Family History and Genealogy: Local & Statewide Archives & Repositories

An archive of historic manuscripts, books and visual materials representing Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry.

A website that provides access to genealogical information at the Charleston County Public Library including: a genealogical overview, how to get started, sources, South Carolina genealogy guides, genealogy web sites, general works, record of births, marriages and deaths in Charleston, wills, immigration, land & tax records, military records, directories, census information, and other libraries with historical/genealogical collections.

A cultural institution for life-long learning, serving its members, the Lowcountry community and scholars through access to its rich collection of books, manuscripts, and archival material and programs.

a collection of property files, photographs, architectural drawings, books, pamphlets, technical reports, and videos pertaining to architecture, historic preservation, Charleston and South Carolina history, archaeology, building arts, decorative arts, and gardens.

The state's largest private repository of manuscripts and heritage resources. Housed in the Addlestone Library at the College of Charleston.

The special collections and rare book library for the Medical University of South Carolina. Named for Joseph I. Waring, Jr., the first director of the Historical Library, the library houses books, journals, manuscript items and museum artifacts dealing with the history of the health sciences.

The mission of the Department of Archives and History is to preserve and promote the documentary and cultural heritage of the state through archival care and preservation, records management, public access, historic preservation, and education.

The Presbyterian College Archives contains papers, publications, photographs, clippings, and other materials which document the history, organization, and development of Presbyterian College. Because of the College’s close ties with the Presbyterian Church and Thornwell Home, the collection also includes materials on these institutions.

Holdings of Manuscripts Division include letters, diaries, and other unpublished papers of families and individuals; genealogical collections; broadsides; plantation account books; non-USC dissertations dealing with S.C. history; and information collected by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), regarding folklore, local history, etc. The Division also holds records of churches, clubs, and other organizations, as well as business records of small country stores, large textile mills, and other concerns.

The mission of Special Collections and Archives is to collect, arrange, preserve, and make accessible a variety of primary and secondary research materials documenting the history and people of Furman University, Greenville Woman's College, Greenville, the South Carolina Upstate, South Carolina Baptists, and twenty and twenty-first century poets in this state.

Repository for historically valuable records relating to the history of Winthrop University and South Carolina, particularly the heritage of the Catawba Region (Chester, York, Union and Lancaster counties).

Holds a range of unique or scarce materials including the College’s legacy library collection, manuscripts and ephemera in the Broadus R. Littlejohn Jr. Collection, and fine books and prints in the Leonard Baskin Collection, among others.

Converse College is the national location of a collection of research papers, news articles, photographs, and other documents concerning Harriet Quimby’s life and accomplishments.