The institute was founded in 1985, as an expanding of the Ming and Qing Research Branch within the History Department of the Northeast Normal University . The founder, Professor Li Xun (1922-1995), an internationally well-known specialist of Ming and Qing history, was the first director of the institute.

Distinguished senior scholars devoted their major career experiences within the institute include Professor Li Xun(economic and political history), Professor Xue Hong(1925-1993, early Qing studies, local history of the northeastern China, China-Russia relationship, and the study of local gazetteers), Professor Chen Zuorong(1927-1989, political figures), Professor Zhao Shiyuan(1930-2004, late Qing history), Professor Zhao Degui(the Eight Banners), and Professor Jiang Shoupeng(economic history). With their significant contributions to China 's Ming and Qing history scholarship, these scholars together built great reputation for the institute.

Following Professor Li Xun, Professor Zhao Yi (1948- , political and economic history) became the second director of this institute. Professor Zhao Yifeng (1953- , economic and political cultural history) was the third director. Professor Luo Dongyang (1963- , economic and political history) is the forth and current director of this institute. In the present time, this institute has 4 full professors and 4 associate professors. Among them, six members are with Ph.D degrees.

The first generation of scholars in this institute made major efforts in the areas such as the 16 th - to-18th century social structures of China , the politics of bureaucracy, Ming and Qing economy and market system, the early Qing society, the Eight Banner system and related resources, as well as the late Qing historical trends. The younger generation of the institute, most with Ph.D. degrees and overseas academic experiences, has been making efforts to refine their methodology. Social history, political culture, and the Northeast regional studies stand out as the major areas in their researches. In addition, Professor Luo Dongyang is a sub-project director for the official Qing History compiling project, which is responsible for the writing of more than 100 Qing historical figures. Professor Wang Jingze involves with the Northeast Project of the Chinese Social Science Academy . Professor Zhao Yifeng is concentrating on the Ming policies toward religions and other political cultural subjects.

During the past 20 years, this institute has produced 21 Ph.D. degree holders, 70 M .A degree holders. Currently, it has 11 Ph.D. students and 22 M .A. students registered. Many of the graduates from this institute have become major scholars in the studies of Ming and Qing history.

Academic exchange is important to this institute as well. Major conferences sponsored by this institute include: National Conference for Qing Studies （ 1985 ， Changchun ） , Conference for Ming and Qing Urban History(1986, Dalian), International Conference for the pre 1644 Qing History(1988, Changchun) ， Mainland and Taiwan Conference for Ming and Qing Studies(1993, Jilin), and The Seventh International Conference for Ming and Qing Studies(1997, Changchun).