a suggestion made at the annual meeting of the Essex Institute on May 21, 1894 for the purpose of studying the local history of Salem. The first meeting was not successful because of bad weather. At the next meeting on June 6, 1894, attended by nineteen members, Henry M. Brooks was elected the chairman and Miss H. D. Lander, secretary. The first subject for consideration was the life of Roger Conant, followed by study of the life of John Endecott and the lives of early planters. Members researched various subjects of local history and presented papers at meetings that were held in Plummer Hall.

Ninety-four lectures of record were presented spanning the years 1984 to 1897. Meetings were suspended during summer months, but excursions were made during these months to places of interest in surrounding towns.

On October 2, 1897, a meeting was held regarding the feasibility of continuing the class. Meetings were changed to every two weeks instead of every week. By January 11, 1898 attendance had dropped off. On January 25, 1898, it was decided to resume weekly meetings.

There is no record of meetings between December 29, 1900 and November 16, 1901, nor between February 7, 1903 and May 4, 1906. The last record of a meeting was May 4, 1906 with fifteen members in attendance.