Armand Mauss said regarding such an undertaking. "Spend at least 20 hours a week in this enterprise, and in a year you will be more knowledgeable about LDS history and culture than 90% of the Saints...."
I've listed the top Church History related suggestions below -- all great suggestions for those who may want to study church history.
Books
Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Lyman Bushman
David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism by Gregory A Prince and William Robert Wright
Mormon Sisters: Women In Early Utah by Claudia Bushman
The Prophet Puzzle: Interpretive Essays on Joseph Smith (Essays on Mormonism Series) by Bryan Waterman
Mormonism in Transition: A History of the Latter-day Saints, 1890-1930 by Thomas G. Alexander
Mormon Mavericks: Essays on Dissenters by John Sillito and Susan Staker
History Specific Articles:
Thomas Alexander: The Reconstruction of Mormon Doctrine (Sunstone)
The Mormon Succession Crisis of 1844 by D. Michael Quinn (BYU Studies)
History Specific Journal Recommendations:
Journal of Mormon History
John Whitmer Historical Association Journal
Gospelink.com & CD
LDS Library CD
New Mormon Studies CD
Conferences
Mormon History Association Conference (& mp3s)
John Whitmer Historical Association Conference