South Carolina Archives, Societies & Publications

It is a good idea to familiarize personally with just about any repository in South Carolina that you simply might travel to by communicating with to the best suited archive or library in advance.

Most, if not all, South Carolina repositories have written and published content that present its collections as well as research policy.

South Carolina archives and historical organizations usually have On-line sites that provide equivalent details. Several also contain down loadable data for some or parts of their collections.

List of South Carolina Archives

• South Carolina Department of Archives and History, 8301 Parklane Road; Columbia, SC 29223-4905; Tel: (803) 896-6100, Fax: (803) 896-6198; The Reference Room staff will provide information about charges for copies and schedule for receiving copies. Self-service copying is available. Inquiries must be made in person or by telephone. The Reference Room is open Monday – Friday, 8:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. daily.
• South Carolina Methodist Conference Archives, Sandor Teszler Library; Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29301
• Charleston Diocesan Archives, Chancery Office, 119 Broad Street, P.O. Box 818, Charleston, South Carolina 29402
• South Carolina Baptist Historical Collection, James B. Duke Library, Poinsett Highway, Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina 29613
• Marion County Archives and History Center, 101 North Main St., Marion, SC
• The Andrea Files – This website is an abstract of the records in the Andrea Files. This collection of folders contains important genealogical information on many South Carolina and related families.

List of South Carolina Libraries & Museums

• South Carolina State Library, 1500 Senate Street, PO Box 11469; Columbia, South Carolina 29211; Voice: (803) 734-8666, Fax: (803) 734-8676, Ref/Interlibrary Loan, Fax: (803) 734-4757
• Statesboro Regional Library
• Presbyterian College Library, Due West , South Carolina 29325
• South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208
• Lutheran Theological Seminary Library, Columbia, South Carolina 29203
• Anderson County Museum, 202 East Greenville St., Anderson, SC 29621; Phone: 864-260-4737
• Barnwell County Museum and Historical Board, PO Box 422, Barnwell, SC 29812
• Berkeley Museum, 950 Stony Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461; (843) 899-5101
• Camden Archives and Museum, 1314 Broad Street, Camden, SC 29020; phone: (803) 425-6050
• Calhoun County Museum, 303 Butler Street, St Matthews, SC 29135
• Cotton Museum, SC, 121 W. Cedar Lane, Bishopville, SC 29010; Telephone: (803) 484-4497
• Culture & Heritage Museums, 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill, SC 29732-8666; phone: (803) 329-2121
• Fairfield County Museum, PO Box 6, Winnsboro, SC 29180; 803) 635-9811
• Lexington County Museum, 231 Fox Street, Lexington, SC 29071; phone: (803) 359-8369
• Hartsville Museum, PO Box 431, 222 North Fifth Street, Hartsville, SC 29551
• Horry County Museum, 438 Main Street, Conway, SC 29526; phone: (843) 248-1282
• Oakley Park Museum, PO Box 26, Edgefield, SC 29824; Telephone: (803) 637-4027
• Pickens County Museum of Art & History, 307 Johnson Street, Pickens, SC 29671; Phone: (864) 898-5963
• Kaminski House Museum, PO Box 939, Georgetown, SC 29442; phone: (843) 546-7706
• Rice Museum, 633 Front Street, Georgetown, SC 29442; phone: (843) 546-7423
• Sumter County Museum, PO Box 1456, Sumter, SC 29151; phone: (803) 775-0908
• The Museum, P. O. Box 3131, Greenwood, SC 29648
• Marion County Museum, PO Box 220, Marion, SC 29571; phone: (843) 423-8299
• Williamsburgh Historical Museum, 135 Hampton Ave, Kingstree, SC 29556; phone: (843) 355-3306

List of South Carolina Historical & Genealogical Societies

For almost every state there is a state genealogical society, a state genealogical council, or both.

In addition to their own work, South Carolina groups many times help coordinate the efforts of local societies throughout the South Carolina.

Their unique publications, newsletters and quarterlies, supplement those created through the area societies.

