The purpose of the Ulysses Historical Society is to bring together those people interested in history, and especially in the history of the Town of Ulysses and the surrounding area. Understanding the history of our community is basic to our democratic way of life, gives us a better understanding of our state and nation, and promotes a better appreciation of our American heritage.

The society's major function is to discover and collect any materials that may help to establish or illustrate the history of the area, its exploration, settlement, developments, and activities in peace and in war; its progress in population, wealth, education, art, science, agriculture, manufacturers, trade, and transportation. It will collect printed material such as histories, genealogies, biographies, descriptions, gazettes, directories, newspapers, pamphlets, catalogs, circulars, handbills, programs, and posters; manuscript material such as letters, diaries, journals, memoranda, reminiscences, rosters, service records, account books, chars, surveys, and field books; and museum material such as pictures, photographs, paintings, portraits, scenes, aboriginal relics, and material objects illustrative of life, conditions, events, and activities of the past and present.

The Society provides for the preservation of such material for its accessibility, as far as may be feasible to all who wish to examine or study it, to co-operate with officials in insuring the preservation and accessibility of the records and archives of the area and to undertake the preservation of historic buildings, monuments, and markers.

The society disseminates historical information and arouses interest in the past by publishing historical material in the newspapers or otherwise; by holding meetings with pageants, addresses, lectures, papers, and discussion; by marking historic buildings, sites, and trails; and by using the media of radio and television to awaken public interest.

The society co-operates with the state historical society to collect and prepare materials of state-wide significance, so that these materials can be made available to students and scholars.