ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS


Genealogical Research

Most of the personal information found in the Special Collections area of the Thomason Library relates to individuals associated with Presbyterian College, or Presbyterian ministers who served in South Carolina. The library does have a small number of South Carolina genealogical materials, including some county and family histories, a few local cemetery listings, and some census information. It also has back issues of the Clinton Chronicle on microfilm. Specific titles can be found by searching THOMCAT, the online library catalog.

Laurens County Library

For extensive research into South Carolina genealogy, particularly that of Laurens County, the Laurens branch of the Laurens County Library has a good local history and genealogy collection.

AddressHoursContacts
Laurens County LibraryMon.,Tues.,Thurs.: 9:00am-8:30pmElaine Martin - Local History Librarian
1017 West Main StreetWednesday 9:00am-6:00pmKathryn Johnson - Assistant
Local History Librarian
Laurens, SC 29360Friday 9:00am-5:00pm
PhoneSaturday 9:00-1:00pmOnline Catalog (Web version)
(864)984-0596Sunday - Closed Laurens County Library


If you would like to write the library, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope, be specific as to what information is desired, and as to what records you want searched, such as wills, newspaper, etc.

Laurens Specialized Library Resources:
Census Records on Microfilm: S. Carolina for 1790 - 1920 (no 1890); some NC, VA, GA, TN & KY Federal Census.

Military Records for Revolution, Civil War and World Wars I and II.

There are no official marriage records prior to 1912, nor birth/death records for SC until 1915. Has various compiled information from minister, church and newspaper accounts.

South Carolina Death Certificate Index on microfiche, 1915-1924, 1925-1934, 1935-1944. Note: Death records less than 50 years old are closed to the public.

Will & Estate Records for Laurens County are on microfilm for the time period 1785-1900.

Land Records for Laurens County are on microfilm for the time period of 1785-1900.

DAR lineage books & Cemetery Records for Laurens & adjacent counties.

Local Newspapers:

Other Resources: Maps, Family Histories (929.2), Bible & Church Records.

Some Laurens County information may be found at the South Caroliniana Library at the University of South Carolina. The first free-standing college library in the country (1840), the South Caroliniana Library houses manuscripts, books, pamphlets, newspapers and maps including the Kendall Collection of early maps of the Southeastern United States. Materials are listed on USCAN, the online catalog of the University of South Carolina. Phone: 803-777-3131.

Web Sites


SCRoots: The South Carolina Genealogy Forum
Features a list of research resources, including archives and museums, historical societies, libraries, links to USGenWeb sites for all of the counties of South Carolina, and links to other sites of interest to the genealogist.

South Carolina Archives and History Center
Maintained by the Department of Archives and History, gives information on resources and research at the South Carolina Archives and History Center in Columbia. Provides a summary guide to holdings but records must be consulted on site.

SCGenWeb
The South Carolina page of the USGenWeb project, and includes pages for all South Carolina counties, as well as an online archives.

South Carolina State Library
Does not collect works that are primarily geneological but does maintain collections of materials dealing with South Carolina and South Carolinians, South Carolina state government documents, and publishes materials about South Carolina history including biographies and county histories.

Other Genealogy Internet Resources
Compiled by Thomas Jay Kemp, author of Virual Roots: A Guide to Genealogy and Local History on the World Wide Web, for an American Library Association publication; contains links reviewed by librarians to broader genealogical research.
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