Regional and State Societies

• South Carolina Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 16355, Greenville, SC 29606
• South Carolina Historical Society, 100 Meeting Street, Charleston 29401
• Confederation of South Carolina Local Historical Societies

County, Township and City Societies

• Abbeville County Historical Society, P. O. Box 12, Abbeville, SC 29620
• Abbeville District Historical Association, PO Box 578, McCormick, SC 29835; (864) 465-2347
• Aiken County Historical Commission, 433 Newberry Street, SW, Aiken, SC 29801; (803) 649-4658
• Aiken County Historical Society, PO Box 1775, Aiken, SC 29802; (803) 649-9653
• Aiken-Barnwell Genealogical Society , P.O. Box 415, Aiken, SC 29802
• Allendale County Historical Society, P. O. Box 523, Allendale, SC 29810; (803) 584-3446
• Anderson County Chapter South Carolina Genealogical Society,
  P.O. Box 74, Anderson, SC 29622-0074
• Anderson Heritage, Inc., PO Box 58, Anderson, SC 29622
• Historical Society of Bamberg, 1611 Heritage Highway, Bamberg, SC 29003; Telephone: (803) 245-2261
• Beaufort County Genealogical Society; P.O. Box 5492, Hilton Head SC 29928
• Beaufort County Historical Society, PO Box 55,
  Beaufort, SC 29901
• Berkeley County Historical Society, P.O. Box 504, Moncks Corner SC 29461; (864) 899-4405
• Blackville Area Historical Society, P O Box 277, Blackville, SC 29817
• Bluffton Historical Preservation Society Inc., P.O. Box 742, Bluffton, SC 29910
• Boonesborough Historical Society, PO Box 575, Due West, SC 29639
• Broad River Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 215, Hickory Grove 29717
• Catawba-Wateree chapter of the South Carolina Genealogical Society, Camden Archives, 1314 Broad St., Camden SC 29020
• Charleston Chapter South Carolina Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 20266, Charleston, SC 29413
• Chester District Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 336, Richburg 29729
• Chesterfield District Chapter, SCGS, Inc. , PO Box 167 Chesterfield, SC 29709;
• Historical Society of Chesterfield County, PO Box 291, Chesterfield, SC 29709
• Clarendon County Historical Society and Archives, 211 North Brooks Street, Manning, SC 29102; (803) 435-0328
• Colleton County Genealogical Society, 125 Wade Hampton Avenue, Walterboro 29488
• Colleton County Historical and Preservation Society, 205 Church Street, Walterboro, SC 29488; 843-549-9633
• Columbia Chapter, SCGS, Inc., PO Box 11353, Columbia, SC 29211-1353
• Old Darlington Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 175, Hartsville 29551-1075
• Darlington County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 175, Hartsville 29551
• Darlington County Historical Society, P. O. Box 546, Darlington, SC 29532; Telephone: (843) 398-4940
• Darlington County Historical Commission, 204 Hewitt St., Darlington,SC 29532;  843-398-4710
• Dillon County Historical Society, P. O. Box 1806, Dillon, SC 29536
• Dutch Fork Chapter, SCGS, Inc., PO Box 481, Chapin, SC 29036-0481
• Edgefield County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 486, Edgefield 29824
• Old Edgefield District Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 546, Edgefield, SC 29824; ph: 803.637.4010
• Edgefield County Historical Society, PO Box 174, Edgefield, SC 29824; (803) 637-2233
• Fairfield Chapter of the SC Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 93, Winnsboro 29180; Genealogy Room
• Fairfield County Historical Society, PO Box 632, Winnsboro, SC 29180; (803) 635-9811
• Fairfield Genealogy Room, P. O. Box 941, Winnsboro, SC 29180
• Florence County Historical Society, PO Drawer 150, Florence, SC 29503; phone: (843) 662-3258
• Georgetown County Historical Society, PO Box 861, Georgetown, SC 29442; Telephone: (843) 545-7020
• Greenville County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 16236, Greenville 29606
• Greenville County Historical Society, P.O. Box 10472, Greenville 29603; phone: (864) 233-4103
• Greenville County Historic Preservation Commission, 301 University Ridge, Suite 100, Greenville, SC 29601, phone: (864) 467-7105
• Greenwood County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 3468, Greenwood 29648
• Greenwood County Historical Society, 114 Live Oak Ct., Greenwood, SC 29649; Telephone: (864) 223-0398
• Hampton County Historical Society, PO Box 152, Hampton, SC 29924
• Historic Columbia Foundation, 1601 Richland Street, Columbia 29201-2633
