South Carolina Room



E. N. Zeigler South Carolina History Room Logo
(Named for our late State Representative, State Senator,
lawyer, historian, author and friend.)
The E. N. Zeigler South Carolina History Room is home to the Graham Collection, purchased in 1927 by the Library from the estate of Samuel A. Graham, State Senator from Williamsburg County. This unique collection of rare Americana is especially rich in South Carolina items and includes several exceedingly rare maps, such as Herman Moll’s 1715, Henry Mouzon’s 1773 and 1775, and William de Brahm’s 1780.

The History Room collection includes, among other rare items not part of the Graham Collection, a 1611 King James Bible and a 1771 edition of Mark Catesby’s Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands.

Researchers of family history will find one the largest genealogical collections in northeastern South Carolina. Cemetery surveys for most South Carolina counties, as well as deed, probate, and newspaper abstracts that include South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia are just a small representation of this collection.

The E. N. Zeigler South Carolina History Room maintains the same hours as the Main Library. Your visit is always welcomed. If distance is a problem, contact us at 843-413-7060 or scroom@florencelibrary.org.

South Carolina Room Policy


Resources Online

Florence Morning News (Digital Edition)(Available only inside the Library)

Explore local history with our new full-color digital archive of The Morning News!  You can search this archive in the library or remotely through the library website. This new digital archive covers January 1, 2019 and will grow going forward (there is a 90 day embargo from publication date).  Archival issues prior to 2019 are available on microfilm. Please see a librarian for assistance.

Ancestry Library Edition – (Available only inside the Library)

With over 1.2 billion records in over 3,000 databases, AncestryPlus is the most comprehensive online source of information for conducting genealogical and local history research available. Included in AncestryPlus are the digitized images of the U.S. Federal Census from 1790 forward, the American Genealogical Biographical Index, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index,and much more.

Florence Morning News Index – Late 1800s

The Swampfox database indexes our incomplete collection of (Florence) Morning News issues from the late 19th Century. Please request no more than 3 articles at one time. Press CTRL+F to search and the Enter key to move to the next occurrence of your search term.Disclaimer: Some dates may not be indexed. Please notify us of any missing date within the listed range of dates above and we will attempt to add it.

Please contact us at either of the following addresses: scroom@florencelibrary.org or S.C. Room, Florence County Library, 509 South Dargan Street, Florence, South Carolina 29506-2549.

Be sure to list the title, complete date and page number of the article you need. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope for requests sent by the postal service. Thank you for your assistance.

Florence Morning News Index – 20th & 21st Century

The Swampfox database indexes the (Florence) Morning News from 1924-1928, 1978-1984 and Feb. 1996-current date. Please request no more than 3 articles at one time. Press CTRL+F to search and the Enter key to move to the next occurrence of your search term.Disclaimer: Some dates may not be indexed. Please notify us of any missing date within the listed range of dates above and we will attempt to add it.

Please contact us at either of the following addresses: scroom@florencelibrary.org or S.C. Room, Florence County Library, 509 South Dargan Street, Florence, South Carolina 29506-2549.

Be sure to list the title, complete date and page number of the article you need. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope for requests sent by the postal service. Thank you for your assistance.

Dr. G. Wayne King Slide Collection

The 106 slides of late 19th and early 20th century Florence were collected by Dr. G. Wayne King (1939-2008), a professor of history, who retired from Francis Marion University. The majority of the slides depict street scenes and buildings of downtown Florence, South Carolina.

Heritage Quest – – (Available only inside the Library)

Access the Heritage Quest Online database for census data, family records, and local histories. Through this database you’ll have access to Periodical Source Index, Freedman’s Bank Records, Revolutionary War Pensions, and the Bounty Land Warrant Index.

Newspapers.com – South Carolina Newspapers (inside the library)

Newspapers.com – South Carolina Newspapers (outside the library)

Find historical newspapers from South Carolina. Explore newspaper articles and clippings for help with genealogy, history and other research.

Pee Dee Explorer

The Pee Dee Explorer website is divided into chapters that provide various contexts for telling the story of the region. Each chapter contains a collection of video stories and accompanying text, based on well-known and “off the beaten path” landmarks found in the Pee Dee. In addition, the Google Maps interface allows visitors to explore these place-based stories through interactive maps with overlays that are unique to each chapter.

Florence County Register of Deeds Search


Resources on Microfilm

Newspapers

Inside Florence County
  • Early Florence newspapers: 1896-1898; 1871-1923 (scattered issues)
  • Florence Evening Star: Aug. 1939 – Oct. 1941
  • Florence Morning News: 1924- Present
  • Florence Times: Sep. 1965- Aug. 1970
  • Lake City newspapers 1950-2003
  • Scranton News: 8 Aug 1901
  • Timmonsville newspapers 1946-1957; 1918-1968 (scattered issues)
Outside Florence County
  • Charleston newspapers 1732-1782; 1786-1787; 1803-1928
  • Clarendon County newspapers 1860-1880 (scattered issues)
  • Darlington newspapers 1916-1944; 1851-1890 (scattered issues)
  • Georgetown newspapers 1791-1850 (scattered issues)
  • County Record, Kingstree, SC 1897-1975
  • Marion newspapers 1852-1975

 

