Most archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies have special collections and indexes of genealogical value. These must usually be searched in person. Some of the best manuscript collections are at the South Carolina Historical Society, the South Carolinian Library, and the Charleston Library Society. Some notable genealogical collections are:

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Collection. This collection consists of transcripts of Bible records, cemetery records, church records, marriages, deaths, obituaries, and wills. It was microfilmed in 1971 at the DAR Library, Washington, D.C., and is available on 31 films at the Family History Library (FHL films beginning with 855210). The volumes are generally arranged by county. These are listed in the Author/Title Search of the Family History Library Catalog under DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (SOUTH CAROLINA).

An every-name index of 617,000 names has been produced by the Family History Library (FHL fiche 6052835).

Genealogical Folders in the Leonardo Andrea Collection. Andrea's collection of research files is in the possession of his family but a microfilm copy is at the Family History Library. It was filmed in 1974 in two alphabetical parts: Genealogical Folders . . . (FHL films 954524-97 index on 954524 and 954241-46), and Genealogical Correspondence (FHL films 954255-61 and 947464-77). An inventory of the collection is Index to Genealogical Folders in the Leonardo Andrea Collection (typescript; FHL book 975.7 D22a; film 908685 item 6; fiche 6019560).

Colonial Families of South Carolina. This collection of surname folders by Motte Alston Read was filmed in 1952 at the South Carolina Historical Society (FHL films 022750 item 2 and 022751-89; subject and family index is on FHL film 022750 item 1). The information is from newspapers, deeds, court records, church records, and so forth. The subject references can only be investigated through correspondence with the South Carolina Historical Society.

Some major published genealogical collections for South Carolina include:

South Carolina Genealogies: Articles from the South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine. 5 vols. Spartanburg, S.C.: The Reprint Co., 1983. (FHL book 975.7 D2s). Volume 5 contains an every-name index to volumes one through four.

Wooley, James E., ed. A Collection of Upper South Carolina Genealogical and Family Records. 3 vols. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1979-82. (FHL book 975.7 D2c.) This is an alphabetical collection for families from the Old 96 District.

Lineage Charts S.C. Genealogical Society Chapters. 4 vols. Greenville, S.C.: Greenville Chapter, The South Carolina Genealogical Society, 1976-87?. (FHL book 975.7 D2L.) This contains records submitted by members of the Society.

HISTORY

---

The following important events affected political boundaries, record keeping, and family movements:

1670	The first permanent English settlement was made at Albemarle Point (Charles Town).
1713-1719	The South Carolina region separated from North Carolina and became a royal colony. Records were kept in Charleston.
1730	Settlers began to move into the interior when the colonial government provided incentives for landowners in new townships.
1760-1761	The Cherokee War ended in a treaty that opened the up country for settlement. The Bounty Act of 1761 offered public land tax free for ten years, and settlers from other colonies began pouring into the up country.
1769	Nine original judicial districts were established, but records continued to be kept in Charleston until 1780.
1788	South Carolina became a state. The state government was moved from Charleston to Columbia in 1790, although some functions remained at Charleston until after the Civil War.
1830-1840	Overseas immigration to South Carolina, which had begun to decline about 1815, virtually ceased in this decade.
1860	South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union. The Civil War began there in 1861. About 63,000 men from the state served in the Confederate armed forces.
1868	South Carolina was readmitted to the Union. Districts were now called counties.

An especially helpful source for studying the history of South Carolina is David Duncan Wallace, South Carolina: A Short History 1520-1948 (Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press, 1951; FHL book 975.7 H2ws).

Return to top of page

Previous Document   Next Document

©1998, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. No part of this document may be reprinted, posted on-line, or reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
[FamilySearch^TM: Research Guidance
Version of Data: 6/9/2001]