• HILTON HEAD ISLAND Chapter, SCGS, Inc., 32 Office Park, Suite 300, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
• Horry County Historical Society, 606 Main Street, Conway, SC 29526-4340; phone: (843) 488-1966
• Horry County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1428, Marion 29571
• Jasper County Historical Society, PO Box 2111, Ridgeland, SC 29936, phone: (843) 726-8136
• Kershaw County Historical Society, PO Box 501, Camden, SC 29020; phone: (803) 425-1123
• Lancaster County Historic Preservation Society, PO Box 1132, Lancaster, SC 29721; phone: (803) 285-9455
• Lancaster County Historical Commission, PO Box 67, Van Wyck, SC 29744; phone: (803) 285-6465
• Laurens District Chapter, of the South Carolina Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1217, Laurens 29360
• Laurens County Historical Society, PO Box 292, Laurens, SC 29360; phone: (864) 833-7518
• Lee County Historical Society, PO Box 684, Bishopville, SC 29010; Telephone: (803) 484-6451
• Lexington County Historical Society, PO Box 637, Lexington, SC 29071; phone: (803) 359-8369
• Lexington County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1442, Lexington 29072
• Lexington Genealogical Association, P.O. Box 1442, Lexington, SC 29071
• Marion County Historical Society, PO Box 7, Marion, SC 29571; phone: (843) 423-8299
• Marlborough Historical Society and Historical Museum, 123 S Marlboro Str, Bennetsville, SC 29512-4031; 803-479-5624
• Marlboro County Historic Preservation Commission, 128 S. Marlboro Street, Bennettsville, SC 29512; phone: (843) 479-5624
• McCormick County Historical Society, 129 Water’s Edge Drive, McCormick, SC 29835; Telephone: (864) 391-3302
• McCormick County Historical Commission, P O Box 1498, McCormick, SC 29835; Telephone: (864) 852-2144
• Newberry County Historical Society and Museum Society, PO Box 186, Newberry, SC 29108; phone: (803) 276-1597
• Ocenee County Genealogical Society, 247 Cross Hill Road, Easley 29640
• Oconee Heritage Center, 123 Brown Square Drive, P O Box 395, Walhalla, SC 29691
• Old St. Bartholomew Chapter South Carolina Genealogical Society , 609 Black Street, Walterboro, SC 29488
• Old Darlington Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 175, Hartsville 29551-1075
• Old Pendleton District Chapter of S.C.G.S., 247 Cross Hill Road, Easley, SC 29640-8857
• Old Newberry District Chapter of SCGS, P. O. Box 154 , Newberry, SC 29108-0154
• Orangeburg Historical and Genealogical Society, PO Box 959, Orangeburg, SC 29116; Telephone: (803) 531-1002
• Orangeburg County Historical Society, Inc., Box 1881, Orangeburg, SC 29116-1881; Telephone: (803) 535-0022
• Pickens County Historical Society, PO Box 775, Pickens, SC 29671; phone: (864) 898-5963
• Parris Island Historical Society, P.O. Box 5202, Parris Island 29905-5202
• Pee Dee Chapter, SCGS, Inc., PO Box 1428, Marion, SC 29571-1428
• Pendleton District Historical, Recreational And Tourism Commission, 125 East Queen Street, Pendleton 29670
• Pendleton Foundation For Black History And Culture , P.O. Box 806, Pendleton, SC 29670; 864 656-1587
• Pickens County, Scgenweb, P.O. Box 338, Aledo
• Piedmont Historical Society, PO Box 1842, Spartanburg, SC 29304; Ph:864-574-3056
• Pinckney District Chapter of South Carolina Genealogical Society, PO Box 5281, 385 South Spring Street, Spartanburg, SC 29301
• Saluda County Historical Society, Box 22, Saluda, SC 29138; phone: (864) 445-8550
• Spartanburg County Historical Association, PO Box 887, Spartanburg, SC 29304; (864) 596-3501
• Sumter County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 2543, Sumter 29150
• Sumter County Historical Commission,  406 N Magnolia Street, Sumter, SC 29150; phone: (803) 775-7503
• Sumter County Historical Society, PO Box 1456, Sumter, SC 29151; phone: (803) 775-0908
• Three Rivers Historical Society, P.O. Box 811,
  Hemingway 29554
• Union County Historical Society, P.O. Box 220, Union, SC 29379
• Union County Historical Museum, P. O. Box 220, Union, SC 29379
  Telephone: (864) 429-5081
• Upper Dorchester County Historical Society, Inc., PO Box 15, Dorchester, SC 29437; Telephone: (843) 563-2298
• Williamsburg County Historical Society, 135 Hampton Ave, Kingstree, SC 29556; phone: (843) 355-3306
• York County Genealogical and Historical Society, PO Box 3061 CRS, Rock Hill, SC 29732; phone: (803) 327-4667

