The society is a registered charity. The official name is The Johnson Society (Lichfield). The registered charity number is 1078243.
The aims of the society are to:
- encourage the study of the life, works and times of Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), often called 'Doctor Johnson';
- preserve the memorials, associations, manuscripts and letters of Johnson and his contemporaries;
- co-operate with Lichfield District Council and Lichfield City Council in:
- The commemoration of Johnson's Birthday;
- The study of local history with particular reference to the eighteenth century;
- The preservation of the Johnson Birthplace Museum.