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

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

County, Township and City Societies

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

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.

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