Religious Societies

• Jewish Historical Society Of South Carolina, 66 George Street, Charleston 29424-0001
• Dalcho Historical Society, Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, 1020 King Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29403
• Historical Foundation of the Presbyterian and Reformed Churches; P.O. Box 847, Montreat, North Carolina 29757

Ethnic Societies

• The Huguenot Society of South Carolina , 138 Logan Street, Charleston, SC 29401.
• Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogical Society, PO BOX 974, Orangeburg SC 29116-0974

South Carolina Newspapers & Publications

South Carolina Genealogical publications (magazines, newsletters, periodicals, books, etc.) contain all types of invaluable information about specific ancestors, whole lineages and families, places in time, and about all sorts of genealogical records and repositories.

Newspapers

In 1732, the first issue of the first South Carolina newspaper was published. It was called the South Carolina Gazette. The South Caroliniana Library has the biggest collection of state newspapers. However, large collections can also be found at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and the Charleston Library Society.

Most South Carolina newspapers published both death and birth records. So, they are vital sources of genealogical information. The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research frequently publishes newspaper abstracts. So has the South Carolina Historical Magazine. There are also several other publications containing abstracts from the state’s newspapers.

• South Carolina Newspapers Directory Listings
• Historical Newspapers from South Carolina (1783 – 1975 ) – Rapidly discover names and keywords / phrases in over 450 million publications, obituaries, marriage announcements, birth notices and also other items published in over 2,800 old U.S. newspapers. All new content and articles added monthly!
• South Carolina Newspaper List (usnpl.com)
• Maryland and South Carolina Lutheran Newspapers, Marriages and Deaths
• South Carolina Newspaper Marriage Notices, 1732-1801
• Death notices in the South-Carolina gazette, 1732-1775
• John H. Moore, South Carolina Newspapers (Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press, 1988).
• George K. Schweitzer, South Carolina Genealogical Research (Knoxville, Tenn.: the author, 1985): 114-19.

Periodicals

Genealogical journals provide you with plenty of sources of information and facts, they are generally overlooked by genealogy and family history researchers and genealogist in looking around for family history.

Many regional and county genealogical and/or historical societies produce periodicals which have records relating to the region or vicinity they operate.

Frequently these publications have articles involving records that are not obtainable somewhere else.

• South Carolina Historical Magazine (Charleston, S.C.: South Carolina Historical Society, 1900–present)
• South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 1-20
• Carolina Herald (Greenville, S.C.: Carolina Genealogical Society, 1974–present)
• Transactions of the Huguenot Society of South Carolina (Charleston, S.C.: The Huguenot Society of South Carolina, 1888–present)
• The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research (Columbia, S.C.: Brent Howard Holcomb, 1973–present)
• Carolina Genealogist (Danielsville, Ga.: Mary B. Warren, 1969–present)
• Upper South Carolina Genealogy and History (Piedmont Historical Society)

Books

• South Carolina Books at Amazon.com
• South Carolina Historical Books (1749 – 1900) rare and fully searchable old books, historical maps and documents give fresh insights into the daily lives of your early South Carolina ancestors.
• Genealogy Publishing Company
• Southern Historical Press South Carolina Books