Church Records

Baptist Churches
  • Beulah Baptist Church, Hyman, SC, 1872-1924
  • Calvary Baptist Church, Florence, SC, 1949-1972
  • Elim Baptist Church, Effingham, SC 1836-1962; 1976-2003
  • Evergreen Baptist Church, Evergreen, SC, 1891-1912; 1941-1972
  • Fist Baptist Church, Florence, SC, 1866-1946
  • First Baptist Church, Mullins, SC, 1880-1920; 1924-1934; 1957-1972
  • First Baptist Church, Pamplico, SC, 1921-1938; 1958-1972
  • First Baptist Church, Timmonsville, SC, 1912-1917; 1928-1936; 1938-1972
  • Mispah Baptist Church, Florence, SC, 1834-1862
  • Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Florence, SC 1852-1947
  • Northgate Baptist Church, Florence, SC, 1963-1972

 

Military Records

American Revolution
  • Revolutionary War Rolls for South Carolina
  • Compiled Service Records for South Carolina
  • Francis Marion’s Orderly Book 1777-1779
War Between the States
  • Muster Roll & List of SC Confederates Paroled in NC
  • Confederate States Navy, Subject File
Reconstruction
  • Bureau of Refugee, Freedmen & Abandon Lands, Assistant Commissioner, SC 1865-1871
  • Bureau of Refugee, Freedmen & Abandon Lands, Field Offices for Combahee Ferry (partial), Darlington, Fairfield District, Georgetown (partial), Johns Island, Kingstree, Lancaster, Manning, Marion, Monks Corner (partial)
  • Internal Revenue Assessment Lists for SC, 1864-1866

 

Local Records

Florence County
  • Estate Files 1888-1925; Index 1888-1976
  • Deed Books 1888-1920
  • Plat Books 1895-1960
  • Marriage Records 1911-1955
  • Coroner’s Inquisitions 1889-1915
  • Abstracts of Judgments 1889-1987
  • Court of Common Pleas, Confessions, 1890-1897
  • Register of Aliens 1940
  • County Council Minutes 1889-1939
  • Auditor’s Tax Duplicate Books 1925-1958
  • Treasurer’s Tax Duplicate Books 1923-1957
  • Florence County Directories 1997-Present
  • Florence City Council Minutes 1874-1991
  • Florence City Financial Records 1888-1893
  • Florence City Ordinances 1883-1924; 1940-1992
  • Florence City Resolution 1948-1991
  • Florence City Directories 1905- Present (some issues missing)
Darlington County
  • Estate Papers, Case A- Files 1-1611; Index Case A & B Deed Books 1806-1924
  • Plat Book 1, 1818-1838
  • Court of Equity, Rolls 1-623; Minute Books 1801-1841
  • Court of Ordinary 1793-1895
  • Cheraw Equity District 1803-1841
  • Real Estate Mortgage Book 67: 1911-1914
Marion County
  • Estate Papers, Rolls 1-1927; Index 1790-1893
  • Court of Equity, Rolls 1-269; Index 1827-1859
  • Deed Books 1800-1901
  • Plat Books 1800-1925
  • Court of Ordinary, Journals 1800-1825
Williamsburg County
  • Estate Papers, Apt.1, Pkg.1 – Apt.38, Pkg. 33; Index 1806-1882
  • Court of Equity 1806-1870
  • Deed Books 1806-1894
  • Plat Books 1906-1911; 1917-1927
  • Confederate Pension Plan

 

State Records

Land
  • State Plats: Charleston Series 1784-1847; Columbia Series 1796-1868
  • SC Auditors General Memorials 1731-1778
Vital Records
  • Death Certificates 1915-1959
  • Delayed Birth Certificates and Applications prior to 1901 (with supporting evidence)
Other
  • SC Will Transcripts
  • Tax Returns, 1783-1800
  • Records of Admission to Citizenship, District of SC, 1790-1906
  • State Censuses, 1829; 1839; 1869; 1875 (none are complete)

 

Federal Records

Census
  • US Census: SC 1790-1930; NC 1850 Richmond County
  • US Census: SC Mortality 1850-1880
  • US Census: SC Enumeration District Maps 1900-1940

 

Miscellaneous

Other
  • W & M RR Reports 1846-1858
  • Microfiche with church histories, counties histories, military regiments & their histories, and memoirs from the states of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas
  • Sanborn Maps Columbia – Greenville
  • Book of the Dead- Anderson county Cemeteries

 

Periodicals

Magazines
  • Century Magazine 1882-1899
  • Confederate Veteran 1909-1932
  • Sandlapper 1968-2011 (some issues missing)
  • SC Magazine 1946-1976
  • SC Historical and Genealogical 1900-present
  • SC Magazine of Ancestral Research 1973-2010
  • SC Wildlife 1962-2011 (some issues missing)
Newsletters
  • Black River Watchmen, Sumter, SC 2004-2007 (some issues missing)
  • Carolina Genealogist 1969-1985
  • Columbia Chronicle 1996-2003
  • Columbia Journal 1982-1994
  • Darlington Flag 1989- Present
  • Florence Stockade 2005- Present
  • Howles & Other Birds 1988-2004
  • Pee Dee Queue 1977- Present
  • Three Rivers Chronicle 1981- Present